2 simple phrases from みんなの日本語

[Anatoli]

Hi all,

My Japanese is about intermediate but I am not sure about the exact meaning of these phrases:

After saying hello a person says to another (there is not much context):
これからお世話になります。
Is it correct to translate: "I am very much obliged to you (from now on)"?

The person presents the other person with a pack of coffee and says:
あのう、これ、ほんの気持ちです。

I know all the words here but not sure about the meaning of the above sentence. Here's my attempt: "Well, this, (I am) merely in a good mood". Sounds awkward. Please explain. Is it a common phrase when presenting someone with a gift?

 

[Buntaro]

Anatoli-san!

You got the first one correct.

The second one is literally, "This is from true feeling," which means it is a present given out of true feelings from the bottom of one's heart.

 

[nice gaijin]

Anatoli-san, お世話になります is a phrase that means to become indebted to someone, but usually refers to the other person taking care of them. This is the kind of thing you would say to a host family, or even a friend who lets you spend a few nights at their place. After your stay, the phrase becomes past tense; お世話になりました. This can also be used for someone who has just done you a great deal of help, like if you were an exchange student, and someone takes you around town to get you hooked up with a bank account, cell phone, furniture and appliances for your apartment, etc.

Conversely, お世話にします／しました is when the speaker is saying "I will take/have taken care of you," in so many words. I don't hear this one very often, though.

 

[Anatoli]

お世話になりました、ありがとうございます。

 

[Elizabeth]

Anatoli-san!
You got the first one correct.
The second one is literally, "This is from true feeling," which means it is a present given out of true feelings from the bottom of one's heart.

It is literally "just my feeling" or "merely my feeling" meaning they did it out of pure sincerity and no repayment need be forthcoming.

 

[eric]

I'm using that book as well, Anatoli-San, do you know where I can get the translation and grammer book, I've been trying to locate for quite sometime now, tried International Bookshop on Collins Street, they said they are having problems with the importer T_T

anyway, thanks

 

[J44xm]

Earlier, I had a little bit of trouble with phrases using 「なります」. For example, the 「～なければなりません」 grammar. I sought to know what it wouldn't become. Turns out that it simply won't become. ^_^

 

[Anatoli]

I'm using that book as well, Anatoli-San, do you know where I can get the translation and grammer book, I've been trying to locate for quite sometime now, tried International Bookshop on Collins Street, they said they are having problems with the importer T_T
anyway, thanks

Greeting to fellow Melburnian Sorry, Eric, I don't know. I saw it there before but it sold out.