Hello, I’m Kodak.
How do you say “tired” in Japanese?
The most common answer is:
疲れた。
Tsukareta.
I’m tired.
However, the English word tired covers several different feelings. You may be physically exhausted, sleepy, mentally drained, sluggish, bored with something, or simply acknowledging another person’s hard work.
Japanese usually separates these ideas into different expressions.
The four most important expressions are:
① 疲れた (tsukareta) — I’m tired; my energy has been used up
② 眠い (nemui) — I’m sleepy; my body wants sleep
③ だるい (darui) — I feel sluggish; my body or motivation feels heavy
④ お疲れ様 (otsukaresama) — Good work / Thanks for your effort / a workplace greeting
The basic Japanese translation of “I’m tired” is 疲れた (tsukareta).
But before choosing a word, ask yourself:
Has my energy been used up?
Do I want to fall asleep?
Does my body feel heavy?
Or am I acknowledging someone else’s effort?
How Do You Say “Tired” in Japanese?
Use 疲れた (tsukareta) when physical or mental activity has consumed your energy.
⇒ I’m tired.
⇒ I’m worn out.
⇒ I’ve had enough for today.
⇒ My physical or mental energy has been used up.
今日は疲れた。
Kyō wa tsukareta.
I’m tired today.
仕事で疲れました。
Shigoto de tsukaremashita.
I’m tired from work.
一日中歩いて疲れた。
Ichinichijū aruite tsukareta.
I’m tired from walking all day.
Because the past action produced a present result:
“I became tired”
↓
“As a result, I am tired now.”
Japanese often uses the past form this way when reporting a newly reached condition.
Quick Answer: Which Japanese Word for “Tired” Should You Use?
| What You Mean in English | Natural Japanese | Romaji | Core Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| I’m tired. | 疲れた | tsukareta | My energy has been used up. |
| I’m sleepy. | 眠い | nemui | My body wants sleep. |
| I feel sluggish. | だるい | darui | My body or motivation feels heavy. |
| Good work / Thanks for your effort. | お疲れ様 | otsukaresama | I acknowledge the effort that may have tired you. |
| I’m exhausted. | くたくたです | kutakuta desu | I have almost no energy left. |
| I’m completely worn out. | へとへとです | hetoheto desu | I am exhausted and can barely continue. |
| This is exhausting / hard. | しんどい | shindoi | This is difficult to endure. |
| I’m mentally tired. | 精神的に疲れた | seishinteki ni tsukareta | My mental energy has been depleted. |
| I’m tired of this. | これには飽きた／うんざりした | kore ni wa akita / unzari shita | I no longer want to continue dealing with it. |
A Simple Decision Guide
Choose the word from the feeling
Did work, exercise, study, or stress use up your energy?
⇒ 疲れた
Are your eyes heavy and you may fall asleep?
⇒ 眠い
Does your body feel heavy, weak, or difficult to move?
⇒ だるい
Are you thanking or greeting someone after their work?
⇒ お疲れ様
Do you have almost no energy left?
⇒ くたくた／へとへと
Is something physically or emotionally hard to endure?
⇒ しんどい
1. 疲れた (Tsukareta): The Basic “I’m Tired”
疲れた is the past form of 疲れる (tsukareru), meaning to become tired or to have one’s physical or mental energy depleted.
Best for: Work, exercise, study, travel, concentration, stress, relationships
English: I’m tired / I’m worn out
Style: Neutral and very common
Physical Tiredness
運動して疲れた。
Undō shite tsukareta.
I’m tired from exercising.
長い距離を歩いたので疲れました。
Nagai kyori o aruita node tsukaremashita.
I’m tired because I walked a long distance.
Mental Tiredness
一日中考えて、頭が疲れた。
Ichinichijū kangaete, atama ga tsukareta.
My brain is tired from thinking all day.
細かい作業に疲れた。
Komakai sagyō ni tsukareta.
I’m tired of/from the detailed work.
Emotional or Social Tiredness
人間関係に疲れた。
Ningen kankei ni tsukareta.
I’m tired of dealing with relationships.
気を使いすぎて疲れた。
Ki o tsukaisugite tsukareta.
I’m tired from being overly considerate.
疲れた vs 疲れている
A direct report after reaching the tired state.
⇒ I’m tired. / I got tired.疲れている
Focuses on the ongoing state of being tired.
⇒ am tired / have been tired
今日は疲れた。
I’m tired today.
⇒ A natural reaction after the day’s activity.
最近ずっと疲れている。
I’ve been tired all the time lately.
⇒ The condition is continuing.
For the full explanation of grammar, origin, pronunciation, and examples, see What Does 疲れた (Tsukareta) Mean?
2. 眠い (Nemui): “I’m Sleepy”
眠い describes sleepiness: your eyes feel heavy, your awareness is fading, or your body wants to fall asleep.
Best for: Lack of sleep, late nights, drowsiness, wanting to fall asleep
English: sleepy / drowsy
Style: Neutral
昨日あまり寝ていないから眠い。
Kinō amari nete inai kara nemui.
I’m sleepy because I did not sleep much last night.
ご飯を食べると眠くなる。
Gohan o taberu to nemuku naru.
I get sleepy after eating.
Choose from the actual feeling. If you mean that you may fall asleep, use 眠い. If your energy is depleted, use 疲れた. You can also feel both:
疲れたし、眠い。
I’m tired and sleepy.
For a full explanation, see What Does 眠い (Nemui) Mean?
3. だるい (Darui): “I Feel Sluggish”
だるい describes a heavy, weak, or sluggish feeling that makes moving or acting feel difficult. In casual speech, it may also mean that a task is exhausting or “a drag.”
Best for: Bodily heaviness, low energy, sluggishness, lack of motivation
English: sluggish / drained / listless / what a drag
Style: Physical meaning is neutral; task-evaluation use is casual
今日は体がだるい。
Kyō wa karada ga darui.
My body feels sluggish today.
眠くはないけど、体がだるい。
Nemuku wa nai kedo, karada ga darui.
I’m not sleepy, but my body feels heavy.
雨の中、駅まで歩くのだるいな。
Ame no naka, eki made aruku no darui na.
Walking to the station in the rain is such a drag.
For a full explanation, see What Does だるい (Darui) Mean?
4. お疲れ様 (Otsukaresama): Not “I’m Tired”
お疲れ様 contains the word 疲れ, but it does not normally mean “I’m tired.” It is directed toward another person and acknowledges the effort or exertion behind their work.
Possible English functions:
・Good work.
・Thanks for your effort.
・Thanks for today.
・Hello. (workplace greeting)
・See you / Have a good evening. (when leaving work)
今日もお疲れ様でした。
Kyō mo otsukaresama deshita.
Good work today. / Thanks for all your work today.
お疲れ様です。資料を確認しました。
Otsukaresama desu. Shiryō o kakunin shimashita.
Hello/Thanks for your work. I reviewed the document.
For the full explanation of workplace, email, chat, and farewell usage, see What Does お疲れ様 (Otsukaresama) Mean?
疲れた vs 眠い vs だるい vs お疲れ様
Compare the four expressions in one situation
一日中働いて疲れた。
I’m tired after working all day.
⇒ Your energy has been used up.
昨日よく寝ていないから眠い。
I’m sleepy because I did not sleep well last night.
⇒ Your body wants sleep.
体が重くてだるい。
My body feels heavy and sluggish.
⇒ Moving feels difficult.
今日もお疲れ様でした。
Good work today.
⇒ You acknowledge someone else’s work.
A single English sentence can contain more than one Japanese feeling:
疲れたし、眠いし、体もだるい。
I’m tired, sleepy, and physically sluggish.
How to Say “I’m Tired” in Japanese
Casual and Most Natural
疲れた。
Tsukareta.
I’m tired.
Polite
疲れました。
Tsukaremashita.
I’m tired.
Currently or Continuously Tired
疲れています。
Tsukarete imasu.
I am tired.
Very Tired
すごく疲れた。
Sugoku tsukareta.
I’m really tired.
Extremely Tired
もうくたくただ。
Mō kutakuta da.
I’m completely worn out.
へとへとです。
Hetoheto desu.
I’m exhausted.
Tired and Want to Rest
疲れたから、少し休みたい。
Tsukareta kara, sukoshi yasumitai.
I’m tired, so I want to rest for a while.
Tired and Want to Go to Bed
疲れたし眠いから、もう寝る。
Tsukareta shi nemui kara, mō neru.
I’m tired and sleepy, so I’m going to bed.
How to Ask “Are You Tired?” in Japanese
Are you tired? / Did that tire you out?疲れてる？
Are you tired?疲れましたか？
Are you tired? (polite)疲れていませんか？
Aren’t you tired? / Are you doing okay? (polite and considerate)大丈夫？
Are you okay? (often more natural when showing concern)
How to Say “You Look Tired” in Japanese
Casual
疲れてるね。
Tsukareteru ne.
You look tired. / You seem tired.
なんか疲れてない？
Nanka tsukaretenai?
Don’t you look/feel kind of tired?
More Explicit
疲れているように見える。
Tsukarete iru yō ni mieru.
You look tired.
Polite and Considerate
少しお疲れのようですね。
Sukoshi otsukare no yō desu ne.
You seem a little tired.
Be careful: directly commenting on someone’s appearance can feel personal. In a workplace or with someone you do not know well, 大丈夫ですか？ may be gentler.
How to Say “I’m Exhausted” in Japanese
くたくた (Kutakuta)
くたくた describes being completely worn out, as if the body has lost its firmness.
引っ越しでくたくたになった。
Hikkoshi de kutakuta ni natta.
I’m completely worn out from moving.
へとへと (Hetoheto)
へとへと describes extreme exhaustion after using nearly all one’s strength.
山を登ってへとへとだ。
Yama o nobotte hetoheto da.
I’m exhausted after climbing the mountain.
疲れ切った (Tsukarekitta)
疲れ切った literally means “tired completely through.”
彼は疲れ切った顔をしていた。
Kare wa tsukarekitta kao o shite ita.
He had a completely exhausted look on his face.
疲労困憊 (Hirō Konpai)
疲労困憊 is a formal four-kanji expression meaning complete exhaustion.
連日の作業で疲労困憊している。
Renjitsu no sagyō de hirō konpai shite iru.
I am completely exhausted from working day after day.
バテた (Bateta)
バテた is a casual expression meaning that one has run out of energy, especially because of exercise, heat, or prolonged effort.
暑さでバテた。
Atsusa de bateta.
The heat completely wore me out.
How to Say “Mentally Tired” in Japanese
I’m mentally exhausted.頭が疲れた
My brain feels tired.気疲れした
I’m tired from tension, worrying about others, or being overly considerate.神経が疲れた
My nerves are worn out.心が疲れた
My heart/mind feels emotionally tired.
今日はずっと集中していたから、頭が疲れた。
Kyō wa zutto shūchū shite ita kara, atama ga tsukareta.
My brain is tired because I was concentrating all day.
初対面の人ばかりで気疲れした。
Shotaimen no hito bakari de kizukare shita.
I’m tired from being around people I had never met before.
最近いろいろあって、心が疲れている。
Saikin iroiro atte, kokoro ga tsukarete iru.
A lot has happened lately, and I feel emotionally drained.
How to Say “I’m Tired of It” in Japanese
English “tired of” often means boredom, frustration, or having reached one’s limit. It should not always be translated with 疲れる.
飽きた (Akita): I’m Bored with It
このゲームにはもう飽きた。
Kono gēmu ni wa mō akita.
I’m tired of this game. / I’m bored with it.
うんざりした (Unzari Shita): I’m Fed Up
同じ言い訳にはうんざりした。
Onaji iiwake ni wa unzari shita.
I’m tired of the same excuses.
～に疲れた: Emotionally Worn Down by Something
毎日の争いに疲れた。
Mainichi no arasoi ni tsukareta.
I’m tired of the constant conflict.
It no longer interests me.うんざりした
I am fed up and do not want any more of it.～に疲れた
Dealing with it has emotionally or mentally depleted me.
疲れた vs くたびれた
くたびれた can mean physically tired, worn out, or shabby from long use. It is more conversational and may sound slightly old-fashioned or humorous depending on the speaker.
The standard neutral “I’m tired.”くたびれた
I’m worn out / beat; or an object has become worn and shabby.
長旅でくたびれた。
Nagatabi de kutabireta.
The long trip wore me out.
くたびれた靴。
Kutabireta kutsu.
Worn-out shoes.
疲れた vs しんどい
Your energy has been depleted.
⇒ tiredしんどい
A condition, activity, or situation is hard to endure.
⇒ exhausting / tough / painful / emotionally difficult
仕事が終わって疲れた。
I’m tired after finishing work.
この仕事を毎日続けるのはしんどい。
Doing this job every day is hard.
A difficult situation may make you tired, but しんどい focuses more on how hard it is to endure.
Natural Dialogues Using Japanese “Tired” Expressions
Situation 1: After work
A: 今日もお疲れ様。
Kyō mo otsukaresama.
Good work today.
B: お疲れ様。今日は本当に疲れた。
Otsukaresama. Kyō wa hontō ni tsukareta.
Good work. I’m really tired today.
⇒ お疲れ様 acknowledges the other person. 疲れた reports the speaker’s condition.
Situation 2: Late at night
A: もう寝るの？
Mō neru no?
Are you going to bed already?
B: うん。疲れたし、眠い。
Un. Tsukareta shi, nemui.
Yeah. I’m tired and sleepy.
⇒ 疲れた and 眠い describe different feelings.
Situation 3: Feeling physically off
A: 疲れてる？
Tsukareteru?
Are you tired?
B: 疲れたというより、なんか体がだるい。
Tsukareta to iu yori, nanka karada ga darui.
Rather than tired, my body just feels kind of sluggish.
⇒ だるい focuses on bodily heaviness rather than effort already spent.
Situation 4: Extreme exhaustion
A: 引っ越し終わった？
Hikkoshi owatta?
Did you finish moving?
B: やっと終わった。もうくたくただよ。
Yatto owatta. Mō kutakuta da yo.
Finally. I’m completely worn out.
⇒ くたくた is stronger than ordinary 疲れた.
Casual and Anime-Style Ways to Say “Tired”
I’m tiiired.もう無理。疲れた。
I can’t do this anymore. I’m tired.つっかれたー！
I’m soooo tired! (drawn-out, expressive pronunciation)マジで疲れた。
I’m seriously tired.眠っ。
So sleepy!
だるっ。
Ugh, what a drag.
もうへとへとだ。
I’m completely exhausted.
今日はもう何もしたくない。
I don’t want to do anything else today.
Polite and Workplace Ways to Talk About Tiredness
Reporting Your Condition
少し疲れています。
Sukoshi tsukarete imasu.
I am a little tired.
今日は少し体がだるいです。
Kyō wa sukoshi karada ga darui desu.
My body feels a little sluggish today.
昨夜あまり眠れず、少し眠いです。
Sakuya amari nemurezu, sukoshi nemui desu.
I could not sleep much last night, so I am a little sleepy.
Acknowledging Someone Else
お疲れ様です。
Otsukaresama desu.
Good work / Hello. (internal workplace greeting)
本日はお疲れ様でした。
Honjitsu wa otsukaresama deshita.
Thank you for your work today.
Avoiding Overly Casual Language
今日マジだるい。Clearer at work:
今日は少し体調が優れず、体がだるいです。
I am not feeling entirely well today, and my body feels sluggish.
Common Mistakes When Translating “Tired”
Mistake 1: Using 眠い for Every Kind of Tiredness
○ 疲れた。
I’m tired.When you may fall asleep:
○ 眠い。
I’m sleepy.
Mistake 2: Saying お疲れ様 to Mean “I’m Tired”
This normally addresses another person; it does not report “I’m tired.”○ 疲れています。
I am tired.
Mistake 3: Treating だるい as Exactly the Same as 疲れた
Energy has been consumed.だるい
The body or motivation feels heavy.
Mistake 4: Translating “Tired of” Literally Every Time
⇒ このゲームには飽きた。I am fed up with his excuses.
⇒ 彼の言い訳にはうんざりした。Dealing with relationships has drained me.
⇒ 人間関係に疲れた。
Mistake 5: Always Including 私は
Japanese normally omits the subject when it is obvious.
疲れた。Also grammatical, but more explicit:
私は疲れた。
Mistake 6: Using a Very Strong Word for Ordinary Tiredness
疲労困憊 and 疲れ切った indicate serious exhaustion. For normal daily tiredness, use 疲れた.
The Meaning and Origin of 疲れる
Japanese dictionaries define 疲れる as losing physical or mental strength through exertion, causing one’s functioning to weaken. The older literary form is つかる.
The core development
Physical or mental effort consumes strength
↓
One’s ability to continue working weakens
↓
疲れる = to become tired
↓
疲れた = became tired → “I’m tired now”
Older uses of the related form could also describe weakening through hunger or other forms of depletion. Modern Japanese mainly uses 疲れる for physical, mental, emotional, or functional exhaustion.
The Kanji 疲: Illness Radical + Sound Component
The kanji 疲 is a phonetic-semantic character.
illness / bodily condition皮
mainly supplies the historical sound疲
to become tired, weakened, or worn down
Useful related words include:
to become tired疲れ (tsukare)
tiredness / fatigue疲労 (hirō)
fatigue / exhaustion疲弊 (hihei)
exhaustion, depletion, or deterioration疲労困憊 (hirō konpai)
complete exhaustion
A Note About Continuing Tiredness
In language-learning examples, 疲れた, 眠い, and だるい often describe ordinary daily conditions. However, persistent or unusually severe tiredness, sleepiness, or bodily sluggishness may be more than an issue of vocabulary.
Useful Japanese for describing a continuing condition:
最近ずっと疲れています。
I have been tired all the time lately.
十分寝ても眠いです。
I am sleepy even after getting enough sleep.
だるさが何日も続いています。
The sluggishness has continued for several days.
If strong or persistent symptoms interfere with daily activities, consider seeking appropriate professional medical advice rather than treating them only as ordinary tiredness.
FAQ: How to Say “Tired” in Japanese
How do you say “tired” in Japanese?
The most common expression is 疲れた (tsukareta), meaning “I’m tired.” Use 眠い for sleepy and だるい for physically sluggish.
How do you say “I’m tired” in Japanese?
Say 疲れた casually or 疲れました politely. 疲れています emphasizes the current or continuing tired state.
What is the Japanese word for tired?
The basic verb is 疲れる (tsukareru), “to become tired.” Its past form 疲れた is the most natural everyday way to say “I’m tired.”
What is the difference between tsukareta and nemui?
疲れた means your physical or mental energy has been used up. 眠い means you feel sleepy and may fall asleep.
What is the difference between tsukareta and darui?
疲れた focuses on depleted energy after activity or stress. だるい focuses on bodily or motivational heaviness and reluctance to move.
Does otsukaresama mean “I’m tired”?
No. お疲れ様 normally acknowledges another person’s work or effort and may function as “Good work,” “Thanks,” “Hello,” or “See you” in a workplace. To say “I’m tired,” use 疲れた or 疲れています.
How do you say “I’m exhausted” in Japanese?
Common expressions include くたくただ, へとへとだ, and 疲れ切った. The formal expression 疲労困憊 means complete exhaustion.
How do you say “Are you tired?” in Japanese?
Say 疲れた？ or 疲れてる？ casually. A polite version is 疲れましたか？ or the more considerate 疲れていませんか？.
How do you say “You look tired” in Japanese?
Casually, say 疲れてるね. More explicitly, say 疲れているように見える. A polite expression is 少しお疲れのようですね.
How do you say “mentally tired” in Japanese?
Say 精神的に疲れた. Other natural expressions include 頭が疲れた, 気疲れした, and 心が疲れた, depending on the type of mental or emotional exhaustion.
How do you say “I’m tired of this” in Japanese?
Use 飽きた when you are bored, うんざりした when you are fed up, and ～に疲れた when dealing with something has emotionally or mentally drained you.
Is 疲れた rude?
No. It is a neutral everyday expression. However, repeatedly saying it while someone is speaking or assigning work may sound negative depending on the situation.
Why is 疲れた past tense?
It literally describes having become tired. Because that change has produced the speaker’s present condition, it naturally translates as “I’m tired.”
What is the polite form of 疲れた?
The polite past form is 疲れました. To emphasize an ongoing state, use 疲れています.
How do you say “very tired” in Japanese?
Say すごく疲れた or とても疲れました. For stronger exhaustion, use くたくた or へとへと.
What does tsukareta mean in anime?
It has the same basic meaning, “I’m tired.” Anime characters may stretch or roughen the pronunciation for emotion, such as 疲れたー or つっかれたー.
Can I say otsukaresama to my boss?
お疲れ様です is widely used toward colleagues and superiors inside Japanese workplaces. Usage varies by organization, and external business communication often uses お世話になっております instead.
Summary: Choosing the Right Japanese Word for “Tired”
⇒ 疲れた● Your body wants sleep
⇒ 眠い● Your body or motivation feels heavy
⇒ だるい● You are acknowledging someone else’s effort
⇒ お疲れ様● You are completely exhausted
⇒ くたくた／へとへと／疲れ切った
● Something is difficult to endure
⇒ しんどい
● You are bored with something
⇒ 飽きた
● You are fed up
⇒ うんざりした
Remember the four core images:
疲れた ⇒ “My energy has been used up.”
眠い ⇒ “My body wants sleep.”
だるい ⇒ “My body or motivation feels heavy.”
お疲れ様 ⇒ “I recognize the effort that may have tired you.”
Once you separate these four ideas, translating English tired into natural Japanese becomes much easier!
Related Articles
Meaning, grammar, origin, pronunciation, and natural examples.● What Does お疲れ様 (Otsukaresama) Mean?
Workplace greetings, emails, farewells, and the difference from ご苦労様.● What Does 眠い (Nemui) Mean?
Sleepiness, conjugation, and the differences from 疲れた, 眠たい, and 寝たい.● What Does だるい (Darui) Mean?
Physical sluggishness, casual “what a drag,” slang forms, and related expressions.
References
- Kotobank: 疲れる — definitions, grammar, older uses, and examples.
- Kanjipedia: 疲 — meaning and kanji formation.
- Kotobank: 眠い — definition of sleepiness and historical form.
- Kotobank: だるい — physical and historical meanings.
- Kotobank: お疲れ様 — expression of appreciation and workplace farewell usage.
- National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics: ご苦労様 and お疲れ様 — differences in focus and usage.
- Kotobank: ばてる — meaning and usage history.
- Kotobank: 疲憊 — exhaustion and related vocabulary.
- Kotobank: 倦み疲れる — becoming tired and unwilling to continue something.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare e-Health Net: Daytime sleepiness — when persistent sleepiness affects daily life.