Which one should you use?
While お疲れ様です is used between colleagues or by a superior to a subordinate, the phrase ご苦労様です is strictly used by a person of higher status to someone of lower status to mean "good job."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard form is お疲れ様です. You can use a shorter, informal version, お疲れ様, which is suitable only for close colleagues or subordinates. Dropping the desu at the end is what makes the phrase informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express gratitude for hard work that has been completed, change the ending to the past tense: お疲れ様でした. This is common when the specific task being acknowledged is finished.
How do you pronounce it?
otsukaresama desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use arigatou gozaimasu to thank a colleague for their effort. However, in a Japanese office setting, お疲れ様です is the much more natural and culturally appropriate standard.
Did you know?
- Even though the word 'tsukare' means 'fatigue' or 'tiredness', saying お疲れ様です is not implying that your colleague looks exhausted. Rather, it is a way of acknowledging the fatigue they have endured for the sake of the group.
- In modern corporate emails, お疲れ様です is frequently used as the standard opening line, replacing the traditional 'Dear' or 'Hello'.
- The phrase acts as a verbal 'punctuation mark' in the Japanese office. It is common to say お疲れ様です to almost every person you pass in a hallway or encounter in a shared space, regardless of whether you are actually stopping to discuss a specific task.
Examples in context
- お疲れ様です。Otsukaresama desu.Thank you for your hard work.
- 皆さん、今日はお疲れ様です。Minasan, kyou wa otsukaresama desu.Good job today, everyone.
- 先に帰ります。お疲れ様です！Saki ni kaerimasu. Otsukaresama desu!I'm leaving now. Thank you for your hard work!
Example conversation
Two colleagues are leaving the office for the day.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さん、お疲れ様です。Youta-san, otsukaresama desu.Youta, thank you for your hard work.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さんもお疲れ様です。Himari-san mo otsukaresama desu.Thank you too, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariもう帰りますか？Mou kaerimasu ka?Are you going home now?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、帰りましょう。Hai, kaerimashou.Yes, let's go home.
