あのお願いがあるんですけど
ありがとうございます
手伝ってくれたお礼に
Introduction to Polite Requests and Expressing Gratitude
Today we’re learning essential Japanese expressions for making requests and expressing gratitude – crucial skills for maintaining good relationships. These phrases demonstrate how to politely ask for favors and properly thank people for their help. For JLPT N4-N3 students, understanding patterns like んですけど for softening requests, てくれる for receiving favors, and お礼に for expressing thanks is essential for natural, polite Japanese communication.
First Expression: あのお願いがあるんですけど
Word Breakdown
あの – um, well (hesitation marker)
お願い (おねがい) – request, favor
が – subject particle
ある – there is, to have
んです – explanatory form
けど – but (softening conjunction)
Translation and Context
Literal meaning: Um, well, there is a request/favor, but…
Natural translation: Um, I have a favor to ask / Well, there’s something I’d like to ask / I was wondering if I could ask you something
Understanding あの (Hesitation Marker)
あの at the beginning is a hesitation marker, similar to “um,” “well,” or “excuse me” in English. It’s used to politely get someone’s attention or show hesitation before making a request.
Japanese hesitation markers:
あの: Um, well, excuse me
More formal, polite hesitation
Used to get attention or show politeness
あのう: Um, well (longer hesitation)
Even more hesitant or polite
えっと/ええと: Um, let me see
Thinking or searching for words
その: Um, that, you know
Filler word while thinking
In requests, あの shows:
Politeness and consideration
Awareness you’re about to impose
Hesitation appropriate for favors
Understanding お願い (Request, Favor)
お願い is a noun meaning “request” or “favor.” The お prefix adds respect and politeness.
お願い expressions:
As noun:
お願いがある – Have a request
お願いを聞く – Listen to a request
お願いがあります – I have a favor to ask
As verb (お願いする):
お願いします – Please (I request)
お願いできますか – Could you please / Can I ask
お願いしたいことがある – There’s something I’d like to ask
Set phrases:
よろしくお願いします – Please treat me well
お願い! – Please! (casual plea)
Grammar Point: んです (Explanatory Form)
んです is one of the most important patterns in Japanese, adding an explanatory or seeking understanding nuance. It’s the casual contraction of のです.
Understanding んです:
Formation:
Plain form + んです
ある → あるんです
行く → 行くんです
食べる → 食べるんです
い-adjective: 忙しい → 忙しいんです
な-adjective/noun + な: 大変 → 大変なんです
Functions:
Explaining a situation
Giving background/context
Seeking understanding
Softening statements
Making indirect requests
Compare:
お願いがあります – I have a request (neutral)
お願いがあるんです – I have a request (explaining, seeking understanding)
Grammar Point: けど (But, However)
けど at the end of the sentence is a softening conjunction that trails off, leaving the actual request implied. This indirectness is polite in Japanese.
Understanding trailing けど:
お願いがあるんですけど…
= I have a favor to ask, but… [would you listen?]
The けど:
Softens the request
Shows hesitation and politeness
Gives the listener space to refuse
Implies “if that’s okay with you”
Japanese indirect communication:
Rather than directly stating the request
Hint at it and wait for response
Allows face-saving if person can’t help
Shows consideration for other’s situation
Different Ways to Ask for Favors
Request patterns from casual to formal:
Very casual:
お願いがあるんだけど – I have a favor (casual)
ちょっといい? – Got a minute?
Standard polite:
お願いがあるんですけど – I have a favor to ask
ちょっとお願いしたいことが – There’s something I’d like to ask
More formal:
お願いがあるのですが – I have a request
お願いしたいことがございまして – There’s something I’d like to request
Very formal:
恐れ入りますが、お願いがございます – I’m sorry to trouble you, but I have a request
How to Continue After This Opening
Complete request patterns:
あのお願いがあるんですけど、明日手伝ってもらえますか?
Um, I have a favor to ask – could you help me tomorrow?
あのお願いがあるんですけど、この書類を見てもらえませんか?
Well, I have a favor – could you look at this document?
あのお願いがあるんですけど、ちょっと時間ありますか?
Um, I have something to ask – do you have a moment?
Second Expression: ありがとうございます
Understanding ありがとうございます
ありがとうございます is the standard polite way to say “thank you” in Japanese. It’s one of the most fundamental and frequently used expressions.
Translation
Translation: Thank you / Thank you very much
Levels of Gratitude
Gratitude expressions from casual to formal:
Very casual:
ありがと – Thanks (very casual)
どうも – Thanks (brief)
Casual:
ありがとう – Thank you
ありがとうね – Thank you (friendly)
Standard polite:
ありがとうございます – Thank you (polite present)
ありがとうございました – Thank you (polite past)
More emphasis:
どうもありがとうございます – Thank you very much
本当にありがとうございます – Thank you so much
Very formal:
誠にありがとうございます – Thank you sincerely
心より感謝申し上げます – I express my heartfelt gratitude
Present vs Past: ございます vs ございました
When to use which:
ありがとうございます (present):
Thanking for ongoing help
Thanking in the moment
General gratitude
ありがとうございました (past):
Thanking after action completed
At end of interaction
When parting
Examples:
(Receiving gift) ありがとうございます
(After meal, leaving restaurant) ごちそうさまでした、ありがとうございました
(During ongoing help) いつもありがとうございます
(After completed favor) 手伝ってくれてありがとうございました
Adding Emphasis to Thanks
Intensifying gratitude:
本当にありがとうございます – Thank you so much (really)
どうもありがとうございます – Thank you very much
大変ありがとうございます – Thank you very much (greatly)
心からありがとうございます – Thank you from my heart
感謝しています – I’m grateful
助かりました – You saved me / That helped a lot
Third Expression: 手伝ってくれたお礼に
Word Breakdown
手伝って (てつだって) – helped (て-form of 手伝う)
くれた – gave/did for me (past tense of くれる)
お礼 (おれい) – thanks, gratitude, token of appreciation
に – particle (as, for the purpose of)
Translation and Context
Literal meaning: As thanks for helping (me)
Natural translation: As a token of my gratitude for helping / To thank you for your help / In appreciation for helping me
Understanding 手伝う (To Help)
手伝う means “to help” or “to assist,” specifically with tasks or work.
手伝う expressions:
手伝う – To help
手伝ってください – Please help
手伝ってくれる? – Will you help me?
手伝いましょうか? – Shall I help?
手伝ってもらえますか? – Could you help me?
手伝わせてください – Please let me help
手伝い (noun) – Help, assistance, helper
お手伝い – Help (polite form)
Grammar Point: てくれる (Doing for Me)
くれる is one of the most important verbs in Japanese, meaning “to give (to me)” or when combined with て-form, “to do (for me).” It emphasizes receiving a benefit.
Understanding てくれる:
Pattern: [Verb て-form] + くれる
Meaning:
Someone does something for me/us
I receive the benefit of their action
Shows gratitude for their action
Examples:
教えてくれる – Teach me / Tell me
助けてくれる – Help me
待ってくれる – Wait for me
来てくれる – Come for me
手伝ってくれる – Help me
Tense forms:
手伝ってくれる – Helps me (present)
手伝ってくれた – Helped me (past)
手伝ってくれている – Is helping me (progressive)
てくれる vs てもらう vs てあげる
The giving/receiving verb trio:
てくれる (someone does for me):
友達が手伝ってくれた
My friend helped me (focus on friend giving help)
てもらう (I receive someone doing):
友達に手伝ってもらった
I had my friend help me (focus on me receiving help)
てあげる (I do for someone):
友達を手伝ってあげた
I helped my friend (focus on me giving help)
For expressing gratitude, てくれる is most common
because it emphasizes the giver’s kindness.
Understanding お礼 (Thanks, Gratitude)
お礼 is a noun meaning “thanks,” “gratitude,” or “token of appreciation.” It can refer to verbal thanks or a physical gift.
お礼 expressions:
Verbal thanks:
お礼を言う – To say thanks
お礼の言葉 – Words of thanks
お礼を述べる – To express gratitude
Token of appreciation:
お礼の品 – Gift of thanks
お礼をする – To give thanks (gift)
お礼の気持ち – Feeling of gratitude
Purpose patterns with に:
お礼に – As thanks, for the purpose of thanking
お礼として – As a token of thanks
お礼の意味で – In the sense of gratitude
Complete Pattern: お礼に + Action
The pattern お礼に is followed by an action or gift given as thanks.
お礼に pattern examples:
手伝ってくれたお礼に、ご飯をおごります
As thanks for helping, I’ll treat you to a meal
教えてくれたお礼に、これをどうぞ
As thanks for teaching me, please take this
助けてくれたお礼に、プレゼントを買いました
As thanks for helping me, I bought a present
来てくれたお礼に、お土産を用意しました
As thanks for coming, I prepared a souvenir
The pattern shows: [What they did for me] + お礼に + [What I do in return]
Complete Context: Request and Gratitude Flow
Full Conversation Cycle
Complete exchange from request to thanks:
Making request:
A: あのお願いがあるんですけど…
B: なに?
A: 明日引っ越しするんですけど、手伝ってもらえませんか?
B: いいよ。何時から?
A: 10時からなんですけど、大丈夫ですか?
B: うん、大丈夫。
During help:
A: 本当にありがとうございます。助かります。
B: いいよいいよ。気にしないで。
After help:
A: 手伝ってくれたお礼に、夕飯をおごらせてください。
B: え、いいの?ありがとう!
A: こちらこそ、本当にありがとうございました。
A: Um, I have a favor to ask…
B: What?
A: I’m moving tomorrow – could you help me?
B: Sure. From what time?
A: From 10 o’clock – is that okay?
B: Yeah, that’s fine.
A: Thank you so much. This really helps.
B: No problem. Don’t worry about it.
A: As thanks for helping, please let me treat you to dinner.
B: Really? Thank you!
A: No, thank you so much.
Workplace Scenario
Professional context:
部下: あの、お願いがあるんですけど…
上司: はい、なんでしょう?
部下: この資料について、アドバイスをいただけないでしょうか?
上司: いいですよ。見せてください。
(アドバイス後)
部下: ありがとうございます。とても参考になりました。
上司: いえいえ。
部下: アドバイスしてくださったお礼に、コーヒーでもいかがですか?
上司: ああ、じゃあいただきます。
Subordinate: Um, I have a favor to ask…
Boss: Yes, what is it?
Subordinate: Could I get your advice on this document?
Boss: Sure. Show me.
(After advice)
Subordinate: Thank you. That was very helpful.
Boss: Not at all.
Subordinate: As thanks for the advice, would you like some coffee?
Boss: Ah, then I’ll take you up on that.
Related Request and Thanks Vocabulary
Making Requests
頼む (たのむ) – To request, to ask
お願いする – To request
依頼する (いらいする) – To request (formal)
助けを求める – To seek help
相談する (そうだんする) – To consult
聞く – To ask
お聞きする – To ask (humble)
Expressing Thanks
感謝する (かんしゃする) – To be grateful
お礼を言う – To say thanks
恩返し (おんがえし) – Repaying a favor
ご恩 (ごおん) – Debt of gratitude
恐れ入ります – I’m obliged (formal thanks)
助かります – That helps (casual thanks)
申し訳ございません – I’m sorry (when receiving help)
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Create request openings
Transform these into polite requests using んですけど:
1. 質問がある (I have a question)
2. 助けが必要 (Need help)
3. 相談したい (Want to consult)
Exercise 2: Complete with てくれた
1. 教えて＿＿＿お礼に (as thanks for teaching)
2. 来て＿＿＿お礼に (as thanks for coming)
3. 助けて＿＿＿お礼に (as thanks for helping)
Exercise 3: Write request-gratitude exchange
Create a dialogue including:
Request opening (んですけど)
Thanks (ありがとう)
Gratitude expression (お礼に)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using wrong particle with お礼
Wrong: お礼で
Correct: お礼に
Use に for “as thanks”
Mistake 2: Confusing くれる direction
手伝ってくれた – (They) helped me ✓
手伝ってあげた – I helped (them) – different meaning
てくれる is for receiving benefit
Mistake 3: Not softening requests
Too direct: お願いがあります。手伝ってください。
Better: お願いがあるんですけど、手伝ってもらえますか?
Use softening patterns for politeness
Mistake 4: Wrong tense for completed thanks
During: ありがとうございます
After completed: ありがとうございました
Match tense to situation
Key Takeaways for JLPT Students
んです/んですけど is essential N4 grammar for making polite, indirect requests and showing consideration for the other person’s situation.
てくれる is fundamental N4 grammar for expressing gratitude and acknowledging received benefits. Understanding the giving/receiving verb system is crucial.
お礼に represents N3 level expressions for concrete gratitude – not just saying thanks but showing it through action.
Request and gratitude patterns are culturally essential in Japanese. Mastering these shows you understand Japanese social etiquette and values.
Cultural Context
Japanese Request and Gratitude Culture:
These expressions reveal deep cultural values:
Indirect Requests: Using あのお願いがあるんですけど instead of direct commands shows the Japanese value of not imposing. The softening, hesitation, and indirectness preserve harmony and give space for refusal.
Layered Gratitude: Japanese often thank people multiple times – during help (ありがとうございます), after completion (ありがとうございました), and through reciprocal action (お礼に). This reflects the importance of acknowledging favors and maintaining social balance.
Concrete Appreciation: The pattern お礼に reflects the Japanese tendency to show thanks through concrete actions (treating to meals, giving gifts) rather than just words. This maintains the social balance of giving and receiving.
On (Obligation/Debt): The care taken in asking favors and thanking reflects the concept of 恩 (on) – the sense of obligation created when receiving help. Proper gratitude and reciprocation maintain social harmony.
Wrap-up
Today we explored three expressions that form the core of polite Japanese interaction: あのお願いがあるんですけど for making considerate requests, ありがとうございます for expressing thanks, and 手伝ってくれたお礼に for showing concrete gratitude. Through these phrases, we learned how Japanese speakers navigate the delicate social balance of asking for and acknowledging help.
We studied the hesitation marker あの, the explanatory んです, the softening けど, the gratitude verb てくれる, and the reciprocal pattern お礼に. These patterns combine to create the polite, considerate communication style that characterizes Japanese social interaction.
The expressions we covered today aren’t just language patterns – they’re windows into Japanese social values of consideration, reciprocity, and maintaining harmonious relationships. Understanding when and how to ask for help and properly express gratitude is essential for navigating Japanese social life successfully.
For JLPT students and anyone learning Japanese, mastering these patterns means more than passing tests – it means being able to build genuine, respectful relationships in Japanese. Practice these expressions until they become natural, and you’ll find yourself able to navigate the complex web of social obligations and gratitude that defines Japanese interpersonal communication.