1162
I know the general meaning of using お疲れ様です／でした to express gratitude for some
work, but I'm a bit fuzzy about appropriate times to use it.

I know it is a common saying when leaving for the day, and I've also seen it
in email when replying to someone who has just done some task, but are there
other situations where this would be appropriate (or inappropriate)? Is there
any kind of time element implied (would it sound strange in the morning?)?

Also, when is it appropriate to just use お疲れさん instead of お疲れ様?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-15T02:23:37.610
1158
2019-02-04T01:21:49.773
162
question
usage nuances set-phrases business-japanese
When is it appropriate to use お疲れ様 (otsukaresama)?
I'd describe it best as a _greeting_ or _set phrase_ used after (any sort of)
work has been done. It can be used in a variety of situations:

  * at the end of _any_ shared activity (before leaving home from work, after volunteer work, after group activities like hiking), very much in the sense of _"See you..."_
  * when greeting somebody who (supposedly) is working or has just finished work (coming into the office during the day, greeting your colleagues/friends/spouse after work)
  * acknowledging somebody's efforts ( _"I finished what you asked me for..." - "Ah, otsukaresama, arigatō gozaimasu."_ , _"I walked 5 miles to get here." - "Otsukaresama!"_ )
  * humorously ( _"I finally decided on which shoes to buy!" - "Otsukaresama desu."_ )

I wouldn't use it first thing in the morning when coming into the office,
since everybody's (supposedly) just starting to work. I'd use it when coming
back into the office from a client meeting though, for example. Using it if I
just came in late because I overslept is borderline (お疲れ様って言うなよ、オマエ！ ;-)).

お疲れさん or お疲れ can be used somewhat more informally than お疲れ様. Not advisable in
formal situations.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-15T02:43:53.473
1162
2011-06-15T02:43:53.473
88
1158
answer
* Regarding formal use:

It is a widely-held misconception (even among _some_ young Japanese when they
start working in a company) that you should use お疲れさま when leaving the office.
Strictly speaking, this is incorrect.

お疲れさま[です/でした] is something you say **to people leaving** , or when you and the
other person are **both** leaving (e.g. when you meet a colleague at the door
etc.).

Saying お疲れさま[です/でした] when you are leaving, has a (very) slightly insulting
overtone, in that you are essentially saying "I'm knackered and going home!
[while you guys stay here]", which is not really the business Japanese way...

When **you** are leaving, it is probably more polite to say:

お先【さき】に失礼【しつれい】します: "I apologise for leaving before [you]"

Of course, there are also countless informal occasions where using any
variations of お疲れ[さま][です/でした] is OK.

Mainly:

  * at the end of any strenuous activity (or even not so strenuous ones, as a joke)
  * as a less formal and more "matey" replacement for 乾杯【かんぱい】("cheers", when toasting).

PS: I don't often hear お疲れさん in daily conversations: people will tend to use
either お疲れさま (without です/でした → semi-formal) or just おつかれ (very informal).
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-15T02:48:16.963
1163
2013-12-02T04:54:30.587
2013-12-02T04:54:30.587
290
290
1158
answer
Why all the answerers, commentators and upvoters here are hung up only on the
"dictionary" usages of the phrase, I have no idea. The answerers even seem to
live in Japan.

In today's Japan, the phrase is OFTEN used as a casual "Hi!" as well --- if
someone wants to know the fact.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-02T22:29:11.610
13576
2013-12-02T22:29:11.610
1158
answer
Every time I hear someone answering their deskphone, they greet with お疲れ様です\,
_Name_ です Also, in most emails, the start greeting is お疲れ様です
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-04T01:21:49.773
65273
2019-02-04T01:21:49.773
32821
1158
answer