How do I say 'good job'?

Chinese praise culture has its own distribution that does not map neatly to English:

• 辛苦了 — the most culturally important praise word. It means “you’ve toiled” and acknowledges effort rather than outcome. In Chinese workplaces, saying 辛苦了 to a colleague who stayed late or handled something difficult is basic social etiquette. It is not a translation of “good job” — it is a distinct category of acknowledging labor.
• 好厉害 — “so capable / impressive.” The warm skill compliment. Use it when someone demonstrates ability: language skills, cooking, solving a hard problem.
• 干得好 — “well done.” The most direct translation of “good job.” Task-specific, outcome-focused.
• 牛逼 — the vulgar “awesome.” Extremely common among young people and online, but genuinely crude in origin. Understanding it is essential; using it requires context judgment.

The cultural pattern: Chinese praise often focuses on the person’s effort and capability (辛苦, 厉害) rather than on the output itself. English “good job” focuses on the task outcome; Chinese 辛苦了 focuses on the person’s investment. This reflects a deeper difference in what gets socially acknowledged.