Translation guide
Ways to express physical or mental exhaustion in Japanese, from everyday tiredness to complete burnout.
Expressing that you are physically tired or worn out from activity, work, or lack of sleep.
The most common and neutral way to say 'I'm tired.' Can be used in most situations.
今日は本当に疲れた。
I'm really tired today.
Onomatopoeic word meaning 'exhausted' or 'worn out.' Very common in casual speech.
一日中歩いて、もうくたくただ。
I've been walking all day and I'm exhausted.
Similar to くたくた, emphasizes being completely drained of energy. Often used after physical exertion.
引っ越しの手伝いでへとへとです。
I'm exhausted from helping with the move.
Formal noun meaning 'fatigue.' Used in medical, technical, or written contexts.
疲労がたまっている。
Fatigue is building up.
Expressing mental fatigue, emotional drain, or burnout from stress, overwork, or emotional situations.
Literally 'mentally tired.' A clear way to specify mental rather than physical exhaustion.
仕事が忙しすぎて、精神的に疲れた。
Work has been so busy that I'm mentally exhausted.
Noun meaning 'burnout.' Often used in the context of work or caregiving.
燃え尽き症候群にならないように気をつけて。
Be careful not to get burnout syndrome.
Literally 'my heart/mind is tired.' Emphasizes emotional exhaustion.
人間関係で心が疲れた。
I'm emotionally exhausted from relationships.
Expressing a state of being completely drained, unable to move, or utterly exhausted.
Onomatopoeic word describing a limp, utterly exhausted state. Often used when you can't move.
暑さでぐったりしている。
I'm completely wiped out from the heat.
Colloquial verb meaning to be exhausted or worn out, often to the point of giving up.
Compound verb meaning 'to be completely exhausted.' Stronger than 疲れる.
Specifically expressing exhaustion caused by hot weather or summer heat.
Common term for summer fatigue or heat exhaustion. Refers to the lethargy and loss of appetite from summer heat.
今年の夏は特に夏バテがひどい。
This summer I have especially bad heat exhaustion.
Medical term for heatstroke or heat exhaustion. A serious condition requiring attention.
All three mean 'exhausted,' but with different nuances. くたくた is general fatigue, often from daily activities. へとへと emphasizes being drained of energy after physical exertion. ぐったり describes a limp, lifeless state, often from heat or illness.
仕事でくたくた。
I'm worn out from work.
マラソンの後でへとへとだ。
I'm completely drained after the marathon.
熱でぐったりしている。
I'm limp with fever.
The English noun 'exhaustion' is often translated as 疲労困憊 (ひろうこんぱい), but this is very formal and rarely used in daily conversation. In casual speech, use phrases like 疲れた or onomatopoeia like くたくた.
I'm so exhausted I can't move.
徹夜で仕事をして疲れ果てた。
I worked all night and am completely exhausted.
Please be careful of heat exhaustion.