<p>I think "Thank you for your hard work" have the core meaning of "辛苦了" in Chinese.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-29T14:20:50.863Z
Yes, and exactly what it refers to would depend on the actual context in which the phrase is uttered. The operative word here is "core meaning"
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-16T07:53:12.883Z
2015-05-16T07:53:12.883Z
Zeal Lin
<p>"That was tough" or "impressive work"?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-16T18:37:29.107Z
2015-05-16T18:37:29.107Z
Jessica
<p>I think a good way to phrase this would be to say something like:</p>

<p>"Wow you seem to be working hard."</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>"Working hard I see."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-15T22:12:33.823Z
2015-05-15T22:12:33.823Z
Ringil
<p>I have been using 'it must have been hard on/for you' when i feel like saying 辛苦了 as a response to someone sharing about a hard day at work or a tiring journey/activity.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-28T16:10:40.833Z
2024-03-28T16:10:40.833Z
user38732
<p>Here in Taipei 辛苦了 is a friendly phrase said to encourage people who deliver packages, especially in very hot weather (+100% humidity), heavy rain or freezing cold. An offer of (cold) bottled tea is much appreciated (but not required).</p>
<p><em><strong>Pragmatically</strong></em> 辛苦了 is equivalent to &quot;Thank you for your hard work&quot; or &quot;Wow! This weather is really something!&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-04-16T13:18:27.760Z
2024-04-16T13:18:27.760Z
Robert MATTHEWS 馬學進
<p>I often find it's a compassionate response or acknowledgement of one's hardwork. It can be used when someone's going through a hard time.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-07T23:34:20.237Z
2022-09-07T23:34:20.237Z
user34762
<p>Here're 3:</p>

<p>You're really hard at it!</p>

<p>You're up to your ears in it!</p>

<p>Slogging like a good one I see!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-15T22:56:36.630Z
2015-05-16T02:55:31.957Z
2015-05-16T02:55:31.957Z
Pedroski
<p><code>辛苦</code> in itself means <code>'to toil, to work hard'</code></p>

<p><code>辛苦了</code> does not translate as <code>"Thank you for working hard for me!"</code>, it does not necessarily express gratitude for something that directly benefits the speaker. </p>

<p>Consider e.g. the following: a friend of yours who studies abroad returns home to your village and you meet him at the station, you can greet them with <code>路上辛苦了吧！</code> This could mean <code>"That must have been an exhausting journey!"</code>, it doesn't mean "Thank you for taking this hard journey to see me." Or you could translate this as "You've come a long way."</p>

<p>Another situation, you visit some relatives and they ask you about your job. You tell them all kinds of things you do at work, you do your own tasks, you write report for your boss, you take phone calls, you supervise other people's work, you do this, you do that, etc. Your relatives could praise you with 你工作太辛苦了！ "You are working so hard!", just to praise your merits as a hard-working person. Your work will probably not benefit them at all, nevertheless, they praise your work ethic. </p>

<p>Third situation. You see your neighbors being busy in their garden, you ask them: <code>辛苦了，忙什么？</code> <code>"Wow, what are you so busy with?"</code>. Your neighbors work won't benefit you too much, but you can be polite and show them that you admire their diligent nature. </p>

<p>Of course, if the situation makes it clear, that the speaker is benefited by the other person's work, the phrase can have a direct reference to this. E.g. a friend shows you around in their hometown, you can thank them: <code>你陪我太辛苦了！ 谢谢！</code> <code>"You must be tired for taking me around, thank you!"</code></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-16T06:19:53.397Z
2015-05-16T06:19:53.397Z
imrek
<p>Per the answers to <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/554/which-expressions-should-i-choose-to-say-thanks-for-your-help/">this question</a>, it is clear that you can say 辛苦了 to express gratitude for someone else's help.</p>

<p>But suppose you are working or studying, and somebody else (who is not related to the effort you are making) passes by and tells you ¨辛苦了，辛苦了¨. Clearly that's not an expression of gratitude, but an acknowledgement by this person that you are working hard.</p>

<p>So I'd like to know an idiomatic English expression for this case.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-15T21:41:21.177Z
It's a valid question here but I think there is better chance of getting a good answer on ELL or even EL&U.
NS.X.
<word-choice>
English equivalent for 辛苦了 when the speaker is not the person being helped out
# English equivalent for 辛苦了 when the speaker is not the person being helped out

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-15)

Per the answers to [this question](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/554/which-expressions-should-i-choose-to-say-thanks-for-your-help/), it is clear that you can say 辛苦了 to express gratitude for someone else's help.

But suppose you are working or studying, and somebody else (who is not related to the effort you are making) passes by and tells you ¨辛苦了，辛苦了¨. Clearly that's not an expression of gratitude, but an acknowledgement by this person that you are working hard.

So I'd like to know an idiomatic English expression for this case.

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's a valid question here but I think there is better chance of getting a good answer on ELL or even EL&U.  

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## 8 answers

### Answer by username_10 on 2015-05-16. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

`辛苦` in itself means `'to toil, to work hard'`

`辛苦了` does not translate as `"Thank you for working hard for me!"`, it does not necessarily express gratitude for something that directly benefits the speaker.

Consider e.g. the following: a friend of yours who studies abroad returns home to your village and you meet him at the station, you can greet them with `路上辛苦了吧！` This could mean `"That must have been an exhausting journey!"`, it doesn't mean "Thank you for taking this hard journey to see me." Or you could translate this as "You've come a long way."

Another situation, you visit some relatives and they ask you about your job. You tell them all kinds of things you do at work, you do your own tasks, you write report for your boss, you take phone calls, you supervise other people's work, you do this, you do that, etc. Your relatives could praise you with 你工作太辛苦了！ "You are working so hard!", just to praise your merits as a hard-working person. Your work will probably not benefit them at all, nevertheless, they praise your work ethic.

Third situation. You see your neighbors being busy in their garden, you ask them: `辛苦了，忙什么？` `"Wow, what are you so busy with?"`. Your neighbors work won't benefit you too much, but you can be polite and show them that you admire their diligent nature.

Of course, if the situation makes it clear, that the speaker is benefited by the other person's work, the phrase can have a direct reference to this. E.g. a friend shows you around in their hometown, you can thank them: `你陪我太辛苦了！ 谢谢！` `"You must be tired for taking me around, thank you!"`


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-05-16. Score: 2

I think "Thank you for your hard work" have the core meaning of "辛苦了" in Chinese.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Yes, and exactly what it refers to would depend on the actual context in which the phrase is uttered. The operative word here is "core meaning"  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-05-16. Score: 2

"That was tough" or "impressive work"?


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### Answer by username_5 on 2015-05-15. Score: 2

I think a good way to phrase this would be to say something like:

"Wow you seem to be working hard."

or

"Working hard I see."


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### Answer by username_6 on 2024-03-28. Score: 0

I have been using 'it must have been hard on/for you' when i feel like saying 辛苦了 as a response to someone sharing about a hard day at work or a tiring journey/activity.


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### Answer by username_7 on 2024-04-16. Score: 0

Here in Taipei 辛苦了 is a friendly phrase said to encourage people who deliver packages, especially in very hot weather (+100% humidity), heavy rain or freezing cold. An offer of (cold) bottled tea is much appreciated (but not required).

***Pragmatically*** 辛苦了 is equivalent to "Thank you for your hard work" or "Wow! This weather is really something!"


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### Answer by username_8 on 2022-09-07. Score: 0

I often find it's a compassionate response or acknowledgement of one's hardwork. It can be used when someone's going through a hard time.


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### Answer by username_9 on 2015-05-15. Score: 0

Here're 3:

You're really hard at it!

You're up to your ears in it!

Slogging like a good one I see!


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