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お礼 (おれい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. thanks; gratitude 2. thank-you gift; reward; token of thanks 3. bow of thanks; thankful bow 4. manners; etiquette; ceremony; ritual Report an issue with this page
助たす け て くれ た 友ゆう 人じん に お 礼れい を 言い っ た 。
I thanked the friend who helped me.
I will send a thank-you email later.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 にお 礼れい を 言い う to thank someone (say thanks)
〈 物もの 〉 をお 礼れい に 渡わた す to give something as a token of thanks
Since they had helped me, I gave them some sweets as a thank-you gift.
お 礼れい を 申もう し 上あ げる to express one's thanks (very polite)
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone.
お 礼れい をする to give a reward or token of thanks
I want to give something in return for their help.
お 礼れい のメールを 送おく る to send a thank-you email
I sent a thank-you email after the interview.
お 礼れい 状じょう を 書か く to write a thank-you letter
I wrote a thank-you letter after the wedding.
Kanji 御 honorable, manipulate, govern Related words 感謝 is the more abstract, formal word for the feeling of gratitude, while お礼 is the everyday polite noun used for actual words, gifts, or bows of thanks.
お返し highlights giving something back in return for a favor, whereas お礼 centers on expressing gratitude itself, whether by words, gift, or bow.
御礼 is a polite, everyday word for a gift or payment of thanks, while 礼金 is a slightly more formal or fixed monetary term used especially in business and rental contexts.
お礼 is a general word for an expression of thanks that can be verbal or a small gift, while 謝礼 specifically implies a concrete monetary or material reward.
御礼 is a gift or token given specifically as thanks, while 志 as a gift emphasizes the giver's sincere feeling behind it.
Written forms お 礼れい
Common modern mixed-kana spelling, especially for thanks, saying thank you, and thank-you gifts.
おれい Usage 100%
御礼
おれい
More fully written kanji form; often seen in formal notices, letters, signs, and set expressions of thanks.
おんれい
Rare alternate reading. Most modern uses of 御礼 are read おれい.
おんれい
Etymology Formed from the honorific prefix お／御 plus 礼 read れい, meaning thanks, courtesy, bowing, or ritual propriety. The spelling 御礼 may also have the rare reading おんれい, but おれい is the normal modern reading.
