I find it much more sincere to accept compliments and show how grateful I am
rather than to belittle myself. Therefore I would like to know some phrases in
Japanese to accept compliments and show my gratitude rather than overhumbling
myself (e.g. not まだまだ）.

How do you accept compliments in Japanese without coming off as really
arrogant (taking into consideration that the Japanese culture in general
highly values modesty and humility)? Although in the West it is certainly
possible to accept compliments and be modest at the same time.

E.g. in English we might say:

  * "I'm very happy to hear that!"
  * "I'm glad you liked it (for a performance or something like that)"
  * "It's very kind of you to say that."

Thank you
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-23T09:40:49.417
17922
2016-01-08T07:00:55.513
2014-07-23T09:58:06.143
6840
question
culture
Accepting compliments (without rejecting them)
Yes, there are ways to say these kind of things. They don't sound super
arrogant to me, but I won't guarantee that they'll always be the perfect thing
to say. I went with ですます, but _keigo_ and plain form versions are possible as
well.

> "I'm very happy to hear that!"

「そう言ってくれて、とても嬉しい【うれしい】です。」

> "I'm glad you liked it"

「気に入って【いって】もらって嬉しいです。」

> "It's very kind of you to say that."

「優しい【やさしい】ことばをありがとうございます。」
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-24T14:02:02.303
17938
2014-07-24T14:02:02.303
6799
17922
answer
This is a hard topic because as you stated Japanese people normally don't
react in this way. With that said, there are a couple approaches, not already
stated here. (These would be in a more formal setting). Also, it really
depends on **how** you are getting complimented and **what** the compliment
is.

～光栄です。(It's an honor, I am flattered, etc.)

お蔭様で～。(Thanks to you～, Because of your help～, etc.)

～からこそ～。 (All because of～I was able to～, only because～was I able to～)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T20:34:57.160
17969
2014-07-25T20:34:57.160
6823
17922
answer
I think it's important to remember that this is an intercultural conversation.
That fact is blindingly obvious to the interlocutor. And let's face it--
people use their own cultural stereotypes to interpret meaning in this
situation. If Japanese people have "seen" anglophones use these phrases in
movies, then it'll probably fit right into their expectations when talking to
a real-live anglophone. Sometimes Japanese people get really uncomfortable if
anglophones behave "too Japanese" in their presence. Or maybe I just am bad at
it, and end up over-doing it? But I'm sick of saccharine condescensions like
"You're more Japanese than me!" "You understand the Soul Of The Japanese"
(gotten that one three times and it makes me want to punch someone)

Even if the OP's words are in Japanese, I'm guessing the OP has an accent, and
hasn't exactly perfected Japanese non-verbals like body language and tone of
voice. I've heard people say that the majority of communication is non-
verbal-- well, the OP's words might as well match what his/her body already
betrays. Because let's face it, "tondemonaidesuuuu" probably sounds like a
stale script when this person says it. Because it is. And I have to use every
ounce of my body and voice to pretend that it isn't a stale script when I say
it every day.

When you live in a foreign culture, you get to reinvent yourself in the new
language-- you have to, because your Japanese persona can't be the same as
your native one. However, it can be hard to live a perfectly Japanese persona
day-in, day-out. Everyone else assumes that you, an anglophone and a
foreigner, are egotistical and easily flattered. Saying "mada mada" won't
change their minds. So it's okay to make your Japanese persona a little more
liveable by injecting it with your own native rhetorical norms.

Who knows. You might even look like a movie star to them. ;)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-08T07:00:55.513
30282
2016-01-08T07:00:55.513
12155
17922
answer