疲れた
tsukareta
In Japanese, "I am tired" is expressed as 疲れた (tsukareta).
This phrase is used to express that one feels exhausted or lacks energy. In Japanese, the subject "I" is often omitted when the context makes it clear that you are the one feeling tired.
What does it mean word for word?
It is used in this way to express the current state of being tired, literally meaning "got tired".
Which one should you use?
While 疲れた is the standard informal way to state your fatigue, 疲れてる is a more colloquial and relaxed version. For formal situations, you can use 疲れました or the present progressive form 疲れています.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
疲れた is the informal version used in casual conversation with friends or family. 疲れました is a polite and straightforward way to say "I am tired" that is suitable for use with strangers or superiors. 疲れてる is a colloquial, relaxed form and 疲れています is a formal way to express fatigue in the present progressive tense.
How do you pronounce it?
tsukareta
Did you know?
- In Japanese workplace culture, a superior might say お疲れ様 'you are tired' as a greeting to acknowledge a colleague's hard work, regardless of whether the person actually feels exhausted.
- While English speakers often use 'tired' to mean 'sleepy', using 疲れた in Japanese specifically refers to physical or mental exhaustion. If you are actually sleepy and want a nap, you would use a different word, 眠い (nemui).
- While 疲れた expresses physical or mental exhaustion, the word 飽きた is used when someone is 'tired of' a certain activity or food, meaning they are bored or fed up.
Examples in context
- 疲れたなあ。I am tired.This is useful for expressing a general sense of being tired.Tatoeba #85918 by tommy_san, translation #397714 by brauliobezerra
- 歩くの疲れたよ。I am tired from walking.This shows how to express being tired specifically from the act of walking.Tatoeba #81753 by KK_kaku_, translation #321962 by CM
- 長いこと歩いて疲れた。I am tired from a long walk.This demonstrates expressing fatigue resulting from a long walk.Tatoeba #125902 by small_snow, translation #259521 by AlanF_US
- 先生、疲れました。Teacher, I am tired.
- 昨日のパーティー、楽しかったけど、疲れたな。Yesterday's party was fun, but I am tired.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are walking home after a long day of hiking.
- 健太 Kentaあぁ、すごく疲れた。Aa, sugoku tsukareta.Ah, I am really tired.
- 美咲 Misakiお疲れ様。今日は大変だったね。Otsukaresama. Kyou wa taihen datta ne.Good job today. It was a tough day, wasn't it?
- 健太 Kentaうん、早く家で休みたい。Un, hayaku ie de yasumitai.Yeah, I want to rest at home soon.
- 美咲 Misakiそうだね。ゆっくり休もう。Sou dane. Yukkuri yasumou.That's true. Let's take it easy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 疲れた, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
