Formal to Acquaintance
Cultural · Gift
お気持ちはとても嬉しいのですが、そのお気持ちだけいただいておきます。 — I'm truly touched by your thoughtfulness, but please allow me to accept just the sentiment alone. (Cultural · Gift, Formal to Acquaintance, JLPT N3)
You
お気持ちはとても嬉しいのですが、そのお気持ちだけいただいておきます。
おきもちはとてもうれしいのですが、そのおきもちだけいただいておきます。
I'm truly touched by your thoughtfulness, but please allow me to accept just the sentiment alone.
Romaji: Okimochi wa totemo ureshii no desu ga, sono okimochi dake itadaite okimasu. / Reply Romaji: Sou desu ka. Dewa, okimochi dake uketotte kudasai.
Reply
そうですか。では、お気持ちだけ受け取ってください。
そうですか。では、おきもちだけうけとってください。
I see. Then please accept just my goodwill.
Gesture & etiquette
Hold both hands out briefly toward the gift and then gently pull them back as you say this phrase — the gesture mirrors the verbal acceptance of intention but refusal of the object. Bow slightly to soften the decline.
Declining a gift in Japan requires affirming the giver's warm intention first before refusing the object itself. 「お気持ちだけいただく」(I'll accept just the feeling/thought) is the graceful standard phrase — it ensures the giver does not feel their goodwill was rejected.