お疲(つか)れ様(さま)

おつかれさま
expression
good work; thank you for your hard work
1. good work; thank you for your hard work
An expression used to acknowledge someone's effort, commonly used when parting after work or finishing a task.
今日(きょう)もお疲(つか)れ様(さま)でした。
Thank you for your hard work today.
Formal version with でした
お疲(つか)れ様(さま)、先(さき)に帰(かえ)ります。
Good work, I'm heading home first.
「お疲(つか)れ様(さま)」「お疲(つか)れ」
"Good work." "You too."
Casual exchange
会議(かいぎ)が終(お)わって、みんなに「お疲(つか)れ様(さま)でした」と言(い)った。
After the meeting ended, I said 'good work' to everyone.
遅(おそ)くまで残業(ざんぎょう)した同僚(どうりょう)に「お疲(つか)れ様(さま)、大変(たいへん)だったね」と声(こえ)をかけた。
I said to the colleague who worked overtime late, 'Good work, that must have been tough.'

お疲(つか)れ様(さま) is one of the most frequently used expressions in Japanese workplace culture.

FORMS:

  • お疲(つか)れ様(さま)です: polite (colleagues, general)
  • お疲(つか)れ様(さま)でした: past tense (end of work/meeting)
  • お疲(つか)れ: casual (friends, peers)
  • お疲(つか)れ〜: very casual

USAGE:

  • As a greeting when meeting colleagues
  • As a farewell after work
  • To acknowledge someone's effort
  • When finishing a project or meeting

NOTE: Often abbreviated to お疲(つか)れ or おつ in casual contexts.

Related Words

Contrast: ご苦労様(くろうさま) (to subordinates only)
core
Added 2026.1.16 12:28 · Revised 2026.6.5 4:10
05000/05208_otsukaresama