Polite to Stranger
Cultural · Communication
とんでもございません。こちらこそ、いつもご親切にしていただいております。 — Not at all. On the contrary, you've always been so kind to me. (Cultural · Communication, Polite to Stranger, JLPT N3)
You
とんでもございません。こちらこそ、いつもご親切にしていただいております。
とんでもございません。こちらこそ、いつもごしんせつにしていただいております。
Not at all. On the contrary, you've always been so kind to me.
Romaji: Tondemo gozaimasen. Kochira koso, itsumo goshinsetsu ni shite itadaite orimasu. / Reply Romaji: Iya iya, sou itte itadakeru to ureshii desu.
Reply
いやいや、そう言っていただけると嬉しいです。
いやいや、そういっていただけるとうれしいです。
No, no, I'm glad you'd say that.
Gesture & etiquette
Slight head shake while saying 'tondemo gozaimasen,' with a gentle smile. Small bow (15 degrees) when transferring the gratitude back ('kochira koso'). Warm eye contact. Avoid over-protesting — one strong deflection plus the reciprocal thanks is enough.
Tondemo gozaimasen' is a strong polite deflection of thanks or praise — stronger than 'iie, kekkou desu.' Often used when someone thanks you profusely or compliments you, signaling that you don't deserve such high praise. Pairing with 'kochira koso' (on the contrary, it is I) returns the gratitude to them. Note: grammatically, 'tondemo nai' is the correct base form; 'tondemo gozaimasen' is widely used but considered slightly informal by purists.