お礼(れい)

おれい
noun
thanks; gratitude; reward
1. thanks, gratitude, appreciation
Expression of thankfulness for something received or done.
お礼(れい)を言(い)いたいです。
I want to express my thanks.
お礼(れい)の手紙(てがみ)を書(か)いた。
I wrote a thank-you letter.
お礼(れい)に何(なに)かあげたい。
I want to give something as thanks.
お礼(れい)を申(もう)し上(あ)げます。
I express my gratitude (formal).
Very formal expression
何(なん)とお礼(れい)を言(い)っていいか分(わ)からない。
I don't know how to thank you.
お礼(れい)の気持(きも)ちを込(こ)めて。
With feelings of gratitude.
お礼(れい)を述(の)べる。
To express one's thanks.
2. reward, return gift
Something given in return for a favor or service.
これはお礼(れい)の品(しな)です。
This is a thank-you gift.
お礼(れい)を渡(わた)す。
To give a reward.
お礼(れい)としてお金(おかね)を渡(わた)した。
I gave money as a reward.
助(たす)けてくれたお礼(れい)にお菓子(かし)を持(も)っていった。
I brought sweets as thanks for helping me.
落(お)とし物(もの)を届(とど)けたら、お礼(れい)をもらった。
When I turned in the lost item, I received a reward.

お礼(れい) is the polite form of 礼(れい), with the honorific お prefix. It covers both the feeling of gratitude and tangible expressions of thanks.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • お礼(れい)を言(い)う: to say thank you
  • お礼(れい)を述(の)べる: to express thanks (formal)
  • お礼(れい)を申(もう)し上(あ)げます: I express my gratitude (very formal/keigo)
  • お礼(れい)に: in return, as thanks
  • お礼(れい)の品(しな): thank-you gift
  • お礼(れい)状(じょう): thank-you letter (formal)

MEANING DISTINCTION:
Sense 1 (gratitude) is far more common. Sense 2 (reward) often refers to money or gifts given in return for a favor, such as finding a lost item.

REGISTER:
Always polite due to the お prefix. The plain form 礼(れい) exists but is rarely used alone in modern speech.

core
Added 2026.1.8 21:43 · Revised 2026.4.5 18:38
01000/01359_orei