noun
second party or rank; B grade; the latter
Only when written 乙
A formal label meaning the second item, party, or grade, often paired with 甲. Common in contracts and classification systems rather than ordinary conversation.
See also: 甲
契約書では、甲が発注者、乙が受注者を指す。
In the contract, kō refers to the client and otsu to the contractor.
評価は
The evaluation had three grades, A, B, and C, and he received B.
na-adjective
chic; stylish; witty; quaint or odd
Used as 乙な for something tasteful, stylish, witty, or charmingly unusual. It has a somewhat old-fashioned or playful flavor, and can shade into 'peculiar' depending on context.
秋の夜に熱燗とは、乙なものだね。
Hot sake on an autumn night has a certain stylish charm.
彼はたまに乙なことを言う。
He sometimes says witty, unexpected things.
expression
Slang abbreviation of お疲れ様 used to acknowledge someone's effort or thank them casually. It is very casual and especially common in messages, online communities, and among peers.
See also: お疲れ様
レポート提出おつ！
Good job submitting the report!
昨日の作業、おつでした。
Thanks for your work yesterday.
expression
The same slang abbreviation can be used as a casual sign-off, like お疲れ様 said when leaving or ending an online session. The exact English translation depends on the situation.
See also: お疲れ様
じゃ、今日はこの辺で。おつ！
Well, let's stop here for today. See you!
眠いから落ちるね。おつ。
I'm sleepy, so I'm logging off. Good night.
The paired label meaning the first party, first rank, or A grade; 乙 is the second party or B grade.
The fuller expression behind the slang おつ; more widely usable and less casual, especially as お疲れ様です.
Also means stylish or refined, but 粋 is a stronger and more standard word for sophisticated taste; 乙な is more playful, quaint, or old-fashioned.
乙 is traditionally the second of the ten heavenly stems and is used by extension for a second party, rank, or grade. The slang greeting おつ is an abbreviation of お疲れ様. The exact historical development of the adjectival use 乙な is not specified here, so it should be treated conservatively as a conventional usage.