“o-tsukaresama・go-kurousama”: Thank You for Your Hard Work (keigo distinction) [JLPT N2]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Comparing the keigo for thanking others for their effort
“o-tsukaresama・go-kurousama”: Thank You for Your Work (keigo distinction)
「お疲れ様（です）」 and 「ご苦労様（です）」 are both greetings that acknowledge someone's effort (“thanks for your hard work”), but the audience differs: お疲れ様 is safe up and down (to bosses, colleagues, and subordinates); ご苦労様 is only from a higher-up to a subordinate (boss to staff). Saying ご苦労様 to your boss is a serious faux pas — essential workplace knowledge.
🧠 Core principle: always use お疲れ様 to a superior
The core is the up/down relationship decides which to use: ご苦労様 carries a condescending “(superior to inferior) I acknowledge your effort” tone, so it's only for subordinates (president to staff, senior to junior). お疲れ様 has no such restriction and is safe for anyone. One rule: when unsure, use お疲れ様, and to superiors (bosses, clients) it's the only acceptable choice.
📌 Who You Can Use It With
| Phrase | Audience | Example |
|---|---|---|
| お疲れ様です | boss/colleague/subordinate (all safe) | 部長、お疲れ様です |
| ご苦労様です | subordinates only (higher→lower) | (社長が社員に)ご苦労様 |
| お疲れ様でした | after something's finished | 今日もお疲れ様でした |
💬 Example Sentences
- 部長、お疲れ様です。お先に失礼します。(You've worked hard, Manager. I'll head off first.) — to a boss (must use お疲れ様)
- 今日も一日、お疲れ様でした。(Thanks for your hard work all day today.) — end-of-day
- (boss to staff) よく頑張った、ご苦労様。(You did well — good work.) — higher to lower
- すれ違うとき、同僚に「お疲れ様」と声をかける。(Saying お疲れ様 to a colleague when passing by.) — among colleagues
- (✗ new hire to president) 「社長、ご苦労様です」 → rude! Should be お疲れ様です. — common mistake
🔄 Compare: お疲れ様 vs ご苦労様 vs お世話様 vs お先に失礼します
| Phrase | Audience / Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| お疲れ様です | up and down, acknowledging effort | お疲れ様です |
| ご苦労様です | higher→lower only, to a subordinate | (boss→staff) ご苦労様 |
| お世話様です | “thanks for your help” (external/service) | お世話様です |
| お先に失礼します | “I'll be leaving first” (leaving greeting) | お先に失礼します |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ご苦労様 to a boss: ✗ (to a boss) ご苦労様です → always use お疲れ様です to a superior.
- Assuming they're interchangeable: the audiences differ — お疲れ様 (everyone), ご苦労様 (subordinates only).
- Bare お疲れ is too casual: shortened お疲れ is intimate/casual; in formal settings use お疲れ様です.
- ご苦労様 to a client: for clients/outsiders use お疲れ様 or お世話になっております, not ご苦労様.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
お疲れ様・ご苦労様 are daily Japanese workplace greetings, but the wrong audience is rude. Rule of thumb: to a superior or when unsure, always use お疲れ様です (safest, universal); ご苦労様 is only superior-to-subordinate. A quick お疲れ様です when leaving, passing by, or finishing a task is basic workplace etiquette. Master this up/down distinction for much more appropriate communication. N2 (workplace essential).
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N2: scene items on お疲れ様 (up and down) vs ご苦労様 (higher→lower only).
- Rule: to a superior, only お疲れ様; ご苦労様 to a superior = rude.
- 「お疲れ様でした」 is used after something has finished.
🖊️ 練習題（5 題）
Q1. 「部長、___。お先に失礼します。」（部長，您辛苦了。我先告辭了）最も適切なのは？
(A) お疲れ様です (B) ご苦労様です (C) ご苦労さま (D) お疲れ
Q2. 「ご苦労様」を使ってよい相手はどれか？
(A) 部下・自分より下位の人 (B) 上司 (C) 取引先の社長 (D) お客様
Q3. 「部長、ご苦労様です」という言い方が問題なのはなぜか？
(A) 「ご苦労様」是上位者對下位者用的，對上司用會失禮
(B) 「ご苦労様」聽起來太過親密
(C) 「ご苦労様」是寫錯的字
(D) 其實完全沒有問題
Q4. 上司・同僚・部下の全員に使える、最も安全な慰勞語はどれか？
(A) お疲れ様です (B) ご苦労様です (C) ご苦労さん (D) 苦労したね
Q5. 慰勞語の使い方として正しいものは？
(A) 社長が社員に「ご苦労様」と言う。 (B) 新入社員が社長に「ご苦労様です」と言う。
(C) 部下が上司に「ご苦労様でした」と言う。 (D) 学生が先生に「ご苦労様」と言う。
答案解析
1. (A) お疲れ様です ── 對上司必須用「お疲れ様です」，不可用「ご苦労様」。
2. (A) 部下・自分より下位の人 ── 「ご苦労様」只能對下位者使用。
3. (A) ── 「ご苦労様」是上位→下位用語，對上司用會嚴重失禮。
4. (A) お疲れ様です ── 上下皆可，最安全通用。
5. (A) ── 只有「社長→社員」是正確的上位對下位；其餘都是下位對上位誤用「ご苦労様」。