आपकी कृपा है (aapkii kripaa hai)
phrase
A polite, formal phrase meaning 'it is your kindness/grace', used to graciously deflect thanks or praise back onto the other person.
Sense
1
:
polite deflection of thanks/praise
phrase Used as a courteous response when someone thanks you, compliments you, or credits you with something -- it redirects the credit to the listener rather than accepting it outright.
Synonyms: आपकी मेहरबानी है (aapkii meharbaanii hai), आपका बड़प्पन है (aapkaa badappan hai, you are being generous)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This phrase reflects a broader cultural instinct in Hindi to respond to compliments with humility rather than acceptance -- rather than saying 'yes, I did well', you shift the credit to the other person's generosity or blessing. You will hear it often from shopkeepers, hosts, or juniors addressing elders, especially paired with the respectful आप (aap) form.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to respond to praise with a direct acceptance like 'thank you' (धन्यवाद dhanyvaad), but a native speaker is more likely to deflect with आपकी कृपा है (aapkii kripaa hai), similar to how English speakers might say 'you're too kind' rather than simply agreeing. 2) This phrase is fairly formal/respectful in tone -- among close friends or peers, people often use something lighter or skip the response altogether.
Sample Sentences:
आप बहुत तारीफ़ कर रहे हैं, यह आपकी कृपा है।
You're praising me too much, that's very kind of you.
(aap bahut taariif kar rahe hain, yah aapkii kripaa hai।)
जी, यह सब आपकी कृपा है, वरना मैं कुछ नहीं हूँ।
Sir, it's all your grace, otherwise I'm nothing.
(jii, yah sab aapkii kripaa hai, varnaa main kuchh nahiin hoon।)
दुकानदार ने मुस्कराते हुए कहा, आपकी कृपा है साहब, आप जैसे ग्राहक कम मिलते हैं।
The shopkeeper said with a smile, it's your kindness, sir, customers like you are rare.
(dukaandaar ne muskraate hue kahaa, aapkii kripaa hai saahab, aap jaise graahak kam milte hain।)
अगर आज मैं यहाँ तक पहुँचा हूँ, तो यह सब गुरुजी की कृपा है।
If I've reached this far today, it's all thanks to my teacher's grace.
(agar aaj main yahaan tak pahunchaa hoon, to yah sab gurujii kii kripaa hai।)
बेटा, इतना मत झुको, बस इतना कह दो कि यह आपकी कृपा है।
Son, don't bow so much, just say that it's your kindness.
(betaa, itnaa mat jhuko, bas itnaa kah do ki yah aapkii kripaa hai।)
मैंने उनसे कहा कि यह मेरी काबिलियत नहीं, आपकी कृपा है।
I told them it's not my ability, it's your grace.
(mainne unse kahaa ki yah merii kaabiliyat nahiin, aapkii kripaa hai।)
यदि आपकी कृपा न होती, तो यह काम कभी पूरा न होता।
If it weren't for your grace, this work would never have been completed.
(yadi aapkii kripaa n hotii, to yah kaam kabhii pooraa n hotaa।)
जब भी कोई मेरी तरक्की की बात करता है, मैं कह देता हूँ कि यह आपकी कृपा है।
Whenever someone talks about my success, I just say it's your kindness.
(jab bhii koii merii tarakkii kii baat kartaa hai, main kah detaa hoon ki yah aapkii kripaa hai।)
छोटे कर्मचारी ने मालिक से कहा, आपकी कृपा से ही यह सब संभव हुआ है।
The junior employee told the owner, it's only through your kindness that all this became possible.
(chhote karmchaarii ne maalik se kahaa, aapkii kripaa se hii yah sab sambhav huaa hai।)