疲れた
tsukareta
The Japanese word for tired is 疲れた (tsukareta).
疲れた is used to express being in need of rest or sleep. While it is grammatically the past tense meaning "I got tired," it is commonly used to express the present state of being tired. For a more colloquial way to say you are totally tired or exhausted, younger individuals often use めっちゃ疲れた. Use 疲れた for physical or mental exhaustion, but if you specifically mean you are sleepy and want to sleep, you should use a different word, 眠い.
Meaning: in need of rest or sleep (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, the phrase 疲れた is often used to express the current state of being tired even though it is grammatically the past tense. To express being tired in a polite or formal setting, use the polite form 疲れました.
How do you pronounce it?
tsukareta
When do people say it?
In a workplace setting, people often use the phrase お疲れ様です to acknowledge someone's hard work or effort.
Did you know?
- The word 疲れ is the root of お疲れ様, but the addition of 様 (sama) elevates the 'tiredness' to a level of respect and honor.
- The phrase お疲れ様 can be used to toast drinks after a long project, effectively turning the concept of fatigue into a celebration of shared hard work.
- Using お疲れ様 without the です is strictly for peers or subordinates, as dropping the polite ending to a boss could be seen as an insult.
Examples in context
- 疲れたなあ。I'm tired.This sentence shows a casual way to say "I'm tired."Tatoeba #85918 by tommy_san, translation #1705 by brauliobezerra
- 少し疲れた。I'm a little tired.This sentence shows how to say "I'm a little tired."Tatoeba #146779 by bunbuku, translation #258671 by CK
- 私は疲れた。I was tired.This sentence shows how to say "I was tired."Tatoeba #153150 by bunbuku, translation #261394 by CK
- 今日は一日中歩き回りましたので、疲れました。I walked around all day today, so I'm tired.
- 今日は本当にお疲れ様です。You worked really hard today.
- 最後まで試験勉強を頑張りましたが、めっちゃ疲れた。I studied hard until the end for the exam, but I'm totally exhausted.
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are walking home after a long day.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、大丈夫？Yui, daijoubu?Yui, are you okay?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、少し疲れた。Un, sukoshi tsukareta.Yeah, I'm a little tired.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、早く帰ろう。Jaa, hayaku kaerou.Then, let's go home quickly.
- 結衣 Yuiそうだね、そうする。Sou dane, sou suru.That's true, let's do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tired” translations and entries 疲れた, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
