お返事お待ちしております

The phrase 'お返事お待ちしております' is a highly polite and common closing used in Japanese written communication, particularly in business or formal contexts, to express the sender's anticipation of a response. Let's break down its components to understand its etymology and nuances: 1. **お (o-)**: This is an honorific prefix. In Japanese, 'お' and 'ご (go-)' are prefixes added to nouns or verbs to show respect towards the person or thing being referred to, or to politely elevate the action being performed by or for someone else. In this phrase, 'お' is attached to '返事' (henji) to make it more polite, reflecting respect for the recipient and their potential reply. 2. **返事 (henji)**: This noun means 'reply' or 'response'. It is composed of two kanji: * **返 (hen)**: Means 'return', 'give back', 'answer'. * **事 (ji)**: Means 'matter', 'thing', 'affair', 'fact'. So, '返事' literally refers to the 'matter of returning (an answer)'. 3. **お待ち (omachi)**: This is the polite form of the verb '待つ (matsu)', meaning 'to wait'. * **お (o-)**: Again, an honorific prefix, similar to the one used with '返事'. Here, it's attached to the verb stem '待ち' to create a polite noun form or to politely express the action of waiting. * **待ち (machi)**: This is the *masu* stem (or continuative form) of the verb '待つ (matsu)'. When 'お' is prefixed to a verb stem, it often creates a polite noun or part of a polite verbal expression. 4. **して (shite)**: This is the *te*-form of the verb 'する (suru)', meaning 'to do'. In this context, 'お待ちして' forms a polite verbal phrase meaning 'doing the waiting' or 'waiting'. The *te*-form can connect clauses or indicate a continuous action. 5. **おります (orimasu)**: This is the humble (or modest) form of 'います (imasu)', which means 'to be' or 'to exist'. 'おります' is a key component for showing humility on the part of the speaker, further elevating the politeness level of the entire phrase. It indicates that the speaker is humbly in a state of waiting. * The humble form 'おる (oru)' (the plain form of 'おります') is used by the speaker to lower their own status in relation to the listener, thereby showing respect to the listener. This is a fundamental aspect of *kenjōgo* (humble language) in Japanese. **Overall Etymology and Nuance:** The phrase 'お返事お待ちしております' is a quintessential example of *keigo* (honorific language) in Japanese, specifically combining elements of *sonkeigo* (respectful language, as seen with 'お返事') and *kenjōgo* (humble language, as seen with 'おります'). * **Historical Development:** The use of honorifics and humble forms has a long history in Japanese, evolving over centuries to establish social hierarchies and convey respect. The individual components like 'お', '返事', '待つ', 'する', and 'おる' have existed in various forms for a very long time. * **Politeness Level:** The combination of 'お' prefixes, the *te*-form of 'する', and the humble verb 'おります' creates a very high level of politeness. It's more formal and polite than simply saying '返事待っています (Henji matte imasu - I'm waiting for a reply)' or '返事ください (Henji kudasai - Please give me a reply)'. * **Implication:** Beyond just stating 'I am waiting', it subtly conveys that the speaker values the recipient's response, acknowledges that the recipient's time is valuable, and humbly anticipates their action. It's a deferential way to encourage a reply without sounding demanding. * **Context:** This phrase is very common in business emails, formal letters, and other written communications where maintaining respect and professionalism is crucial. It's less common in casual spoken language among close friends. In essence, 'お返事お待ちしております' is a deeply rooted expression of Japanese social etiquette, demonstrating the speaker's humility and respect for the recipient while politely expressing an expectation of a response.