History Main / DoesNotKnowHowToSayThanks

A character who doesn't know how to show their appreciation for something. Perhaps they have NoSocialSkills, or maybe their lives were [[BrokenBird so]] [[BreakTheCutie messed]] [[TheWoobie up]] that they simply don't know how thank someone because they never before experienced kindness or helpfulness from other people. Characters like this may give {{Disproportionate Reward}}s of some sort. Alternatively, they may do something they think would be a appropriate way to show their gratitude, only to shock or anger the person they were trying to thank instead.

* Dudley Dursley in ''HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows.''
* The Dothraki in ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' literally have no word for "thank you."

* It's shown in an [[http://youdontknowthings.tumblr.com/post/48937967774/tegaki-blog-scanlation-6 extra]] that [[BadassAdorable Morgiana]] from ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'', after a [[SarcasmMode wonderful life]] [[BeautifulSlaveGirl of enslavement]], is troubled as she doesn't know how to express her gratefulness to [[JerkWithAHeartofGold Alibaba]] for freeing her.

---> '''Clan member:''' We protected you, and you can't even say thank you?!
---> '''Kyrra:''' Ah... I was never good with gratitude meself.

* In FinalFantasyTacticsA2, one mission to unlock the Dragoon job for your clan's Bangaa units involves protecting a Dragoon named Kyrra who's getting flack for it from some bullies. After your clan defeats the bullies, he offers to teach your Bangaa units how to be Dragoons as his way of saying thanks.

** Technically Shepard's the second person to do a good turn for Jack, but the first one died while doing it.

* Jack from ''MassEffect2'' has a lot of trouble coming up with a simple thanks for Shepard after her Loyalty Mission, because basically, Shepard is the first person in her life who did something good for her that she didn't have to extort by force. She does get better at it later, though.

* Princess Arika from ''MahouSenseiNegima'' is normally [[TheStoic calm and composed]], including at her [[spoiler:own execution]]. When [[InsufferableGenius Nagi]] saves her life and professes his love for her, her first response is, "I do not dislike you."

* {{Series/Sherlock}} is so flustered when [[spoiler:John, strapped to a bomb, grabs [[AxCrazy Moriarty]] and [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming tells Sherlock to run]], basically proving himself [[HoYay willing to die for Sherlock]]]] that he can only stammer "That, uh, thing that you did--that you were prepared to do--that was...um...good." While carelessly waving a handgun around.
* In ''TheBigBangTheory'', Sheldon, when he [[spoiler: receives LeonardNimoy's napkin from Penny as a Christmas present.]]

* Nymph from ''SoraNoOtoshimono'' doesn't ever say thanks for anyhing, because her master used to force her to act grateful while he treated her like crap, so she can't understand the honest meaning of the expression.

* Likewise, the golem Shale from ''DragonAge''. Shale has effectively been a slave for as long as memory serves (apart from those twenty years TakenForGranite). The warden can be the first person to selflessly help the golem with anything, which makes Shale attempt to say thanks in the late game (as well as attempting to address the warden with 'you').

Related to CanNotSpitItOut.

* Ishida Mitsunari from ''SengokuBasara'', due to mental instability, sullenness, extremely messed-up life and a complete lack of social graces. The Saica blue path, in which the Saica mercenaries work for him, exemplifies this: Mitsunari spends the entire campaign threatening Magoichi with horrible horrible death should she even think of betraying him. It turns out that Mitsunari values the Saica as employees, but has no real idea how to do that whole "positive reinforcement" thing and simply defaults to death treats and generally acting jealous so they stay with him. When Magoichi notes that one of his comments is practically a compliment, Mitsunari gets annoyed, but admits it was.

* [[{{Watchmen}} Rorschach]] seems to have this trouble for the longest time.

* It seems like [[PsychoForHire Bando]] from ''ElfenLied'' can only show his gratitude by offering to kill a person of the recipient's choice, should they ever need it. As a matter of principle, he refuses to be indebted to anyone, but does not know how to handle such things because he a CareerKiller to the bone.

** She doesn't know how to accept gratitude either. After the concert in "Live A Live", she is thanked quite nicely by the band she helped out, and, though she handles it well in person, later feels disturbed and antsy for no reason she can think of. Kyon believes it's because she is rarely thanked for anything she does.

* [[StarTrek Mr. Spock.]]

* HaruhiSuzumiya doesn't know how to apologize or thank anyone. However, at one point, Kyon tells her that her the one time he saw her in a ponytail it was "so cute it was criminal," and from then on whenever she ''really'' screws up, she puts her hair in a ponytail in the next scene, since its the only way she can apologize.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''ChronoCross'' with Starky, [[TheGreys an alien.]] When attempting to express his gratitude, he uses the phrase "You're welcome." The person he is speaking to complements his attempted courtesy, and gives him the correct phrase to use instead. A text box then pops up and says "Starky learned 'Thank You,'" as though it was an actual in-game ability.

* RebuildOfEvangelion has this in [[EmotionlessGirl Rei]], who in the second movie reveals that she had never thanked anyone. [[spoiler: At least, until she thanks Shinji.]]

* Squidward from SpongebobSquarepants can't say [[DoesNotKnowHowToSayThanks thanks]] ''or'' [[CannotSpitItOut sorry]].
* {{Series/Beetlejuice}} has a hard time with any sort of social nicety, including but by no means limited to saying thank you.

* {{Series/Sherlock}} is so flustered when [[spoiler:John, strapped to a bomb, grabs [[AxCrazy Moriarty]] and [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming tells Sherlock to run]], basically proving himself [[HoYay willing to die for Sherlock]]]] that he can only stammer "That, uh, thing that you did--that you were prepared to do--that was...um...good."

* In ''TheBigBangTheory'', Sheldon, when he [[spoiler: recieves LeonardNimoy's napkin from Penny as a Christmas present.]]

* Squidward from SpongebobSquarepants can't say [[DoesNotKnowHowToSayThanks thanks]] ''or'' [[CannotSpitItOut sorry]]

* Asti from then hentai OVA ''F-Force'' [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean comforts]] Ash shortly before they set off on their last battle.