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.
I'm feeling accumulated fatigue today.
A more formal or medical term for fatigue. Often used in written contexts, news, or health-related discussions.
A medical/technical term for a feeling of malaise or lassitude, often used to describe symptoms of illness. Not used in casual conversation.
Specifically referring to mental exhaustion, burnout, or psychological fatigue.
Expressing severe, long-lasting fatigue, often associated with medical conditions or overwork.
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.
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.
I'm tired so I want to rest.
I'm suffering from fatigue.
Polite, somewhat formal.
I feel fatigue.
過労による疲労が原因だ。
Fatigue from overwork is the cause.
Sleep is important for recovering from fatigue.
I have fatigue as a symptom of a cold.
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).
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.
I'm mentally fatigued from relationships.
I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Overwork or excessive fatigue, often leading to health problems. Strongly associated with karoshi (death from overwork).
I collapsed from overwork/fatigue.
An onomatopoeic word meaning completely exhausted, worn out. Very common in casual speech.
I'm totally exhausted.
It broke due to metal fatigue.
Explicitly 'material fatigue'. Used when clarity is needed.
We conduct material fatigue tests.
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.
The fatigue is overwhelming.
Natural polite expression.