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While talking with some Japanese people in an online form, someone said
日本語上手ですね！﻿ to me. I just replied そうですか, but what would be an appropriate way
to reply keeping it as less informal as possible. Another important thing is
that I believe the OP was being polite to me knowing that I am not a native
instead of actually talking about my Japanese as I can speak about it for
myself. So, I would like to know of any response more in the lines of _I'm
humbled_ or _I don't deserve_ kind.
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2016-11-11T11:17:14.550
40819
2016-11-11T14:45:59.357
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question
politeness
How to respond when someone praises about my Japanese?
The way to go is usually to just deny it a little.  
Something in the lines of :

> そんな事ないです。  
>  まだまだです。
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2016-11-11T11:34:57.000
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2016-11-11T11:34:57.000
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I would say:

>   * そんなことないです。
>   * 全然ですよ。
>   * まだまだですよ。
>

Those means "not at all".
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2016-11-11T11:35:17.410
40821
2016-11-11T11:42:10.553
2016-11-11T11:42:10.553
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There could be many ways of saying "I am not good at Japanese." depending on
your personal preference and context. My favorites were

> いいえ、あまり[上手]{じょうず}ではありません。 No, I am not that good at Japanese.
>
> いいえ、あまり[上手]{じょうず}じゃないです。 Ditto
>
> いいえ、まだ[下手]{へた}です。 No, (my Japanese) is still poor.

いいえ is broadly used when you get praised to express modesty.
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2016-11-11T11:35:24.697
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2016-11-11T14:30:05.047
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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Somewhat formal 「恐縮｛きょうしゅく｝です」 can be used to acknowledge a compliment with
humility and modesty (like _I'm humbled_ , I think) without necessarily
denying the truth of it. (In your case, busting out this phrase will probably
reinforce their impression of your proficiency!)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-11T14:45:59.357
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2016-11-11T14:45:59.357
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answer