How to Say ‘Thanks for your hard work! (polite)’ in Japanese
おつかれさまでした！
o tsukare sama deshi ta
[oh tsoo-kah-reh sah-mah deh-shee tah]
💬 Usage Tip: More polite/complete. Often said to coach or seniors. (ots-kah-reh-sah-ma-desh-tah)
🇯🇵 In Japan: After practice, teams often line up and say [ありがとうございました] and/or [おつかれさまでした] together as a closing ritual.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
(honorific prefix)
お is the polite prefix in the fixed expression おつかれさまでした, commonly said at the end of practice.
れんしゅうが終わったら「おつかれさまでした！」と言おう。
When practice ends, say “Otsukaresama deshita!”
つかれ
tsukare
[tsoo-kah-reh]
tired; fatigue (part of expression)
つかれ is from 疲れ. In this set phrase it expresses appreciation for someone’s effort (not literally “you’re tired”).
みんなで「おつかれさまでした！」とつかれを入れて言います。
Everyone says “Otsukaresama deshita!” including the “tsukare” part.
さま
sama
[sah-mah]
Mr./Ms.; respected person (part of expression)
さま is an honorific. In おつかれさまでした it keeps the phrase respectful and polite.
おつかれさまでした！のさまはていねいなことばです。
The “-sama” in “Otsukaresama deshita!” is polite language.
でし
deshi
[deh-shee]
is/was (polite; stem)
でし is part of です/でした. Here it forms the past polite ending in でした, used to close practice politely.
おつかれさまでした！はさいごのあいさつでよく言います。
“Otsukaresama deshita!” is often said as the final greeting.
た
ta
[tah]
past marker (part of でした)
た completes でした (past polite). The full phrase おつかれさまでした is the standard polite closing after practice or a game.
しあいのあとも「おつかれさまでした！」とたまで言います。
After a match too, we say “Otsukaresama deshita!” all the way to the “-ta.”
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