Phrase in 30 Seconds
Japan's essential 'all-in-one' phrase to acknowledge someone's effort, used as a hello, goodbye, and thank you in professional settings.
- Means: 'You look tired,' but functions as 'Good job' or 'Hello/Goodbye'.
- Used in: Offices, after sports, or when finishing a shared task.
- Don't confuse: Never use 'Gokurousama' to your boss; it's only for subordinates.
适合你水平的解释：
意思
A casual phrase to acknowledge someone's effort or work.
文化背景
Saying 'Otsukaresama' is part of 'Hou-Ren-So' (Report-Contact-Consult). It maintains the flow of communication. In school 'Bukatsu' (clubs), juniors (Kohai) must say it loudly to seniors (Senpai) to show respect for their training. In TV and film, 'Otsukaresama desu' is used as a greeting 24/7, even if it's the first time seeing someone that day. On platforms like X (Twitter), people use the hashtag #お疲れ様 to connect with others who just finished a long day.
The 'Desu' Rule
When in doubt, always add 'desu'. It's never wrong to be too polite in a Japanese office.
Avoid the 'Go'
Never say 'Gokurousama' to someone you don't manage. It can sound very patronizing.
The 'Desu' Rule
When in doubt, always add 'desu'. It's never wrong to be too polite in a Japanese office.
Avoid the 'Go'
Never say 'Gokurousama' to someone you don't manage. It can sound very patronizing.
Email Etiquette
Even if you are replying to an email sent 5 minutes ago, start with 'Otsukaresama desu'.
The Bow
A small nod or bow while saying this phrase makes it feel much more authentic.
自我测试
Match the situation to the correct form of the phrase.
You are leaving the office at 6 PM and your boss is still at his desk.
Since you are finishing your work for the day, the past tense 'deshita' is the most appropriate and polite choice.
Fill in the blank to make the sentence polite.
田中さん、お疲れ様（ ）。
Adding 'desu' makes the phrase polite and suitable for a workplace environment.
Which phrase should you NEVER say to your superior?
Select the incorrect phrase for a boss.
'Gokurousama' is a top-down phrase used by superiors to subordinates. It is considered rude to use it with a boss.
Complete the dialogue.
A: お先に失礼します。 B: （ ）。また明日。
When someone says they are leaving ('Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu'), the standard response is 'Otsukaresama deshita'.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Where to use Otsukaresama
Work
- • Office
- • Emails
- • Meetings
Social
- • Parties
- • Sports
- • Clubs
Kindness
- • Delivery
- • Moving help
练习题库
5 练习You are leaving the office at 6 PM and your boss is still at his desk.
Since you are finishing your work for the day, the past tense 'deshita' is the most appropriate and polite choice.
田中さん、お疲れ様（ ）。
Adding 'desu' makes the phrase polite and suitable for a workplace environment.
Select the incorrect phrase for a boss.
'Gokurousama' is a top-down phrase used by superiors to subordinates. It is considered rude to use it with a boss.
A: お先に失礼します。 B: （ ）。また明日。
When someone says they are leaving ('Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu'), the standard response is 'Otsukaresama deshita'.
🎉 得分： /5
常见问题
10 个问题It's better to say 'Arigatou gozaimashita' or 'Shitsurei shimasu'. Some teachers find 'Otsukaresama' slightly too casual or workplace-oriented.
It doesn't matter! It's a greeting. If you are in a place of work, you say it.
No, that is too casual. Always use 'Otsukaresama desu' for superiors.
'Desu' is for greetings during the day. 'Deshita' is for when the work is finished or you are leaving.
Yes! It's perfect for that. 'Otsukare!' is very common after sports.
No, 'Arigatou' is better. You aren't 'working together' with the cashier.
Just say 'Otsukaresama desu' back! It's a reciprocal greeting.
Yes, especially in 'slice of life' or office-themed anime like 'Shirobako'.
Yes, it's very common in LINE messages to colleagues or friends.
Young people often say 'Otsu' (おつ) or 'Otsukare-sama-su'.
相关表达
{御苦労様|ごくろうさま}
similarThank you for your hard work (top-down).
{有難|ありがと}うございます
similarThank you.
お{先|さき}に{失礼|しつれい}します
builds onExcuse me for leaving before you.
{乾杯|かんぱい}
specialized formCheers!
{労|ねぎら}う
specialized formTo appreciate someone's efforts.
在哪里用
Leaving the office
You: お{先|さき}に{失礼|しつれい}します。
Colleague: お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}でした！
Passing a colleague in the hall
You: あ、{田中|たなか}さん、お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}です。
Tanaka: お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}です。
Starting a business email
Writer: {佐藤|さとう}様、お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}です。ABC{株式会社|かぶしきがいしゃ}の{鈴木|すずき}です。
After a sports match
Teammate A: {今日|きょう}はいい{試合|しあい}だったね！
Teammate B: うん、お{疲|つか}れ！
At a drinking party (Nomikai)
Boss: {今日|きょう}のプレゼンは{成功|せいこう}でした。
All: お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}でした！{乾杯|かんぱい}！
To a delivery person
You: お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}です。ありがとうございます。
Driver: いえいえ、ありがとうございます。
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of 'O-tsukare-sama' as 'Oh, you're tired, sir/ma'am!'
视觉联想
Imagine a battery icon that is half-empty, and when someone says 'Otsukaresama,' a golden light fills it back up to full.
Rhyme
Work is done, have some fun, Otsukaresama for everyone!
Story
A tired salaryman is walking home in the rain. A small cat in a suit tips its hat and says 'Otsukaresama.' Suddenly, the man feels warm and happy because his hard work was noticed.
In Other Languages
In Korean, 'Sugohasyeossseumnida' is almost an exact match. In English, we don't have one single word, but we use 'Good job,' 'See ya,' or 'Thanks for today.'
Word Web
挑战
Try saying 'Otsukaresama desu' to yourself in the mirror every time you finish a study session today.
Review this every time you finish a work or study block. It's the perfect 'end-of-task' trigger.
发音
Short 'o' sound like 'old' but shorter.
Like the 'ts' in 'cats'.
Like 'ka' in 'karate'.
A light tap of the tongue, like the 'tt' in 'better'.
Flat 'sa' and 'ma'.
正式程度
お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}でございます。 (Workplace greeting)
お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}です。 (Workplace greeting)
お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}。 (Workplace greeting)
おつ！ (Workplace greeting)
The phrase comes from the verb {疲|つか}れる (to be tired). In the Edo period, it was a literal way to acknowledge physical labor. The addition of 'O' and 'Sama' turned it into a respectful social ritual.
趣味小知识
There is a theory that the 'Sama' was added because people believed that when you are tired, your 'Ki' (spirit) is depleted, and the word helps restore it.
文化笔记
Saying 'Otsukaresama' is part of 'Hou-Ren-So' (Report-Contact-Consult). It maintains the flow of communication.
“Even if you didn't talk to a colleague all day, saying it when leaving shows you are part of the team.”
In school 'Bukatsu' (clubs), juniors (Kohai) must say it loudly to seniors (Senpai) to show respect for their training.
“A baseball player shouting 'Otsukaresama desu!' to the captain.”
In TV and film, 'Otsukaresama desu' is used as a greeting 24/7, even if it's the first time seeing someone that day.
“An actor arriving on set at midnight saying 'Otsukaresama desu' to the crew.”
On platforms like X (Twitter), people use the hashtag #お疲れ様 to connect with others who just finished a long day.
“Posting a photo of a beer with the caption '今日もお疲れ様でした！'”
对话开场白
{今日|きょう}の{仕事|しごと}は{終|お}わりましたか？
{会議|かいぎ}はどうでしたか？
プロジェクトの{成功|せいこう}、おめでとうございます！
常见错误
Saying 'Gokurousama' to your boss.
Saying 'Otsukaresama' to your boss.
L1 Interference
Saying 'Otsukaresama' to a waiter in a restaurant.
Saying 'Arigatou gozaimasu'.
L1 Interference
Using 'Otsukaresama deshita' when you just arrived at work.
Using 'Otsukaresama desu'.
L1 Interference
Saying 'Otsukaresama' to a stranger who helped you find your way.
Saying 'Arigatou gozaimasu'.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Good job / Thanks for your hard work
English lacks a single word that functions as both a greeting and a thank-you for effort.
Buen trabajo / Buen descanso
Spanish uses standard greetings (Hola) regardless of the work context.
Bon courage / Merci pour votre travail
French focuses on the future effort, Japanese on the current or past effort.
Schönen Feierabend
German is only for the end of the day, not for greetings during work.
يعطيك العافية (Ya'tik al-afiya)
The Arabic version has a religious/blessing undertone, while the Japanese is secular/honorific.
辛苦了 (Xīnkǔ le)
Japanese 'Otsukaresama' is more mandatory as a social ritual.
수고하셨습니다 (Sugohasyeossseumnida)
Very few; the cultural usage is nearly identical due to shared Confucian roots.
Bom trabalho
Portuguese lacks the 'ritual greeting' aspect of the phrase.
Spotted in the Real World
“みんな、お疲れ様！乾杯！”
The housemates gather for dinner after a long day of work and school.
“お疲れ様でした！原画上がりました！”
A character finishes a difficult animation task and hands it in.
“今日も残業。お疲れ様、自分。”
A user posting about working late.
容易混淆
They both mean 'good job' and look similar.
Remember: 'O' is for 'Ordinary/Overall' (everyone), 'Go' is for 'Governor' (boss to worker).
Both relate to effort.
Ganbatte is for the *future* (Do your best!), Otsukaresama is for the *past/present* (You did well).
常见问题 (10)
It's better to say 'Arigatou gozaimashita' or 'Shitsurei shimasu'. Some teachers find 'Otsukaresama' slightly too casual or workplace-oriented.
usage contextsIt doesn't matter! It's a greeting. If you are in a place of work, you say it.
basic understandingNo, that is too casual. Always use 'Otsukaresama desu' for superiors.
grammar mechanics'Desu' is for greetings during the day. 'Deshita' is for when the work is finished or you are leaving.
grammar mechanicsYes! It's perfect for that. 'Otsukare!' is very common after sports.
practical tipsNo, 'Arigatou' is better. You aren't 'working together' with the cashier.
common mistakesJust say 'Otsukaresama desu' back! It's a reciprocal greeting.
practical tipsYes, especially in 'slice of life' or office-themed anime like 'Shirobako'.
cultural usageYes, it's very common in LINE messages to colleagues or friends.
practical tipsYoung people often say 'Otsu' (おつ) or 'Otsukare-sama-su'.
usage contexts
