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.
I'm really tired today.
Onomatopoeic word meaning 'exhausted' or 'worn out.' Very common in casual speech.
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.
I'm exhausted from helping with the move.
Formal noun meaning 'fatigue.' Used in medical, technical, or written contexts.
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.
Work has been so busy that I'm mentally exhausted.
Noun meaning 'burnout.' Often used in the context of work or caregiving.
Literally 'my heart/mind is tired.' Emphasizes emotional exhaustion.
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.
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.
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.
I'm worn out from work.
I'm completely drained after the marathon.
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.
Be careful not to get burnout syndrome.
I'm so exhausted I can't move.
I worked all night and am completely exhausted.
Please be careful of heat exhaustion.