お礼
also: おんれい
Meanings
Polite noun for expressing gratitude. Very common in phrases such as お礼を言う, お礼を申し上げる, and お礼のメール.
I thanked the friend who helped me.
I will send a thank-you email later.
thank-you gift; reward; token of thanks
Refers to something given in return for help or kindness, from a small gift to money offered as a reward.
I sent a thank-you gift to the teacher who had helped me.
I gave a small reward to the person who found my wallet.
bow of thanks; thankful bow
A physical bow made as an expression of thanks or respect. In ordinary modern wording, お辞儀 is the more direct word for a bow, while お礼 emphasizes the thankful act.
She made a deep bow of thanks before leaving the room.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉にお礼を言うto thank someone (say thanks)
I thanked my teacher.
- 〈物〉をお礼に渡すto give something as a token of thanks
Since they had helped me, I gave them some sweets as a thank-you gift.
- お礼を申し上げるto express one's thanks (very polite)
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone.
- お礼をするto give a reward or token of thanks
I want to give something in return for their help.
- お礼のメールを送るto send a thank-you email
I sent a thank-you email after the interview.
- お礼状を書くto write a thank-you letter
I wrote a thank-you letter after the wedding.