18466
I have noticed in various environments that some people will sometimes, when
speaking to someone of lower status, say おつかれさん instead of お疲れ様. Similarly one
might hear ご苦労さん instead of ご苦労様. I've looked in dictionaries, and they say
that this usage of さん is simply a [change in sound from the original
さま](http://kotobank.jp/word/%E3%81%95%E3%82%93?dic=daijirin&oid=DJR_sann_-120).
This suggests that it might be correct usage, but it does not make an explicit
remark about politeness, and if it really is just a change in sound, then
theoretically one should be able to say it to those of higher status. In my
experience, though, it has been used exclusively to lower status individuals.

My assumption was that it's a kind of play on words turning さま into さん like
the honorifics despite the original meaning of 様 in this case, however looking
it up and seeing that it is actually a shortening made me unsure. What is the
Real Right Way to use it?
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-08-26T12:58:51.167
18425
2022-05-31T00:43:53.077
2022-05-31T00:43:53.077
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question
word-choice usage politeness
Is おつかれさん "correct" Japanese to address to someone of lower status?
The nature of sound shortening is often, due to the environment that spawns
such changes, rather 'casual' and colloquial. Much like how 様 and さん have
relatively different levels of 'politeness' so do お疲れさま and お疲れさん. (Speaking
merely from personal experience, I have only used お疲れさん among friends and
casual acquaintances in informal situations. Among equal colleagues, in
working / formal environments I have never heard such abbreviation of お疲れ様)

This will likely be the main reason you will not have heard it said by and
individual of lower status, to one higher status. (i.e. it would be impolite
to do so.)

(As a side note, another reason will be due to a long standing societal norm
that 労い／慰労 'thank or praise for ones efforts / work' is a 'one way road'. Said
by those of higher status to those of lower. お疲れ様 carries such a nuance and
can thus be seen as rude when one of lower status says it to one of higher
status. The stronger nuance contained in ご苦労様 even more so.) ...That being
said, this topic is under discussion in Japan, language is ever changing and
it is inconvenient not to have an equivalent お疲れ様 phrase for lower > higher
status word transactions.

In regards to your speculation of it being a play of words 様 to さん; I would
speculate that it is much more likely that rather than any cognitive attempt
of being witty, it is rather pure linguistic change brought about by the same
environmental factors that spawned さん from 様.

To thus answer the question, it is a perfectly sound and linguistically
'correct' phrase to use and its meaning will almost certainly be understood.
Whether the environment such a phrase is in used and the relative social
status of the speaker and receiver will allow for it to be considered
'correct' usage in context however... well, this can really only depend on the
relationship between the speaker / receiver and how the receiver feels about
such language being used at the given time and place.

To err on the side of safety, お疲れ様です／でした is likely to cause the least ripples
(= likely to be considered the 'correct' approach)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-27T01:13:00.423
18433
2014-08-27T01:30:31.483
2014-08-27T01:30:31.483
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answer
Basically,

```

    from low to high (and high to low)
    お疲れさまです
    
    from high to low
    ご苦労様です
    お疲れさん
    ご苦労さん
    
```

In many cases, the act of 省略 generally decreases the level of honour.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-27T09:27:23.113
18452
2014-08-27T09:27:23.113
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answer
Your observation is correct. I'm not sure about the etymology, but as a matter
of fact, we can use 「お疲れさん」 to someone whose status is equal to or lower than
ourselves. Addressing it to your boss is clearly rude.

Personally, I usually stick to 「お疲れさまです」 in a business setting, because I
think saying お疲れさん is over-friendly and shows little or no respect. Even when
I talk to my colleague who is 10 years younger than me, I would at most use
either 「お疲れさんです」 or 「お疲れさま」. Although it depends from company to company, I
don't recommend you become the first person to use 「お疲れさん」 in your office.

As for ご苦労さま(です), a majority of people believe it should not be addressed to
those of higher status than ourselves. Some people think it's OK, but I'd
rather not take an unnecessary risk here.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-28T04:13:48.200
18466
2014-08-28T04:13:48.200
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answer
Just a little insight as an ALt in a junior highschool in Japan; The head of
the English department as well as the vice-principle would often say ご苦労さん to
students at the end of the day, instead of ご苦労様. I always thought they said it
in that way to seem friendly to the students.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-30T06:34:35.160
94759
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answer