Quick Reference

Meaning & Definition

疲れた (tsukareta) captures a uniquely Japanese way of expressing tiredness — not as a current state, but as the result of having become tired. This single word carries everything from a quiet sigh after a long commute to the bone-deep exhaustion of a grueling work week.

疲れた is the plain past form of the verb 疲れる (tsukareru), meaning “to get tired” or “to become exhausted.” In Japanese, current states of tiredness are expressed through this completed-change form rather than a present-tense equivalent. Where English speakers say “I am tired,” Japanese speakers say 疲れた — literally “I have become tired” — reflecting the result of an action rather than a static condition.

The word covers both physical exhaustion (aching muscles after exercise, fatigue after a long commute) and mental weariness (burnout, emotional depletion). In casual speech, 疲れた stands alone as a complete sentence. In more formal or written contexts, the polite form 疲れました (tsukaremashita) is used instead.

A notably expressive variant is もう疲れた (mō tsukareta), where もう (already / anymore) adds a tone of exasperation or resignation — closer to “I’m done” or “I can’t take it anymore” than simple tiredness. This phrasing often signals emotional exhaustion rather than physical fatigue.

How to Use It

The most common mistake for learners is reaching for 眠い (nemui, sleepy) when they mean 疲れた. 眠い refers specifically to the urge to sleep, while 疲れた is about physical or mental depletion — you can be 疲れた without being 眠い, and vice versa.

Another key phrase to learn alongside 疲れた is お疲れ様 (otsukaresama), a set expression used to acknowledge someone’s hard work. お疲れ様でした (otsukaresama deshita) is the standard farewell when leaving the office or finishing a group task — it literally means “you must be tired” but functions as “good work” or “thanks for your effort.” Saying 疲れた to a coworker instead of お疲れ様 can sound self-centered, so knowing the distinction matters in workplace settings.

Kanji Breakdown

疲 is built from two components: 疒 (やまいだれ, the “sickness” radical, depicted as a person leaning against a wall due to illness) and 皮 (かわ, meaning “skin” or “hide”). Together they suggest the body being worn down to its very skin — a vivid image of being stretched thin. The character 疲 appears in related words like 疲労 (hirou, fatigue/exhaustion) and 疲弊 (hihei, depletion/wearing out).

Example Sentences

Cultural Context

The phrase お疲れ様 (otsukaresama) — derived directly from 疲れた — is one of the most socially loaded expressions in Japanese workplace culture. Said when a colleague finishes a task, leaves the office, or wraps up a meeting, it functions as mutual recognition that everyone has been working hard. The full form お疲れ様でした (past tense, adding deshita) signals that the work period has definitively ended. New employees quickly learn that skipping this greeting when leaving the office can come across as cold or dismissive.

Beyond the workplace, 疲れた reflects a broader Japanese cultural value around endurance and shared effort. Expressing tiredness openly — especially with the exasperated もう疲れた — is socially accepted as an honest acknowledgment of one’s limits, rather than a complaint. On social media, phrases like 仕事疲れた (shigoto tsukareta, “work has worn me out”) or 電車疲れた (densha tsukareta, “the train exhausted me”) are common low-key venting that invites commiseration from followers.

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