労う
ねぎらう
godan verb, transitive
to thank someone for their effort; to show appreciation for hard work
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 労う | 労わない |
| Present polite | 労います | 労いません |
| Past | 労った | 労わなかった |
| Past polite | 労いました | 労いませんでした |
| て form | 労って | 労わなくて |
| ている present | 労っている | 労っていない |
| ている polite | 労っています | 労っていません |
| ている past | 労っていた | 労っていなかった |
| ている past polite | 労っていました | 労っていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 労えば | 労わなければ |
| Conditional たら | 労ったら | 労わなかったら |
| Volitional | 労おう | — |
| Volitional polite | 労いましょう | — |
| Potential | 労える | 労えない |
| Passive | 労われる | 労われない |
| Causative | 労わせる | 労わせない |
| Imperative | 労え | 労うな |
1.
to thank someone for their effort; to show appreciation for hard work; to reward with kind words
To express gratitude or appreciation for someone's labor, effort, or service. Typically directed from an equal or superior toward someone who has worked hard.
部下の労を労う。
To thank one's subordinates for their hard work.
長年の功績を労って花束を贈った。
We presented flowers in appreciation of their long years of service.
大会の後、監督は選手たちの頑張りを労う言葉をかけた。
After the tournament, the coach spoke words of appreciation for the players' hard work.
USAGE:
労う is generally used by someone of equal or higher status to acknowledge the efforts of others. It is considered rude to use it toward a social superior. The noun form 労い means "appreciation" or "words of thanks."
GRAMMAR:
Godan verb (u-verb). Transitive.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 労を労う (to thank for someone's hard work)
- 労いの言葉 (words of appreciation)
- 互いを労う (to appreciate each other's efforts)