ご苦労様です

go-kurō-sama desu

thanks for your hard work

部長、お先に失礼します。ご苦労様です。

Manager, I'm leaving first. Thanks for your hard work.

formal

A polite expression used to thank someone for their efforts or hard work, typically from a superior to a subordinate or among colleagues.

課長、今日も残業ありがとうございます。ご苦労様です。

Section chief, thank you for working overtime today. Thanks for your hard work.

A: このレポートを完成させました。 B: ご苦労様です。

A: I've finished this report. B: Thanks for your hard work.

Commonly used in workplaces to acknowledge someone's effort. The tone is respectful but can feel hierarchical depending on context.

Collocations

お疲れ様ですthanks for your hard work (more common, less hierarchical)ご苦労でしたthanks for your hard work (past tense, used after work is done)

Synonyms

お疲れ様です

Related Phrases

お先に失礼しますphrase

I'll be leaving first (said when departing work)

Pro Tip

Hierarchy awareness

Use 'ご苦労様です' only when you are in a clearly superior position. For peers or subordinates, 'お疲れ様です' is safer and more common.

Gold Rule

When to use

Use 'ご苦労様です' when acknowledging someone's effort in a formal, hierarchical context where you are the one giving the order or are in a higher position.

Word Origin

Composed of 'ご' (honorific prefix), '苦労' (hardship/labor), and '様' (honorific suffix). Literally means 'your hardship is as honorable as [such and such]'.

Usage Notes

1. Primarily used in hierarchical workplace settings where the speaker is in a superior position (e.g., manager to employee). 2. Can feel overly formal or even condescending if used between peers or in casual settings. 3. In modern Japanese, 'お疲れ様です' is more commonly used across all contexts due to its neutral tone.

Word Breakdown

ご

honorific prefix

prefix

苦労

hardship, labor, effort

root

様

honorific suffix (like 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' in English)

suffix

です

polite copula (is/am/are)

suffix

和英辞典

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