What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb oshiete (telling/teaching), the auxiliary kurete (doing something for me) and arigatō (thank you).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 教えてくれてありがとう is informal and should be used with friends, family or people of equal or lower social status. For polite situations, you can add gozaimasu to the end of arigatō to make it 教えてくれてありがとうございます. In formal or business settings, kurete is replaced with the humble itadaki to form 教えていただきありがとうございます, which shows higher respect to the person providing the information.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding gozaimasu to the end of arigatō makes the phrase polite and suitable for use with superiors or strangers. In formal contexts, the word kurete is replaced with the humble itadaki in the form 教えていただきありがとうございます.
How do you pronounce it?
oshiete kurete arigatō
Did you know?
- In Japanese, saying 'thank you' too often in a professional setting can sometimes feel distancing. In some business contexts, people use sumimasen instead of arigatō to acknowledge the burden the other person took on to inform them.
- Depending on the context, oshiete can be used as a request for a secret or a confession. In romantic dramas, the phrase oshiete is often used when a character is begging someone to reveal their true feelings.
- In the polite form oshiete itadaki arigatō gozaimasu, the verb itadaki comes from the literal word for 'receiving'. You are expressing gratitude for 'receiving the favor' of being told something.
Examples in context
- 「その情報を教えていただき、ありがとうございました」Thank you for telling me that information.
- 「それを教えていただき、心からありがとうございます」Thank you from the bottom of my heart for telling me that.
- 「それを教えてくれて、ありがとう」Thank you for telling me that.
- 使い方を教えてくれてありがとう。Tsukaikata o oshiete kurete arigatou.Thank you for telling me how to use it.
- 駅への道を教えてくれてありがとう。Eki e no michi o oshiete kurete arigatou.Thank you for telling me the way to the station.
- 本当のことを教えてくれてありがとう。Hontou no koto o oshiete kurete arigatou.Thank you for telling me the truth.
Example conversation
A student is asking a classmate about a class schedule.
- 美咲 Misaki明日のテストの範囲を教えて？Ashita no tesuto no han'i o oshiete?Can you tell me the scope of tomorrow's test?
- 大翔 Hiroto第3章から第5章までだよ。Dai san shou kara dai go shou made dayo.It's from chapter 3 to chapter 5.
- 美咲 Misaki教えてくれてありがとう、大翔君。Oshiete kurete arigatou, Hiroto-kun.Thank you for telling me, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoどういたしまして。Dou itashimashite.You're welcome.
