The practice may seem outdated to some, but sending a handwritten thank-you note is a timeless and memorable way to express your gratitude. The art of letter writing has unfortunately been lost to our readily available technology, but the sentiment will be appreciated—guaranteed. Of course, figuring out exactly what to say (or when to write a thank you note) can be a challenge.
There are many occasions that call for writing a thank-you note, such as after a job interview or when someone has done you a favor. And most people know writing a thank-you note is just good wedding etiquette. But the most common reason to send along a note is receiving a gift.
What to write in a thank-you note? For starters, it doesn’t have to be long (three or four sentences is just fine), but it must mention the gift, your delight in it (try to be specific: “I wore it last night and got so many compliments!”), and your appreciation for the sender’s time, effort, and thoughtfulness.
With the technology we have, thank-you notes don’t necessarily have to be handwritten, although the recipient will surely appreciate it if you take the time to put pen to paper.
I – Word Understanding
Outdated – old-fashioned
Sentiment – thought / point of view
Etiquette – code of good manners or behavior
II – Have Your Say
1, How do you usually express your gratitude to someone? What do you think of written thank you notes?
2, How does technology change letter writing in your society? How do you send New Year Cards these days?
3, Please explain the differences between the following ways of saying “thank you” in Japanese:
a, Arigato
b, Arigato gozaimasu
c, Domo arigato gozaimasu
d, Arigato gozaimashita
4, Aside from saying “thank you”, what are the other ways of expressing gratitude observed in your country?
