How to say "Thank" in Japanese

When translating "thank" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between お疲れ様 and 恐縮. 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, 恐縮 (きょうしゅく (kyoushuku)) maps to "thank you very much; excuse me for troubling you; I am sorry; I feel awful" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents A polite expression used to show gratitude, apologize, or express a feeling of being burdened or sorry, especially when asking for a favor or receiving something. Formal. 感謝、謝罪、または特に何かを頼む際や受け取る際に、恐縮している気持ちを表す丁寧な表現です。フォーマルな場面で使われます。. A literal translation of "thank" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!