What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the honorific o, the verb tsukare (to get tired) and the respectful noun suffix sama, literally acknowledging that the person has become tired from their efforts.
Which one should you use?
While ご苦労様 also means "good work", it is used exclusively by a superior to a subordinate. Using it toward a boss is considered rude.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make it more polite and suitable for a professional setting when speaking to colleagues or superiors, you can add desu to the end to form お疲れ様です. Conversely, dropping both sama and desu to use お疲れ makes the phrase very casual, intended only for close friends or subordinates.
How does it change in a sentence?
When someone says お疲れ様 to you at the end of a task or the day, it is common to show respect by responding with the polite past-tense version お疲れ様でした.
How do you pronounce it?
otsukaresama
When do people say it?
In Japanese professional culture, this phrase serves many purposes beyond just a compliment, acting as a greeting for various interactions throughout the workday. When receiving the phrase at the end of a task or the day, responding with お疲れ様でした is a standard respectful way to acknowledge the sentiment.
Did you know?
- In Japanese drinking culture, the phrase お疲れ様 is frequently used as a toast before the first sip of beer after a long workday.
- The phrase お疲れ様 is so central to professional life that it can be used as a subject line in business emails to replace a formal 'dear' or 'hello'.
- The word sama in お疲れ様 is the same respectful honorific used for deities or extremely important guests. Its inclusion turns a simple observation about fatigue into a highly polite social ritual.
Examples in context
- お疲れ様。Good work today!This sentence is useful for practicing a standard greeting for the end of the day.Tatoeba #13549381 by LeviHighway, translation #13700957 by chaarii_jpn
- 今日もお疲れ様。kyou mo otsukaresama.Good work today.
- お疲れ様でした！otsukaresama deshita!Good work (polite/formal)!
Example conversation
A man and a woman are leaving their office at the end of the day.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さん、今日もお疲れ様。himari-san, kyou mo otsukaresama.Good work today, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さんも、お疲れ様でした。youta-san mo, otsukaresama deshita.Good work to you too, Youta.
- 陽太 Yotaまた明日。mata ashita.See you tomorrow.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、また明日。hai, mata ashita.Yes, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
