Responding to compliment

fatedquest · 5 Dec 2010

What are some ways to respond to compliments in Japanese?

For example if I cooked something,

He: This looks good!
Me: Nah, it's just normal.

What would I say in Japanese?

彼：おいしいそうです
私：いえ、普通だけです

I'm wondering if there are some other common set phrases which are commonly used too.

undrentide · 5 Dec 2010

fatedquest said:
What are some ways to respond to compliments in Japanese?

For example if I cooked something,

He: This looks good!
Me: Nah, it's just normal.

What would I say in Japanese?

彼：おいしいそうです
私：いえ、普通だけです

I'm wondering if there are some other common set phrases which are commonly used too.

普通だけ means "ordinary (things) only" and does not fit your purpose.
To reply to a compliment, there are some commonly used phrases:
たいしたことありません (it's nothing) (for compliments to your achievement)
まだまだです (I'm not much skilled yet) (for compliments to your progress)
for example.
There are a lot more but these two are just I come up with right now.

fatedquest · 5 Dec 2010

Thanks. So would たいしたことありません be suitable is someone compliments something I made, like cooking or a painting? Or is it just for more intangible achievements like passing an exam, getting promoted etc.

Toritoribe · 5 Dec 2010

I would say ありがとうございます。お口に合うといいんですが。(" Thank you. I hope you'll like it.") for the case.

fatedquest · 5 Dec 2010

Hmm, thanks. What would I say if the person doesn't directly benefit from the thing? Like I didn't draw for the person, the person just chanced upon it and gave a compliment (half out of custom).

Toritoribe · 5 Dec 2010

ありがとうございます。でも、まだまだです。

It's hard to generalize. Inappropriate responses could be misinterpreted.

Responding to compliment

fatedquest

先輩

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

fatedquest

先輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

fatedquest

先輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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