expression, godan verb (-u)
to thank; to express gratitude
A polite and somewhat formal expression for thanking someone. Often used in set phrases like 礼を言うべきだ or 礼を言いに来る.
助けてくれて、礼を言うよ。
Thanks for helping me out.
彼はわざわざ礼を言いに来た。
He came all the way to thank me.
Compound of 礼 (れい, 'thanks, gratitude') + を (object marker) + 言う (いう, 'to say'). Literally 'to say thanks'.