What does it mean word for word?
The phrase お疲れ様でした literally translates to "You are a person who has become tired/exhausted," which serves to acknowledge the fatigue resulting from someone's effort.
Which one should you use?
While お疲れ様でした is a standard way to acknowledge work, ご苦労様でした also acknowledges effort but carries a strict hierarchical weight. It is used only by a superior to a subordinate and would be considered rude if said to a boss or a client.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お疲れ様でした is the formal way to thank someone for their work. For more casual situations, you can use the versatile おつかれさま or the shorter お疲れ. Dropping the polite verb at the end to use お疲れ様 makes the phrase informal and it should only be used with peers or subordinates.
How does it change in a sentence?
The tense of the phrase changes based on the timing of the work: the present tense お疲れ様です is used while someone is still working or as a general greeting, whereas the past tense お疲れ様でした is used once a task or the workday is completed.
How do you pronounce it?
Otsukaresama deshita
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use ご苦労様でした toward a boss or a client, as this is considered rude due to its hierarchical nature.
Did you know?
- The phrase is constructed using the honorific prefix お and the suffix 様, which together elevate the state of being 'tired' into a respectful acknowledgement.
- The phrase お疲れ様です can function as a way to start an email or a phone call, acting as a professional bridge before the main topic is introduced.
- Because the phrase literally means 'you are tired', it is common to see it used as a simple hello or goodbye in an office. It serves as a linguistic recognition that everyone is working hard together.
Examples in context
- 田中さん、今日のプレゼンテーションありがとうございました。お疲れ様でした。Mr./Ms. Tanaka, thank you for today's presentation. Good job.
- 今日も一日お疲れ。Good job today, you worked hard.
- 昨日は長時間働いたね。おつかれさま。You worked long hours yesterday. Good job.
- お疲れ様でした。Otsukaresama deshita.Thank you for your hard work.
- 今日もお疲れ様でした。Kyou mo otsukaresama deshita.Thank you for your work today as well.
- 皆さま、お疲れ様でした。Minasama, otsukaresama deshita.Thank you all for your hard work.
Example conversation
At the office at the end of the workday.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さん、お疲れ様でした。Himari-san, otsukaresama deshita.Himari, thank you for your work.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔さんもお疲れ様でした。Hiroto-san mo otsukaresama deshita.Thank you for your work too, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoまた明日。Mata ashita.See you tomorrow.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、また明日。Hai, mata ashita.Yes, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お疲れ様でした, CC BY-SA 4.0.
