What does it mean word for word?
The core of the phrase is お疲れ様, which is built from お疲れ (fatigue or tiredness) and 様 (sama), a respectful honorific suffix.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the status of the work. Use the past tense お疲れ様でした when a task or the workday is completely finished. In contrast, the present tense お疲れ様です is used when the work or task is still ongoing or when greeting a colleague during the workday.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can make the phrase informal by dropping the でした or です, resulting in お疲れ様. This informal version is only suitable for use with close colleagues of the same rank or with subordinates.
How does it change in a sentence?
The tense of the phrase changes based on the completion of the work: use the present tense お疲れ様です for ongoing tasks or midday greetings, and the past tense お疲れ様でした once the work is finished.
How do you pronounce it?
otsukaresama deshita
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse お疲れ様 with ご苦労様. However, ご苦労様 is strictly used by a superior to a subordinate and can sound condescending if used by a junior to a senior.
Did you know?
- In modern youth slang, a shortened version おつ (otsu) is used in online gaming and texting to quickly thank a teammate or say goodbye.
- The phrase お疲れ様 is frequently used as a toast when drinking beer after work, serving as a verbal signal to relax and begin the social hour.
- While お疲れ様です is a professional greeting, it is also used in emails as a standard opening line, regardless of whether anyone is actually tired.
Examples in context
- お疲れ様でした。Thank you for your hard work.This sentence is useful for expressing thanks for completed work using お疲れ様でした.Tatoeba #688395 by arihato, translation #2284315 by CK
- プロジェクトの完了、お疲れ様でした。Purojekuto no kanryō, otsukaresama deshita.Thank you for your hard work on the project completion.
- 今日はもう帰りましょう。お疲れ様でした。Kyō wa mō kaerimashō. Otsukaresama deshita.Let's go home now. Thank you for your hard work today.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are leaving the office at the end of the day.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さん、今日はお疲れ様でした。Misaki-san, kyō wa otsukaresama deshita.Misaki, thank you for your hard work today.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんも、今日はお疲れ様でした。Yōta-san mo, kyō wa otsukaresama deshita.Thank you for your hard work too, Yota.
- 陽太 Yotaまた明日、よろしくお願いします。Mata ashita, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.See you tomorrow.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、また明日。Hai, mata ashita.Yes, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
