Translation guide
How to express becoming physically or mentally drained in Japanese, from everyday tiredness to complete burnout.
Expressing that you have become tired or worn out from activity, work, or stress.
The most common and versatile verb for 'get tired' or 'become exhausted'. Can be used for both physical and mental fatigue.
Expressing that you have become mentally drained, burned out, or emotionally exhausted.
Expressing that a supply, resource, or option has been used up or depleted.
疲れる is the standard, neutral way to say 'get tired'. くたくた and へとへと are more colloquial and emphatic, implying total exhaustion. Use 疲れる in most situations; use the others with friends or in casual writing.
English 'become exhausted' often translates to a single Japanese verb like 疲れる or an adjective + なる. Do not try to use 〜になる with every word; many Japanese expressions already include the sense of 'becoming'.
疲れた。
I became exhausted.
I became really exhausted today.
仕事で疲れている。
I'm exhausted from work.
An onomatopoeic phrase meaning 'to become completely worn out' or 'exhausted'. More emphatic than 疲れる.
一日中歩いてくたくたになった。
I walked all day and became exhausted.
Similar to くたくた, meaning 'to be dead tired' or 'exhausted'. Often used after physical exertion.
引っ越しでへとへとになった。
I became exhausted from moving house.
A stronger, more literary verb meaning 'to be completely exhausted' or 'worn out'. Implies reaching the limit of one's energy.
彼は長い旅で疲れ果てた。
He became exhausted from the long journey.
Literally 'to burn out', used metaphorically for mental or emotional burnout, similar to English 'burnout'.
仕事で燃え尽きてしまった。
I became completely burned out from work.
Explicitly states mental or emotional exhaustion. Useful when distinguishing from physical tiredness.
人間関係で精神的に疲れた。
I became mentally exhausted from relationships.
Describes a state of being limp or drained, often from mental or emotional fatigue. Can also be used for physical exhaustion.
ストレスでぐったりしている。
I'm exhausted from stress.
Means 'to run out' or 'be exhausted' for resources like money, patience, ideas, etc.