Owing favours
Idioms, Stage 1chunk 21 of 21Getting on with people
Asking for, accepting and owing favours.
- kari ga aruowe someone a favourliterally “there is a borrowing”
- okotoba ni amaeteI'll gladly take you up on thatliterally “leaning on your kind words”
- isshou no onegaiplease, I'm begging you (just this once)literally “a request of a lifetime”
- on ni kiruI owe you big, I'm really gratefulliterally “wear the kindness”
Mix-ups kari ga aru (I owe you one) is a debt to repay while on ni kiru (I'm deeply grateful) is thanks; okotoba ni amaete accepts an offer, isshou no onegai begs for one.
kari ga aru
polite kari ga arimasu
“there is a borrowing”
owe someone a favour
In English: owe someone one
Said when someone has done you a favour you haven't repaid: ano hito ni wa kari ga aru. kari ga dekita (now I owe you) and kari o kaesu (pay it back) go with it; it's mostly favours, since a money debt is usually shakkin ga aru.
Flip side: kashi ga aru / kore de kashi hitotsu ne (now you owe me one). Even again: kore de kashikari nashi.
ano hito ni wa kari ga aru kara, kotowarenai.
I owe him one, so I can't say no.
あの人には借りがあるから、断れない。
ano hito ni wa kari ga aru node, kotowarenai n desu.
I owe him one, so I can't say no.
あの人には借りがあるので、断れないんです。
Written 借りがある · かりがあるHeard 481× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside okotoba ni amaete, isshou no onegai, on ni kiruMain list aru (Stage 1)
okotoba ni amaete
polite okotoba ni amaesasete itadakimasu
“leaning on your kind words”
I'll gladly take you up on that
In English: I'll take you up on that
The fixed way to accept an offer (a ride, a treat, staying over) after first holding back: jaa, okotoba ni amaete. Said to hosts, seniors and colleagues, and jokingly to friends.
ii no? jaa, okotoba ni amaete!
Really? Well, if you insist!
いいの？じゃあ、お言葉に甘えて！
ii n desu ka? jaa, okotoba ni amaesasete itadakimasu.
Are you sure? Then I'll gladly take you up on it.
いいんですか？じゃあ、お言葉に甘えさせていただきます。
Written お言葉に甘えて · おことばにあまえてHeard 16× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kari ga aru, isshou no onegai, on ni kiruMain list jaa (Stage 1)
isshou no onegai
polite isshou no onegai desu
“a request of a lifetime”
please, I'm begging you (just this once)
The dramatic plea among friends and siblings, or from kids to parents, often with hands pressed together: isshou no onegai! To a teacher or senior it's isshou no onegai desu. Everyone uses it again and again despite the name, which is half the joke.
isshou no onegai! konkai dake okane kashite.
I'm begging you! Lend me some money just this once.
一生のお願い！今回だけお金貸して。
isshou no onegai desu! konkai dake minogashite kudasai.
I'm begging you! Just let it slide this once.
一生のお願いです！今回だけ見逃してください。
Written 一生のお願い · いっしょうのおねがいHeard 10× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kari ga aru, okotoba ni amaete, on ni kiruMain list onegai (Stage 1), kasu (Stage 2), -te (Stage 2)
on ni kiru
polite on ni kimasu
“wear the kindness”
I owe you big, I'm really grateful
In English: I owe you big time
A heartfelt, slightly old-school thank-you when someone bails you out, mostly men among friends: warui na, on ni kiru yo. kari ga aru describes the debt; this is the thanks you say on the spot.
on o kaesu = repay a kindness; onkisegamashii = making a big show of a favour.
warui na, on ni kiru yo.
Thanks, man. I owe you big.
悪いな、恩に着るよ。
hontou ni tasukarimashita. on ni kimasu.
You really saved me. I owe you big.
本当に助かりました。恩に着ます。
Written 恩に着る · おんにきるHeard 52× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside kari ga aru, okotoba ni amaete, isshou no onegaiMain list warui (Stage 1)