How to say "Thank" in Japanese

When translating "thank" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between お疲れ様 and 労う. 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, 労う (ねぎらう (negirau)) maps to "to thank for one's efforts, to reward for toil, to appreciate hard work" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents 大変な仕事や努力、貢献に対して、感謝や慰労の気持ちを表す際に用いられます。達成後や一区切りついた時に使われることが多いです。. A literal translation of "thank" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!