How to Say ‘Good work today.’ in Japanese
お疲れさまです。
o tsukare sama desu
[oh tsoo-KAH-reh sah-MAH dess]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Coworkers say this to each other constantly: as a greeting in the hallway, when someone finishes a task, or at the end of the day. It's less praise than a friendly acknowledgment that you're both working hard.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.
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.
疲れが取れました。
My fatigue is gone.
さま
sama
[sah-MAH]
honorific suffix (in otsukaresama)
Polite suffix that softens set phrases like otsukaresama, used to acknowledge someone's effort.
お疲れさまです、田中さん。
Thanks for your hard work, Mr. Tanaka.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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