Formal — to stranger
Cultural · Communication
お骨折りいただきまして、誠にありがとうございました。 — Thank you sincerely for your dedicated effort on this. (Cultural · Communication, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N3)
You
お骨折りいただきまして、誠にありがとうございました。
おほねおりいただきまして、まことにありがとうございました。
Thank you sincerely for your dedicated effort on this.
Romaji: Ohoneori itadakimashite, makoto ni arigatou gozaimashita. / Reply Romaji: Oyaku ni tatete nani yori desu.
Reply
お役に立てて何よりです。
おやくにたててなによりです。
I'm glad I could be of help.
Gesture & etiquette
Deep bow (30°) after saying it, hold for 2 seconds. Make eye contact at end of bow. Soft sincere tone — never rote-sounding. If presenting a thank-you gift, hold with both hands, label facing recipient.
お骨折り (literally 'bone-breaking') is a deep humble acknowledgement of someone's hard work on your behalf. Stronger than ご協力 (cooperation) — implies they exerted real effort. Used at speech closings, formal thank-you letters, post-project debriefs. Variations: ご尽力 (dedicated efforts), ご助力 (kind assistance), お力添え (your support). Never overuse — reserve for genuinely substantial help.