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
犒う
犒う(ねぎらう)
C2PLUS / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "thank" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ごくろうさま and 犒う.
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, 犒う (犒う(ねぎらう)) maps to "To thank or reward for labor or services; to show appreciation for someone's efforts (rare kanji)." (Syllabus Level: C2PLUS) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus.. 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 "犒う"
毎日、日本語を練習するために犒う。
Every day, I thank or reward for labor or services; to show appreciation for someone's efforts (rare kanji). to practice Japanese.
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.". "犒う" represents "To thank or reward for labor or services; to show appreciation for someone's efforts (rare kanji).".