長時間にわたる作業がようやく終わり、上司に__________の言葉をかけられた。
• ねぎらい
• 手当て
• 慰め
• 励まし

English: "I finally finished the work I spent hours on and my boss gave me words of gratitude."

Key vocabulary:

ようやく - finally

上司（じょうし）- boss

言葉をかけられる - to say words

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手当て（てあて）- compensation / medical treatment

e.g 凍死しそうな乞食が手当てのため、病院に運び込まれた。- A freezing beggar was brought into the hospital for treatment.

励まし（はげまし）- encouragement

e.g 彼女は励ましの言葉は一言も発しなかった。- She didn't utter a single word of encouragement.

慰め（なぐさめ）- comfort

e.g 旅に出ることには慰めがある。- We find comfort in traveling.

ねぎらい - thanks, gratitude, reward

e.g 初めて商談を成功させた部下への労いの為、ランチに連れ出した。- I took my subordinate out to lunch to reward/thank him for his first successful business meeting.

ねぎらい（労い）is only used by someone of high rank to someone of lower rank, which is why it's often used by 上司.