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おかげ様 (おかげさま) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
assistance ; help ; kindness
polite (teineigo) usually written using kana alone
Polite expression used to acknowledge someone's help or favor. Often appears in the set phrase おかげさまで to express gratitude indirectly.
See also: おかげさまで
退たい
院いん
でき
まし
た
。
Thanks to your kindness, I was able to leave the hospital safely.
2
noun
grace ; blessing ; benevolence
polite (teineigo)
Refers to divine grace or the benevolence of Buddha. Often used in religious or spiritual contexts, but also in everyday polite expressions acknowledging a higher power or fortune.
See also: おかげ
Written forms おかげ 様さま
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling. The 様 is often written in kanji in polite expressions.
お 陰かげ 様さま
Kanji spelling using 陰. Less common but still seen.
お 蔭かげ 様さま
Variant kanji spelling using 蔭. Rare.
お 陰かげ さま
Mixed kanji-kana spelling with さま in kana.
Kanji 蔭 shade, shadow, backing assistance Similar words おかげ おかげ is the plain form meaning 'thanks to' or 'owing to'. おかげ様 adds the honorific 様, making it more polite and often used in set expressions like おかげさまで.
おかげさまで This is the adverbial form of おかげ様, used as a set phrase meaning 'thanks to you' or 'fortunately'. It is more common in daily conversation than the noun form alone.
Etymology Derived from おかげ (honorific prefix お + 陰 'shadow, influence') with the polite suffix 様. The original meaning relates to the influence or protection of a deity or person, extended to general gratitude.
