How to say "Thank" in Japanese

When translating "thank" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between お疲れ様 and ごちそうさま. 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, ごちそうさま (ごちそうさま (gochisousama)) maps to "Thank you for the meal (after eating)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A polite phrase said after finishing a meal, expressing gratitude for the food and/or the hospitality. Often shortened to 「ごちそうさま」.. A literal translation of "thank" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!