Okagesama de

Posted by AndrewSuenobu Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:53:10 GMT

 お蔭様で （おかげさまで）

Okagesama de is a often-used phrase in Japan. You can kind of think of it as, "thankfully" or "thanks to God (or whatever powers that be)." It is often used as a reply to, "How are you." You can reply, "Okagesama de (genki desu)." Even without the "genki desu," it is understood that it is implied. In this case, it would mean something like, "Thankfully/Thanks to God, I am fine." It can pretty much be used any time someone asks you how something is and you want to reply that everything is well without appearing to be boasting about it. If someone asks you how you did on a test, you could say, "okagesama de." In this case it is like you are saying it went well without seeming to boast that it is a great thing or that you had anything to do with it.

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  1. TravisGaniko replied:

    おかげさまで。

    I feel like I've added something totally new to my Japanese vocabulary. Before when I came to Nacos, I would always ask, "ogenkidesuka?" and I'd get the same reply, "hai, genkidesu." Now that I've learned "okagesamade"I feel like I can add a little more variety to my conversation.

    はい、おかげさまで、元気です。

    はい、おかげさまで、せいせきがいいです。

    おかげさまで、Aをとりました。

    おかげさまで、しあいにかちました。


    祖父のおかげで、野球を一生懸命することが出来ます。
    Thanks to my grandfather, I am able to play baseball with a passion.

    母のおかげで、いいせいせきを取ることが出来ます。
    Thanks to my mom, I am able to earn good grades.

    父のおかげで、やきゅうがつよくなります。
    Thanks to my father, I am very good at baseball.

    祖母のおかげで、愛することをまなびました。
    Thanks to my grandmother, I learned to love other people.

    Posted: 2 days later.
  2. RobinMaeda commented: Okagesama de This is a very useful saying to reply politely to those who ask how you are doing or how situations are going for you. It is a positive reply and a thankful gesture. Another way of saying I am fine, things are good, or I am feeling well, thank you.
    Posted: 5 days later.
  3. Rev. Jay Shinseki replied: The term Okagesama is not a thanks to a god or a humble way of saying you completed a test. It is an acknowledgment of the many causes and conditions of the support and others who sustain our lives. Literally Okagesama is "in the shadow of". It refers to the seen and unseen conditions and people who support our lives. I
    Posted: about 1 year later.
  4. Rev. J. Shinseki commented: Okagesama is not a thanks to God or a humble way of saying I did well on a test, but literally means that I am able to exist, live and do what I do because of the myriad of causes and conditions that allow me to live this life. Literally meaning the "in the shadow of" Okagesama is an deeply profound way of acknowledging the support and help we receive from others that allows us to do well on a test or to stay healthy.
    Posted: about 1 year later.

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