お疲れ様でした
otsukaresama deshita
The English phrase "job well done" is expressed in Japanese as お疲れ様でした (otsukaresama deshita).
お疲れ様でした is used to thank or acknowledge someone for their hard work after completing a task. It literally means "You must be tired" and serves to express appreciation for effort. In many settings, it also functions as a standard greeting when arriving at or leaving a workplace. For acknowledging outstanding performances, you might use お見事です ("It's admirable" or "Splendid job") or to praise specific results, you can say すばらしい成果です ("It's a wonderful outcome").
Which one should you use?
While お疲れ様でした is a versatile way to acknowledge effort, ご苦労様でした also exists to acknowledge hard work. However, ご苦労様でした is strictly used by a superior to a subordinate. Using it toward a boss is considered rude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can change its level of politeness based on its ending. The お疲れ様でした form is polite and suitable for use with superiors. Dropping the "deshita" to say お疲れ様 makes the phrase informal and suitable for use with peers or subordinates.
How do you pronounce it?
otsukaresama deshita
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using ご苦労様でした when speaking to your boss, as this is considered rude.
Did you know?
- The word お疲れ様でした is constructed using both an honorific prefix お and an honorific suffix 様 to wrap the concept of fatigue in maximum respect.
- In Japanese business culture, you may hear a colleague say お疲れ様でした several times in a single evening as different people depart in waves.
- If you are a boss praising a subordinate, using the phrase ご苦労様でした is actually more natural than the polite お疲れ様でした, which is often reserved for equals or superiors.
Examples in context
- 今日もお疲れ様でした。Kyou mo otsukaresama deshita.Good job today.
- プレゼンの準備、お疲れ様でした。Purezen no junbi, otsukaresama deshita.Job well done on the presentation preparations.
- 大きなプロジェクトが終わりましたね。お疲れ様でした。Ookina purojekuto ga owarimashita ne. Otsukaresama deshita.The big project is finished. Well done.
Example conversation
A colleague is leaving the office after a long day.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さん、今日もお疲れ様でした。Misaki-san, kyou mo otsukaresama deshita.Good job today, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんも、お疲れ様でした。Youta-san mo, otsukaresama deshita.Good job to you too, Youta.
- 陽太 Yota明日は休みですね。Ashita wa yasumi desu ne.Tomorrow is a day off, isn't it?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、ゆっくり休みます。Hai, yukkuri yasumimasu.Yes, I am going to rest well.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お疲れ様でした, CC BY-SA 4.0.
