Polite to Host
Cultural · Traditional · Arts
先生のお手本を拝見して、とても勉強になりました。ありがとうございます。 — Watching your demonstration was very instructive and educational. Thank you very much. (Cultural · Traditional · Arts, Polite to Host, JLPT N3)
You
先生のお手本を拝見して、とても勉強になりました。ありがとうございます。
せんせいのおてほんをはいけんして、とてもべんきょうになりました。ありがとうございます。
Watching your demonstration was very instructive and educational. Thank you very much.
Romaji: Sensei no otehon wo haiken shite, totemo benkyou ni narimashita. Arigatou gozaimasu. / Reply Romaji: Iya iya, mada mada desu yo.
Reply
いやいや、まだまだですよ。
いやいや、まだまだですよ。
Oh no, I still have so much more to learn myself.
Gesture & etiquette
Bow at approximately 30 degrees when expressing this gratitude. Hold the bow briefly — do not pop back up immediately. Keep both hands at your sides or lightly clasped in front. Receive the teacher's humble deflection ('iya iya, mada mada') with another small bow and a smile.
The humble phrase 'haiken shimashita' (I humbly viewed) shows proper respect to a teacher. 'Benkyou ni narimashita' (it was a great learning experience) is a standard, highly valued expression of gratitude in formal Japanese settings — use it after lessons, demonstrations, or mentoring.