Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Japanese phrase used to thank colleagues for their hard work and say goodbye at the office.
- Means: 'You look tired,' but functions as 'Good job' or 'Goodbye.'
- Used in: Offices, after sports, or when finishing a group task.
- Don't confuse: Never say 'Gokurousama' to your boss; it's condescending!
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
A polite phrase to acknowledge someone's effort or work, often when they finish.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
The phrase is the 'lubricant' of the office. Even if you haven't done much work, saying it acknowledges that you are part of the team and respect the collective effort. In 'Bukatsu' (school clubs), juniors must say this loudly to seniors to show respect for their training effort. On Japanese Twitter, people use #お疲れ様 to find community after work. It's a way to seek 'iyashi' (healing/comfort) from strangers. This is a major cultural hurdle. 'Gokurousama' implies the speaker is evaluating the listener's work from a position of power. Avoid it unless you are certain of your seniority.
The 'Desu' vs 'Deshita' Rule
If you're unsure, 'Otsukaresama desu' is almost always safe during the day. Save 'deshita' for the very last interaction of the day.
The Boss Trap
Never, ever say 'Gokurousama' to someone higher than you. It's the fastest way to sound accidentally arrogant!
The 'Desu' vs 'Deshita' Rule
If you're unsure, 'Otsukaresama desu' is almost always safe during the day. Save 'deshita' for the very last interaction of the day.
The Boss Trap
Never, ever say 'Gokurousama' to someone higher than you. It's the fastest way to sound accidentally arrogant!
The Response
When someone says 'Otsukaresama' to you, the most natural response is to say it right back to them.
Email Etiquette
90% of internal Japanese business emails start with 'お疲れ様です。' followed by the sender's name.
खुद को परखो
Match the phrase to the correct time of day.
You are leaving the office at 6:00 PM. What do you say to your coworkers?
Since the workday is finished (past tense), 'deshita' is the most appropriate choice.
Choose the most appropriate response.
Your boss says to you: 'プレゼン、お疲れ様でした！' How do you reply?
You should return the phrase and add a thank you. Never say 'Gokurousama' or the casual 'Otsukare' to a boss.
Fill in the missing part of the casual greeting.
After a long gym session, you say to your friend: '今日（ ）！'
With friends, the shortened 'Otsukare' is natural and friendly.
Complete the office dialogue.
田中：お先に失礼します。 あなた：（ ）。
When someone leaves the office, the standard response is 'Otsukaresama deshita'.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
Usage Situations
Work
- • Leaving office
- • Ending meeting
- • Internal email
Social
- • After sports
- • Nomikai toast
- • Club activities
अभ्यास बैंक
5 अभ्यासYou are leaving the office at 6:00 PM. What do you say to your coworkers?
Since the workday is finished (past tense), 'deshita' is the most appropriate choice.
Your boss says to you: 'プレゼン、お疲れ様でした！' How do you reply?
You should return the phrase and add a thank you. Never say 'Gokurousama' or the casual 'Otsukare' to a boss.
After a long gym session, you say to your friend: '今日（ ）！'
With friends, the shortened 'Otsukare' is natural and friendly.
田中：お先に失礼します。 あなた：（ ）。
When someone leaves the office, the standard response is 'Otsukaresama deshita'.
🎉 स्कोर: /5
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालYes, it is very common to say 'Otsukaresama deshita' to a teacher at the end of a lesson.
'Desu' is for ongoing work or greetings during the day. 'Deshita' is for work that is completely finished.
No, it's better to say 'Arigatou gozaimasu' or 'Gochisousama deshita'.
Usually no, unless they just finished a big task like moving furniture or a long drive. It's mostly for 'outside' groups.
You still say it! It's a ritual greeting, not a literal assessment of your productivity.
Yes, always use the full 'Otsukaresama desu/deshita' with superiors.
It functions as a 'hello' that acknowledges you are both currently working hard.
No, use 'Ohayou gozaimasu' (Good morning) or 'Yoroshiku onegaishimasu' (Please treat me well).
It's becoming more common, but 'Gokurousama' is actually what older people say to them. As a learner, 'Arigatou' is safest.
Start with 'お疲れ様です。' then your name, e.g., 'お疲れ様です。佐藤です。'
संबंधित मुहावरे
お{先|さき}に{失礼|しつれい}します
builds onExcuse me for leaving before you
ご{苦労様|くろうさま}
similarGood job (top-down)
お{大事|だいじ}に
contrastTake care (of your health)
お{待|ま}たせしました
similarSorry to have kept you waiting
おつ
specialized formOtsu (slang)
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Leaving the Office
You: お{先|さき}に{失礼|しつれい}します。{お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}でした。
Colleague: {お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}でした！
Ending a Zoom Call
Manager: では、これで{終|お}わります。
You: {お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}でした。
Meeting in the Hallway
Colleague: あ、{田中|たなか}さん。{お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}です。
You: {お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}です。
After a Sports Match
Friend: {今日|きょう}の{試合|しあい}、{惜|お}しかったね！
You: うん、{皆|みな}{お疲|おつか}れ！
Receiving a Delivery
Driver: お{待|ま}たせしました。
You: ありがとうございます。ご{苦労様|くろうさま}…あ、{お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}です。
At a Drinking Party (Nomikai)
Boss: {今日|きょう}のプロジェクト{成功|せいこう}に、かんぱい！
Everyone: {お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}でしたー！
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of 'O-tsukare' as 'Oh, you're tired!' and 'Sama' as the respect you give them for it.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a group of salarymen bowing to each other under the sunset outside a tall office building, acknowledging their shared long day.
Rhyme
Work is done, the day was long, say 'Otsukaresama' and you can't go wrong!
Story
You finish a marathon. Your friend hands you a towel and says 'Otsukaresama!' They are noticing your sweat (tsukare) and honoring it (sama).
In Other Languages
Similar to 'Good job' in English, but used much more frequently as a greeting. In Korean, 'Sugohasyeotseumnida' is almost a direct 1:1 match.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Next time you finish a Japanese lesson or a meeting, say 'Otsukaresama deshita' to your teacher or colleagues before logging off.
Review this phrase every time you finish a study session. It's the perfect way to close your books!
उच्चारण
The 'tsu' is a soft 'ts' sound like in 'cats'.
Flat 'a' sounds, like 'father'.
The 'i' in 'shi' is often whispered or silent (de-sh-ta).
औपचारिकता का स्तर
{本日|ほんじつ}は{本当|ほんとう}に{お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}でございました。 (End of a workday)
{お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}でした。 (End of a workday)
{お疲|おつか}れ！ (End of a workday)
おつー (End of a workday)
Derived from the verb '{疲|つか}れる' (to tire). In ancient times, it was used to sympathize with someone's physical exhaustion after labor.
रोचक तथ्य
The 'sama' in the phrase is the same 'sama' used for gods (Kami-sama) and royalty, showing how much Japan respects hard work!
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
The phrase is the 'lubricant' of the office. Even if you haven't done much work, saying it acknowledges that you are part of the team and respect the collective effort.
“Saying it when passing a colleague in the hallway even if you aren't speaking to them.”
In 'Bukatsu' (school clubs), juniors must say this loudly to seniors to show respect for their training effort.
“Juniors bowing and shouting 'Otsukaresama deshita!' as seniors leave the field.”
On Japanese Twitter, people use #お疲れ様 to find community after work. It's a way to seek 'iyashi' (healing/comfort) from strangers.
“Posting a photo of a beer with the caption '今日もお疲れ様でした'.”
This is a major cultural hurdle. 'Gokurousama' implies the speaker is evaluating the listener's work from a position of power. Avoid it unless you are certain of your seniority.
“A CEO saying 'Gokurousama' to the cleaning staff.”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
How do you say goodbye to your coworkers in Japan?
You just finished a group project. What do you say to your team?
Your boss worked very late yesterday. How do you acknowledge that today?
सामान्य गलतियाँ
ご{苦労様|くろうさま}でした (to a boss)
{お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}でした
L1 Interference
Saying it to a waiter in a restaurant
ありがとうございます / ごちそうさまでした
L1 Interference
Using 'deshita' at 10:00 AM
{お疲|おつか}れ{様|さま}です
L1 Interference
Saying it to a stranger who looks tired
{大丈夫|だいじょうぶ}ですか？
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Good job / See you
English lacks a single word that functions as both a greeting and a 'thank you for working'.
수고하셨습니다 (Sugohasyeotseumnida)
The Korean version is slightly more focused on the 'trouble' or 'pain' of work.
辛苦了 (Xīnkǔle)
Chinese usage is slightly broader and can be used more easily with strangers.
Buen trabajo
Spanish requires separate phrases for greeting, praising, and leaving.
Bon courage
French is proactive (before/during), Japanese is reactive (after/during).
Feierabend
German looks forward to rest; Japanese looks back at the effort.
يعطيك العافية (Ya'tik al-afiya)
The Arabic version is a prayer/blessing, while the Japanese is an observation of state.
Bom trabalho
Lacks the 'social glue' function of the Japanese phrase.
Spotted in the Real World
“お疲れ様でした！”
Retsuko says this every single day as she leaves her soul-crushing accounting job.
“お疲れ様です。”
Used when Taki is working at the Italian restaurant.
“お疲れ様ー！”
When a member returns home from a long day of work or a photoshoot.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Both mean 'good job' and look similar.
Remember: 'Otsukaresama' is for everyone. 'Gokurousama' is only for the boss to say.
Learners think they are saying 'good job' but are actually saying 'I am tired.'
If you want to praise someone else, you MUST include 'sama'.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)
Yes, it is very common to say 'Otsukaresama deshita' to a teacher at the end of a lesson.
usage contexts'Desu' is for ongoing work or greetings during the day. 'Deshita' is for work that is completely finished.
grammar mechanicsNo, it's better to say 'Arigatou gozaimasu' or 'Gochisousama deshita'.
common mistakesUsually no, unless they just finished a big task like moving furniture or a long drive. It's mostly for 'outside' groups.
cultural usageYou still say it! It's a ritual greeting, not a literal assessment of your productivity.
practical tipsYes, always use the full 'Otsukaresama desu/deshita' with superiors.
usage contextsIt functions as a 'hello' that acknowledges you are both currently working hard.
basic understandingNo, use 'Ohayou gozaimasu' (Good morning) or 'Yoroshiku onegaishimasu' (Please treat me well).
comparisonsIt's becoming more common, but 'Gokurousama' is actually what older people say to them. As a learner, 'Arigatou' is safest.
usage contextsStart with 'お疲れ様です。' then your name, e.g., 'お疲れ様です。佐藤です。'
practical tips
