Translation guide
The English word 'fatigue' covers both physical and mental tiredness, often with a nuance of accumulated exhaustion. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 疲れ (tsukare), but there are several other words and expressions depending on the degree, formality, and whether it's physical or mental.
Expressing everyday physical or mental tiredness, the most common way to say 'I'm tired' or 'fatigue'.
The most common and versatile word for fatigue or tiredness. Can be used for both physical and mental exhaustion in daily conversation.
今日は疲れがたまっている。
I'm feeling accumulated fatigue today.
疲れを感じる。
I feel fatigue.
A more formal or medical term for fatigue. Often used in written contexts, news, or health-related discussions.
過労による疲労が原因だ。
Fatigue from overwork is the cause.
疲労回復には睡眠が大切です。
Sleep is important for recovering from fatigue.
A medical/technical term for a feeling of malaise or lassitude, often used to describe symptoms of illness. Not used in casual conversation.
風邪の症状として倦怠感がある。
I have fatigue as a symptom of a cold.
Specifically referring to mental exhaustion, burnout, or psychological fatigue.
Literally 'mental fatigue'. A straightforward way to specify psychological tiredness.
仕事で精神的疲労がひどい。
I have severe mental fatigue from work.
Refers to burnout, the state of emotional and physical exhaustion from prolonged stress. Often used in the phrase 燃え尽き症候群 (burnout syndrome).
燃え尽きてしまって、何もやる気が起きない。
I'm completely burned out and have no motivation to do anything.
A common phrase meaning 'mentally tired' or 'emotionally drained'. More casual than 精神的疲労.
人間関係で心が疲れた。
I'm mentally fatigued from relationships.
Expressing severe, long-lasting fatigue, often associated with medical conditions or overwork.
Chronic fatigue. Used in medical contexts or to describe long-term exhaustion.
慢性疲労症候群と診断された。
I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Overwork or excessive fatigue, often leading to health problems. Strongly associated with karoshi (death from overwork).
過労で倒れた。
I collapsed from overwork/fatigue.
An onomatopoeic word meaning completely exhausted, worn out. Very common in casual speech.
Referring to the weakening of a material caused by repeated stress, a technical term in engineering.
In engineering contexts, 疲労 means material fatigue. Same word as general fatigue but used in a specific domain.
金属疲労が原因で破損した。
It broke due to metal fatigue.
Explicitly 'material fatigue'. Used when clarity is needed.
材料疲労の試験を行う。
We conduct material fatigue tests.
疲れ (tsukare) is the everyday word for tiredness, used in casual and polite speech. 疲労 (hirou) is more formal and often appears in written or medical contexts. For 'I'm tired,' 疲れた is natural; 疲労している sounds clinical.
疲れたから休みたい。
I'm tired so I want to rest.
疲労が蓄積している。
Fatigue is accumulating.
Using 疲労 in casual speech can sound overly dramatic or stiff. Stick to 疲れ or 疲れた for everyday situations.
もうへとへとだ。
I'm totally exhausted.