1.
thank you for your hard work; good job (said to colleagues or coworkers)
A standard workplace greeting used to acknowledge someone's effort. Said when meeting colleagues during work, when someone finishes a task, or as a farewell at the end of the workday.
お疲れさまです。
Thank you for your work. / Good job.
今日も一日お疲れさまでした。
Thank you for your hard work today.
会議が終わると、みんな「お疲れさまでした」と言って席を立った。
When the meeting ended, everyone said 'good work' and stood up from their seats.
バイト先の先輩に「お疲れさまです」と挨拶した。
I greeted my senior at my part-time job with 'otsukaresama desu.'
2.
goodbye; see you (casual farewell among acquaintances)
Used casually as a parting greeting, especially among people who have been doing something together.
じゃ、お疲れ。
Well, see you.
練習が終わって、「お疲れ！」と声をかけ合った。
When practice ended, we called out 'good work!' to each other.
バイト先の先輩に「お疲れさまです」と挨拶した。
I greeted my senior at my part-time job with 'otsukaresama desu.'
One of the most important and frequently used expressions in Japanese workplace culture. It has no direct English equivalent — it functions simultaneously as a greeting, a farewell, and an acknowledgment of shared effort.
FORMALITY LEVELS:
- お疲れさまです: standard polite (used with colleagues, seniors)
- お疲れさまでした: past tense, used at end of day or after completing work
- お疲れ: casual (used among close colleagues, friends)
- お疲れさまでございます: very formal (used with superiors or clients)
USAGE:
Used when arriving at work, leaving work, passing colleagues in hallways, after meetings, and as a general acknowledgment. It is considered rude NOT to say it in workplace settings.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ご苦労さま: good work — used by superiors to subordinates; considered rude if used to a superior
- お先に失礼します: excuse me for leaving first — said when leaving before others