noun
Polite noun referring to the effort or trouble someone has gone through, often used in expressions acknowledging that effort.
See also: 苦労
ご苦労をおかけして申し訳ありません。
I'm sorry for causing you trouble.
expression
thank you for your hard work; I appreciate your efforts
Expression used to thank someone for their efforts, typically from a superior to a subordinate. Often used as a set phrase ご苦労さま or ご苦労さん.
See also: ご苦労さま
今日はご苦労さま。
Thank you for your hard work today.
お疲れ様 is a more general expression of appreciation for effort, usable among peers and to superiors, while ご苦労さま is typically used by superiors to subordinates.
Combination of the honorific prefix ご and 苦労 (hardship, trouble).