疲れました
tsukaremashita
To say "I was tired" in Japanese, use 疲れました (tsukaremashita).
This phrase is used to express that you felt a lack of energy or experienced exhaustion in the past.
Which one should you use?
疲れました is the polite version of the expression, while 疲れた is the casual version used when speaking with friends or family.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal form 疲れた is the casual past tense of the same verb.
How do you pronounce it?
tsukaremashita
Did you know?
- To describe being 'exhausted' or 'dead tired', Japanese speakers often use the phrase くたくた, which is an onomatopoeia mimicking the sound of something collapsing.
- While English speakers might say 'I am tired' to signal they are finished with a task, Japanese speakers often use 疲れた as a conversational signal that they are ready to leave a social gathering or end an activity.
- In certain high-intensity Japanese subcultures, such as gaming or sports, sighing 疲れた (tsukareta) can serve as a way to show pride. It signals that you have worked hard and achieved something difficult.
Examples in context
- 私: 疲れたから、家でゆっくり休んでたよ。Me: I was tired, so I rested at home.
- 昨日はとても疲れました。Kinō wa totemo tsukaremashita.I was very tired yesterday.
- 仕事で疲れました。Shigoto de tsukaremashita.I was tired from work.
- 一日中歩いて、疲れました。Ichinichijū aruite, tsukaremashita.I walked all day and was tired.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are talking after a long day of sightseeing.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、今日は楽しかったですね。Kenta-san, kyō wa tanoshikatta desu ne.Kenta, today was fun, wasn't it?
- 健太 Kentaはい、でも少し疲れました。Hai, demo sukoshi tsukaremashita.Yes, but I was a little tired.
- 結衣 Yuiゆっくり休みましょう。Yukkuri yasumimashō.Let's get some good rest.
- 健太 Kentaそうしましょう。Sō shimashō.Let's do that.
