How to Say ‘Thank you for your hard work.’ in Japanese
お疲れ様です。
o tsukare sama desu
[oh tsoo-KAH-reh sama dess]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the standard greeting between coworkers, used to open a meeting, pass someone in the hall, or start an email. It's less a real thank-you than a way of saying "hello, fellow worker."
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix used in polite expressions
The polite prefix お makes the following word sound more courteous.
お願いできますか。
Could you please do that?
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.
様
sama
[sama]
honorific suffix
A suffix used to show respect, often for males.
社長様はこちらです。
This way, Mr. President.
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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