おかげ

おかげ
noun
thanks to; owing to; because of
1. thanks to, owing to (positive)
Used to attribute a good result to someone or something.
あなたのおかげで助(たす)かりました。
I was saved thanks to you.
Expressing gratitude
おかげさまで元気(げんき)です。
I'm fine, thanks to everyone. (set phrase)
Very common polite response
先生(せんせい)のおかげで合格(ごうかく)できた。
I passed thanks to my teacher.
皆(みな)さんのおかげです。
It's thanks to everyone.
薬(くすり)のおかげで治(なお)った。
I got better thanks to the medicine.
おかげで無事(ぶじ)に終(お)わった。
Thanks to that, it ended safely.
努力(どりょく)のおかげで成功(せいこう)した。
I succeeded thanks to my efforts.
2. because of (ironic/negative)
Sometimes used ironically to blame someone for a negative outcome.
君(きみ)のおかげで遅刻(ちこく)した。
I was late because of you. (ironic)
Ironic/blame usage
あなたのおかげで大変(たいへん)な目(め)に遭(あ)った。
Because of you, I had a terrible time.
雨(あめ)のおかげで試合(しあい)が中止(ちゅうし)になった。
The game was canceled because of the rain.
工事(こうじ)のおかげで毎朝(まいあさ)うるさい。
Because of the construction, it's noisy every morning.
彼(かれ)のおかげで計画(けいかく)が全部(ぜんぶ)だめになった。
Because of him, the entire plan fell apart.

おかげ expresses that a result happened 'thanks to' something/someone.

Kanji: Can be written as お陰(かげ) (shadow/behind the scenes)

Key expression:

  • おかげさまで: thanks to you/everyone (very common polite phrase)
  • Used as a response to 'How are you?' or to express general gratitude
  • Shows appreciation without specifying to whom

Grammar pattern:

  • 〜のおかげで: thanks to ~, owing to ~

Contrast:

  • おかげ (thanks to - usually positive or ironic)
  • せい (because of - usually negative/blame): 君(きみ)のせいで... (It's your fault that...)

Related Words

Contrast: せい (negative cause)
core
Added 2026.1.8 21:45 · Revised 2026.5.15 22:13
01000/01362_okage