世話

Japanese

Kanji in this term
世	話
せ Grade: 3	わ Grade: 2
on'yomi

Etymology

Believed to derive from 忙しい (sewashii, “busy”). The kanji are ateji.

Alternative forms

• お世話(せわ), 御世話(おせわ) (osewa)

Noun

世(せ)話(わ) • (sewa) 

1. care, looking after, help, favor

   お世話(せわ)になりました。

   Osewa ni narimashita.

   Literally, “I have been taken care of.” → “Thank you very much for everything.” / “I'm very obliged to you (for what you've done).”

Usage notes

Takes the formal prefix お (o-) when talking to someone outside the group (which could be anyone else when the “group” is just oneself) about a favor done for someone inside the group.

Idioms

• 世話(せわ)をする (sewa o suru): to take care of, to do a favor
• 世話(せわ)になる (sewa ni naru): to receive a favor, to be obliged or indebted to someone (for taking care of something)
• お世話(せわ)になる (osewa ni naru)