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.
I'm really exhausted today.
Onomatopoeic word meaning 'exhausted' or 'worn out', often used after physical activity. Casual.
Onomatopoeic word for being completely exhausted, often to the point of collapse. Casual.
Compound verb meaning 'to be completely exhausted', emphasizing the result of fatigue.
Exhaustion from mental effort, stress, or emotional strain
Literally 'mentally tired'. Used when stress or mental work causes exhaustion.
Extreme exhaustion, often colloquial
Literally 'tired to the point of dying'. Very common casual expression for extreme exhaustion.
Fatigue specifically due to insufficient sleep
Literally 'tired from lack of sleep'. Natural way to express sleep-related exhaustion.
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.
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.
I got exhausted from walking for a long time.
一日中働いてくたくただ。
I'm exhausted after working all day.
山登りでへとへとになった。
I was exhausted from mountain climbing.
He is exhausted from work.
I'm mentally exhausted from studying for exams.
Onomatopoeic word for being limp with exhaustion, often used for both physical and mental fatigue. Casual.
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).
She burned out from work.
I'm dead tired from overtime work.
Slang verb meaning 'to be exhausted' or 'to be worn out'. Very casual.
I'm so exhausted I can't move.
Casual verb meaning 'to be exhausted', often from heat or prolonged activity.
I'm exhausted from the heat.
I couldn't sleep much last night, so I'm exhausted from lack of sleep.