also: おんれい
noun
Polite noun for expressing gratitude. Very common in phrases such as お礼を言う, お礼を申し上げる, and お礼のメール.
助けてくれた友人にお礼を言った。
I thanked the friend who helped me.
I will send a thank-you email later.
noun
thank-you gift; reward; token of thanks
Refers to something given in return for help or kindness, from a small gift to money offered as a reward.
お世話になった先生にお礼の品を贈った。
I sent a thank-you gift to the teacher who had helped me.
財布を拾ってくれた人に少しお礼を渡した。
I gave a small reward to the person who found my wallet.
noun
bow of thanks; thankful bow
A physical bow made as an expression of thanks or respect. In ordinary modern wording, お辞儀 is the more direct word for a bow, while お礼 emphasizes the thankful act.
彼女は深くお礼をしてから部屋を出た。
She made a deep bow of thanks before leaving the room.
noun
manners; etiquette; ceremony; ritual
Rare or old-fashioned as お礼/御礼; this reflects broader senses of 礼 meaning propriety, formal etiquette, or ritual observance rather than ordinary 'thanks.'
古い文章では、「御礼」が感謝ではなく作法や儀礼を指すことがある。
In older writing, 御礼 can refer to etiquette or ritual rather than gratitude.