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Conversation after B saved A, A bought some drinks

> A: それじゃ、助けてもらった **礼にならない** 。
>
> _well, this is totally not gratitude for saving me (= i will do more to
> thank you?)_
>
> B: べつに、お礼して欲しくて、助けた訳じゃないし。
>
> _it's not like I want to you show gratitude, i didn't really save you_

a long while later after A and B part ways, A reflects on the entire
experience. A did not do anything special for B in particular while they were
together, they just talked about their interests.

> ちっともお礼にならなかったが、数年ぶりに女の子と話せて俺も色々と勉強になった。
>
> _(My interaction with B/her) did not show gratitude at all, but ..._

I am confused because normally you would want to show 礼 after being saved,but
the speaker is "denying 礼" , so that this my roundabout interpretation but it
is probably incorrect.

After reading these:

[よく色々と億劫にならないな。- It's amazing how he doesn't get annoyed at all
that](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/61316/perspective-
of-%e5%84%84%e5%8a%ab%e3%81%ab%e3%81%aa%e3%82%89%e3%81%aa%e3%81%84-in-this-
statement)

[提出に遅れた場合は減点にならない - In the event (case) of a late submission there will not be
a point
deduction.](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/59153/meaning-
of-%e3%81%ab%e3%81%aa%e3%82%89%e3%81%aa%e3%81%84)

I feel like i don't have a grasp of the distinction between ～にならない as the
negative of ～になる and the ～にならない used in things like 話にならない, 洒落にならない, 問題にならない.

So when i read 礼にならない, i am not sure what is actually being implied until i
read B's reply.

Even then, "助けてもらった礼にならない" and "ちっともお礼にならなかったが" still feels very awkward for
me.

Thank you for any clarifications
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grammar
How to interpret 礼にならない and ~にならない in general
Although 礼 means “gratitude”, it can also mean something concrete expressing
this gratitude, e.g. a word of thanks, a favor, or even some reward (monetary
or otherwise).

> それじゃ、助けてもらった礼にならない。
>
> Just this [drink] is not nearly enough to thank you for saving me.
>
> B: べつに、お礼して欲しくて、助けた訳じゃないし。
>
> No big deal, it’s not like I helped you expecting something in return

Here, 訳 means “reason”.

In general, Xにならない can be used to express that X does not reach the desired
level or is impossible,

e.g.

話にならない - useless to talk about, out of question

勝負にならない - no match

However, in the linked questions it seems to be used in the more literal sense
of “does not become/happen”, so you need to be careful and consider context
(as always).
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answer