Translation guide
Expresses extreme physical or mental fatigue. Japanese uses different words and phrases depending on nuance, intensity, and formality.
General physical exhaustion after activity
The most common and neutral verb for 'to get tired'. Can be used for both physical and mental fatigue.
今日はとても疲れた。
I'm really exhausted today.
長時間歩いて疲れました。
I got exhausted from walking for a long time.
Onomatopoeic word meaning 'exhausted' or 'worn out', often used after physical activity. Casual.
一日中働いてくたくただ。
I'm exhausted after working all day.
Onomatopoeic word for being completely exhausted, often to the point of collapse. Casual.
山登りでへとへとになった。
I was exhausted from mountain climbing.
Compound verb meaning 'to be completely exhausted', emphasizing the result of fatigue.
彼は仕事で疲れ果てている。
He is exhausted from work.
Exhaustion from mental effort, stress, or emotional strain
Literally 'mentally tired'. Used when stress or mental work causes exhaustion.
試験勉強で精神的に疲れた。
I'm mentally exhausted from studying for exams.
Onomatopoeic word for being limp with exhaustion, often used for both physical and mental fatigue. Casual.
長い会議の後でぐったりした。
I felt drained after the long meeting.
Literally 'to burn out'. Used for burnout from overwork or emotional exhaustion. Often used in the form 燃え尽き症候群 (burnout syndrome).
Extreme exhaustion, often colloquial
Literally 'tired to the point of dying'. Very common casual expression for extreme exhaustion.
残業で死にそうに疲れた。
I'm dead tired from overtime work.
Slang verb meaning 'to be exhausted' or 'to be worn out'. Very casual.
もうへばって動けない。
I'm so exhausted I can't move.
Casual verb meaning 'to be exhausted', often from heat or prolonged activity.
Fatigue specifically due to insufficient sleep
Literally 'tired from lack of sleep'. Natural way to express sleep-related exhaustion.
昨夜あまり寝られなくて、寝不足で疲れている。
I couldn't sleep much last night, so I'm exhausted from lack of sleep.
Means 'sleepy', but often used when exhaustion manifests as drowsiness. Not a direct translation of 'exhausted', but commonly used in similar contexts.
眠くて仕方がない。
I'm so exhausted I can't help but feel sleepy.
English 'exhausted' is often translated as 疲れ果てる or 疲労困憊, but these can sound overly dramatic or formal in casual conversation. In daily speech, 疲れた or onomatopoeic words like くたくた are more natural.
ああ、疲れた。
Ah, I'm exhausted.
All three are onomatopoeic words for exhaustion. くたくた implies limpness from fatigue, often after physical work. へとへと emphasizes being completely drained, often to the point of collapse. ぐったり suggests a lack of energy and limpness, often from illness or mental drain as well.
彼女は仕事で燃え尽きてしまった。
She burned out from work.
I'm exhausted from the heat.