ねぎらう

ね

ぎ

ら

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

show appreciation for efforts; thank for hard work; reward for service

usually written using kana alone

Used to express gratitude or recognition for someone's hard work or service, typically toward equals or subordinates, not superiors.

社しゃ長ちょうは社しゃ員いんの努ど力りょくをねぎらった。
The company president showed appreciation for the employees' efforts.

ボランティア

の

皆みな

さん

を

ねぎらう

ため

に

、

ささやか

な

パーティー

を

開ひら

い

た

。

We held a small party to thank the volunteers for their hard work.

Written forms

ねぎらうUsage83%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 労う is less common.
労ねぎらうUsage10%
Kanji form; less common than kana.
犒ねぎらうUsage7%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

労labor, thank for, reward for
犒thanks, reward

Similar words

感かん謝しゃする
感謝する is a general 'thank' for any kindness or favor, while ねぎらう specifically acknowledges effort or hard work, often in a formal or semi-formal context.
労ろうをねぎらう
A common set phrase meaning 'to thank someone for their trouble/efforts'; uses the same verb ねぎらう.

Etymology

Derived from the classical verb ねぎらふ, which combined ねぎ (prayer for good harvest) and あふ (meet, treat). The modern meaning shifted from 'treat with prayer' to 'show appreciation for efforts'.