疲れる

つかれる

to get (become) tired

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"疲れる" (つかれる) means "to get tired" or "to become fatigued." It is a common verb used to express physical or mental exhaustion. It can describe tiredness from activities like walking, working, or studying.

Common Collocations

  • 疲れる + から/ので + verb: Explains a reason related to tiredness (e.g., 疲れたから休みます - "I'm resting because I'm tired.")
  • 仕事で疲れる: Getting tired from work
  • 長時間歩いて疲れる: Getting tired from walking a long time

Register and Nuance

This verb is neutral and commonly used in everyday conversation. It is polite when conjugated appropriately (e.g., 疲れました). It can refer to both physical and mental tiredness.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "疲れる" with "疲らす" (to tire someone else), but "疲れる" is intransitive (you get tired), while "疲らす" is transitive (you tire someone). Remember to use "疲れる" when talking about yourself or someone becoming tired.

Example Sentences

ながいあいだあるいてつかれました。

I got tired after walking for a long time.

しごとでつかれて、はやくねたいです。

I'm tired from work and want to sleep early.

つかれるとしゅうちゅうできなくなります。

When you get tired, you can't concentrate.