What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the continuous form of the verb 'to tire' (tsukareteru) and the auxiliary 'mitai' meaning 'looks like' or 'appears to be'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
疲れてるみたい is a casual way to express this observation. For a polite or formal setting, such as speaking to a superior, use 疲れているようですね. For an even more formal approach, you can use お疲れのようですね. In very informal settings, you might say 疲れてるみたいだよ or even more descriptively, 疲れてるみたいな顔してるね to mean "you're wearing a tired expression."
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 'ne' to the end of the phrase, as in 疲れてるみたいだね, makes it a soft observation or an attempt to seek agreement, which is common when expressing concern.
How do you pronounce it?
tsukareteru mitai
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate "you look tired" literally as あなたは疲れている, but this sounds like a blunt statement of fact rather than a sympathetic observation of appearance.
When do people say it?
When noticing a person's pale or sickly complexion, you can use the phrase お顔色が悪いですが、大丈夫ですか？ (Your complexion looks bad, are you okay?).
Did you know?
- The root verb 疲れる is often used in the greeting お疲れ様です to thank someone for their hard work. In this context, it transforms from a comment on exhaustion into a polite professional acknowledgment.
- While English speakers often use the word 'you' in this phrase, Japanese speakers typically omit the subject entirely. Using the pronoun あなた can make a sympathetic observation feel like a confrontational or clinical diagnosis.
- Japanese has the specific term 疲れ気味 to describe a state of 'feeling a bit tired'. This allows a speaker to describe a general trend of fatigue rather than a sudden or acute appearance of exhaustion.
Examples in context
- 座りなよ。疲れてるみたいだし。Take a seat. You look tired.This sentence is useful for suggesting someone take a seat because they appear tired.Tatoeba #2068042 by bunbuku, translation #1860586 by CK
- 疲れてるみたいだから早く寝た方がいいよ。You look tired, so you should go to bed early.This sentence is useful for suggesting someone go to bed early because they appear tired.Tatoeba #3709603 by tommy_san, translation #3709608 by CK
- 疲れてるみたいだね。きっと働き過ぎなんだよ。You look tired. You must have been working too hard.This sentence is useful for noting someone looks tired and speculating that they have been working too hard.Tatoeba #1036766 by bunbuku, translation #2698777 by WestofEden
- 陽子 (Yoko): お疲れのようですね。Yoko: You look tired.
- 佐藤 (Sato): お顔色が悪いですが、大丈夫ですか？Sato: Your complexion looks bad, are you okay?
- たかし (Takashi): 疲れてるみたいな顔してるね。Takashi: You're wearing a tired expression.
- なおみ (Naomi): 疲れてるみたいだよ。Naomi: Looks like you're tired.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himari sees Hinata working late at night.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、すごく疲れてるみたい。Hinata, sugoku tsukareteru mitai.Hinata, you look really tired.
- 陽太 Yotaちょっと仕事が忙しかったんだ。Chotto shigoto ga isogashikatta nda.Work was just a bit busy.
- 陽葵 Himari無理しないで、早く休んでね。Muri shinai de, hayaku yasunde ne.Don't overdo it, please rest soon.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとう、そうするよ。Arigatou, sou suru yo.Thanks, I will.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
