History Main / DoesNotKnowHowToSayThanks

** Batman states one of the very few things he is not good at, is saying thank you. But immediately afterwards thanks Zatanna for her help in saving WonderWoman.

* Bakugou from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has this problem. It's most notable when he approaches Midoriya (who just saved his life) and yells at him for it, even though it's obvious that he ''is'' grateful, it's just that he's too proud to show it. He also gives Kirishima money to replace what he spent on night-vision goggles that he used to rescue Bakugou.

* {{Series/Sherlock}} is so flustered when [[spoiler:[[BadassAdorable 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.

** Haruhi 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.

->'''Edgeworth:''' I... I'm not sure how to say this.
->'''Maya:''' I know! I know! Try "thank you."
-->''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney''

--> '''Bertie''': No matter how this goes - I want to say, thank you. I don't know how I could thank you enough.
--> '''Lionel''': (Half-seriously) A knighthood?

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

* Squidward from ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' can't say thanks ''or'' [[CannotSpitItOut sorry]].

* In ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', Batman states one of the very few things he is not good at, is saying thank you. But immediately afterwards thanks Zatanna for her help in saving WonderWoman.

* 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 chews you out for helping him, saying that he could've taken care of the bullies himself. When called out on his ungrateful attitude, he apologizes and offers to teach your Bangaa units how to be Dragoons as his way of saying thanks.

->'''Maya:''' I know! I know! [[StatingTheSimpleSolution Try "thank you."]]

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

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

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 an appropriate way to show their gratitude, only to [[PoisonousFriend shock or anger]] the person they were trying to thank instead.

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

* {{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.

* One thing that Ledo faces in ''Anime/SuiseiNoGargantia'' is this. In his case, he's been raised in a pure military environment and doesn't really understand the concept of "gratitude": he understands exchange of services, but not the idea of simply being thankful for another's efforts. He seems to catch on fairly quickly, and the first word he says in the Earthlings' language is a somewhat garbled "thank you".

* 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 ProfessionalKiller to the bone.

* [[PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Miles Edgeworth]] has this problem, at least in the first game. By speaking out of turn and getting herself arrested for contempt of court, Maya Fey keeps the trial going when otherwise Miles would have been found guilty of murder. During the recess, Miles hems and haws on the subject before chickening out, telling Phoenix to remind Maya to mind her manners in the courtroom. (Of course, he also paid her bail himself, so he's not all bad...)

* [[Film/{{Watchmen}} Rorschach]] seems to have this trouble for the longest time.
* From ''TheKingsSpeech'': (paraphrased)

* [[TheMillenniumTrilogy Lisbeth Salander]] has this problem. Understandable, as she has massive trust issues and [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove doesn't know how to be friends]].

* [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Mr. Spock.]]

* Jack from ''VideoGame/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 (technically the second, but the first one died while doing it). She does get better at it later, though.
* Likewise, the golem Shale from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''. 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').
** Don't forget about [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Sten]], who, after you return his sword to him admits that he doesn't how how to thank you, then immediately says that he wants to stay with your group.

--> '''Lionel''': {Hopefully} A knighthood?

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 an appropriate way to show their gratitude, only to shock or anger the person they were trying to thank instead.

* Gretel, one of a pair of truly CreepyTwins from ''BlackLagoon'', does this to Rock when she tries to express her gratitude for being the first person who was nice to her and [[HeWillNotCrySoICryForHim shedding tears for her]] because of the [[HarmfulToMinors horrible things that she and her brother had been put through]] and [[PsychoForHire how they chose to handle it]], something that had been completely alien to her until then... by dropping her panties and sexually proposing to him. Rock is shocked and horrified and immediately leaves the room to go upstairs, where he proceeds to [[PrecisionFStrike curse]] the men who caused her and her brother Hansel to become like this. Also a example of EvilCannotComprehendGood [[TearJerker played for drama]].

* LightNovel/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.