Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Thank" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "thank", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
ごくろうさま
ごくろうさま (gokurōsama)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
慰労
いろう (irō)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "thank" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ごくろうさま and 慰労.
In Japanese, ごくろうさま (ごくろうさま (gokurōsama)) is typically associated with "Thank you for your hard work; I appreciate your efforts" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents A polite expression of appreciation for someone's effort, typically used by a superior to a subordinate, or between colleagues when one has completed a task. It's generally less formal than お疲れ様です.
On the other hand, 慰労 (いろう (irō)) maps to "to thank/reward for hard work, to express appreciation for efforts" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Expressing appreciation or gratitude for someone's hard work and effort, often after a demanding period or project, acknowledging their fatigue and thanking them.. A literal translation of "thank" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "ごくろうさま"
長い道のり、ごくろうさまでした。
Thank you for your hard work on the long journey.
Bilingual Context for "慰労"
長いプロジェクトが終わった後、社員を慰労するパーティーが開かれた。
After the long project finished, a party was held to thank the employees for their hard work.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "長い道のり、 ＿＿＿ でした。" (Meaning: "Thank you for your hard work on the long journey.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ごくろうさま" fits here because it means "Thank you for your hard work; I appreciate your efforts" in the context of: "Thank you for your hard work on the long journey.". "慰労" represents "to thank/reward for hard work, to express appreciation for efforts".