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How to Say ‘Good work today.’ in Japanese

お疲れさまでした。

o tsukare sama deshi ta

[oh tsoo-KAH-reh sah-MAH deh-shee tah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: This past-tense version is said to someone who is leaving or has finished for the day, often in reply to お先に失礼します.

Phrase Breakdown

お

o

[oh]

honorific prefix

お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.

Example

チケットを二枚お願いします。

Two tickets, please.

疲れ

tsukare

[tsoo-KAH-reh]

tiredness; fatigue

Noun from 疲れる 'to get tired'; used in the set phrase thanking someone for their effort.

Example

疲れが取れました。

My fatigue is gone.

さま

sama

[sah-MAH]

honorific suffix (in otsukaresama)

Polite suffix used in set phrases thanking someone for their effort.

Example

今日もお疲れさまでした。

Thanks for your hard work today too.

でし

deshi

[deh-shee]

was

Part of でした, the polite past form of です.

Example

ごちそうさまでした。

Thank you for the meal.

た

ta

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございまし た。

There were vacant seats.

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