お礼れい奉ぼう公こう

noun

free service after apprenticeship; post-apprenticeship labor of gratitude

Historical term referring to the period of unpaid or low-paid work a person performed for their master after completing an apprenticeship, as a way of showing gratitude for the training received. Common in the Edo period.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、丁稚でっちがお礼れい奉公ぼうこうを終おえてようやく一いち人にん前まえと認みとめられた。

  In the Edo period, an apprentice was finally recognized as a full-fledged worker after completing their post-apprenticeship service of gratitude.

• お礼れい奉公ぼうこうの期き間かんは、職しょく人にんによって異ことなっていた。

  The length of the post-apprenticeship service varied depending on the trade.