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This month I wrote about いただき (itadaki). Yes, just いただき. I had this bizarre internal sense that いただき was a more commonly used, potentially more natural phrase when thanking someone for something they did, and I ended up being able to confirm this hunch with some (very unscientific) data.

I was reminded once again, however, of exactly how important context is for something even as simple as a phrase like 買ってもらった (katte moratta).

While digging through the internet as I was writing, I stumbled upon a Yahoo Chiebukuro post showing the three meanings verbs of receiving can take:

①（自分の代わりに人に）買ってきてもらった。
②（相手が）買ったのを貰った。（＝プレゼント）
③（自分の所有物を相手に）買ってもらった。

1. They went and bought something (in place of me going and buying it)
2. I received what they bought (= a present)
3. I received them buying (something that I owned)

Who is buying what where and from/for whom can really vary! And this phrase can mean all of these things. It’s never quite as simple as you’d hope. Context is queen/king.

And of course, ironically, I found an example of くださり that is topically relevant to podcast content. I introduced the website/app Jimoty on the podcast this month as a convenient way to get rid of stuff for free in Japan (assuming you live in a major metropolis), and I was looking through my reviews out of curiosity. I only have one review, but it’s a five star review from when I bought a used Instant Pot just after moving to Osaka.

Here’s the review:

雨の中取りに来てくださりありがとうございました！

Thanks for coming to pick up (the Instant Pot) in the rain!

So perhaps this gives us additional content. いただき is the perfect level of politeness for workplace thanks, while くださり is a slightly heightened casual politeness, one half rank above くださって? That’s the best that I can do right now. In the end, you can keep using くださって without any real penalty. Your point will be made and it will be polite. So don’t sweat any of this too much.