Thank you for your help
This is a traditional phrase expressing appreciation to someone who has finished working. You can use it to thank someone who’s done a job or service for you. It may be inappropriate when addressing superiors and you might be better off using O-tsukare-sama instead.
O-tsukare-sama お疲れ様
Thank you for your help/work
Originating in the entertainment world this is now interchangeable with Go-kurō-sama, and perhaps more widely used. When a colleague leaves the office to go home and says O-saki ni お先に, respond with O-tsukare-sama.
Kyōshuku desu 恐縮です Osoreiremasu 恐れ入れます
I am very grateful
The literal meaning of these phrases is “I shrink with fear (in the face of your great kindness)”. If someone has unexpectedly done something nice to you, you can offer thanks by saying:
• Sorewa sorewa, dōmo, kyōshuku desu.
それはそれはどうも。恐縮です。
This really is too much. Thank you.
Itadakimasu いただきます
Thank you (lit. I receive)
Everyone says this before starting a meal or snack. Itadakimasu is the humble form of the verb morau, to receive, and is used extensively in respect language.
Gochisō-sama deshita ごちそうさまでした
Thank you (lit. It was a feast)
This is how you say “thank you” when finishing a meal or snack.
1.07 A Few Notes on Respect Language keigo 敬語
Although respect language is a vestige of feudal hierarchy, its function today is not to emphasize differences in status but more to facilitate relationships. It is used most often in business, on formal occasions, and when meeting people for the first time.
For the vast majority of everyday situations, the –masu form of the verb which shows respect to the person you are talking to, is sufficiently polite. So, if you want to ask your girlfriend what time she’s going out, you might say Itsu dekakeru no? いつ出かけるの？ but to ask her father when he is going out, you would say Itsu dekakemasu ka? いつ出かけますか
Polite forms of words, such as ikaga instead of dō, meaning “how”, and dochira instead of dare meaning “who” make speech sound more refined. You’ll find that speech is quite formal in business situations and these polite words are often used to add gravitas to the speech (see the chapter on Business).
The heart of respect language, however, lies in the verbs. They work on a see-saw principle. Humble verbs, referring to yourself, lower your position vis-à-vis the other person whereas honorific verbs referring to others, raise their status relative to yours. We’ve already met o-negai shimasu which is the humble form of negaimasu (to request). Most regular verbs follow certain rules but, as in most languages, the most common verbs are exceptions. Fortunately there are only a handful of these to learn. The verb “to go” iku, for example, has the humble form mairu and the honorific form irassharu. So you might say:
• Kore kara mihonichi e mairimasu ga, go-issho ni irasshaimasen ka?
これから見本市へ参ります力\ご一緒にいらっしゃいませ ん力、。
We (humble, mairu) are going on to the trade fair. Won’t you (honorific irassharu) go with us?
Take a look at the list at the end of the book for the special forms of these verbs and for an explanation of the use of the passive tense which is also used to show respect and which you will hear frequently.
It gets a bit tricky when you’re talking about someone else. For example, when a member of staff wants to say to a colleague that the boss is out, they might say Shacho wa irasshaimasen (社長はいらっ しゃいません) , using the honorific form irassharu about the boss. But when speaking to a visitor they would say, Shacho wa orimasen (社長 はおりません), using the humble form oru. Within the company, the president is referred to with respectful speech, but outside the company, with humble speech. When talking to outsiders, use respectful speech about them, their boss, and their children, and humble speech about yourself, your boss and your organization.
1.08 Apologizing ayamaru 謝る
A first reaction in many situations is to apologize. All apologies should be accompanied by bows, or at least a nod of the head.
Sumimasen すみません
I’m sorry.
Besides being the most widely used apology, this is also used to attract attention and to express thanks. The polite form is Dōmo sumimasen deshita どうもすみませんでした.
Shitsurei shimashita 失ネししました
I’m sorry
This is recommended for business situations. If you accidentally interrupt your boss when he has a visitor, you can say:
• A, shitsurei shimashita. Mata kimasu.
了、失礼しました。また来ます。
Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll come back later.
Mōshiwake arimasen 申し訳ありません
I’m very sorry (lit. There is no excuse)
This is even more polite.
O-matase shimashita お待たせしました
Sorry to have kept you waiting
A courteous way to apologize to someone who has been kept waiting. Used frequently on the phone.
Gomen-nasai ごめんなさい
Sorry
Repentant children bow their heads and say this when they’ve done wrong. Since by itself it can sound too familiar, you might want to follow it with more apologies. For example:
• Gomen-nasai. Sumimasen deshita. Daijōbu desu ka? ごめんなさい。すみませんでした。大丈夫ですか。
Oh, pardon. I’m sorry. Are you all right?
1.09 Asking Permission yurushi o eru 許しを得る
A simple way to ask permission is to use the - te (or - de) form of a verb and attach ii desu ka ? Adding mo after the verb adds emphasis to the request.
• Haitte (mo) ii desu ka? 入って(も)いいですか。
May I come in?
If a situation requires tact, you might want to use a rather complicated construction the literal meaning of which is: “May I receive from you …”, using the verb morau (もらう) to receive. For example:
• Ashita yasumasete moraemasu ka?
あした休ませてもらえます力、。
Could I please have tomorrow off? (lit. Could I receive you having caused me to take time off?)
You can make this more polite by using itadaku (いただく) instead of morau (もらう). And when you need to choose your words very carefully, instead of asking directly, you can say you would like to receive but …
• Ashita yasumasete itadakitai no desu ga.
あした休ませていただきたいのですが。
Could you possibly let me have tomorrow off?
This is humble because