How to say "Thank" in Japanese

When translating "thank" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between お疲れ様 and いただきます. In Japanese, お疲れ様 (おつかれさま (otsukaresama)) is typically associated with "Thank you for your hard work; You must be tired (greeting)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A common greeting used to acknowledge someone's effort or hard work, often said at the end of the day, after a meeting, or when someone has completed a task. Not necessarily implying the person is *actually* tired, but showing appreciation.. On the other hand, いただきます (いただきます (itadakimasu)) maps to "Thank you for the meal (before eating); I humbly receive" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A polite phrase said before eating or drinking, or when receiving something, expressing gratitude. It implies 'I humbly receive this food/drink/item'.. A literal translation of "thank" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!