Formal — to stranger
Cultural · Communication
「ご苦労さま」は目上の人には使わない方がいいですよ。「お疲れさまです」が正解。 — Avoid saying 'gokurou-sama' to your superiors — 'otsukare-sama desu' is the right choice. (Cultural · Communication, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N3)
You
「ご苦労さま」は目上の人には使わない方がいいですよ。「お疲れさまです」が正解。
「ごくろうさま」はめうえのひとにはつかわないほうがいいですよ。「おつかれさまです」がせいかい。
Avoid saying 'gokurou-sama' to your superiors — 'otsukare-sama desu' is the right choice.
Romaji: 'Gokurou-sama' wa meue no hito ni wa tsukawanai hou ga ii desu yo. 'Otsukare-sama desu' ga seikai. / Reply Romaji: Sou nan desu ne, shirimasen deshita.
Reply
そうなんですね、知りませんでした。
そうなんですね、しりませんでした。
Oh, I didn't know that.
Gesture & etiquette
Mentoring tone — patient, not condescending. Use a small notebook or hand gesture (palm-up showing 'down' for ご苦労 use, palm sideways showing 'level' for お疲れ).
Critical Japanese workplace nuance: ご苦労さま (gokurou-sama) sounds like 'good job' from above looking down — historically used by samurai/lords to retainers. Never use upward to superiors or clients. お疲れさま (otsukare-sama) is the safe, universal version — usable to peers and superiors. Foreigners often learn 'gokurou-sama' first and make this mistake. Correct it kindly when teaching.