疲れ

つかれ

tiredness, fatigue

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Understanding 疲れ (つかれ)

疲れ means "tiredness" or "fatigue" and is commonly used to describe physical or mental exhaustion after work, exercise, or stress. It is a noun and often appears in everyday conversation.

Common Usage

疲れ is frequently used to talk about accumulated tiredness (疲れがたまる) or the need to recover from fatigue (疲れを取る). It can refer to both physical and mental tiredness.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 疲れがたまる: fatigue accumulates, often leading to health issues.
  • 疲れを取る: to relieve or recover from tiredness.
  • 疲れた顔: a tired face, showing visible signs of exhaustion.

Register and Nuance

疲れ is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. It is a common word in daily life and does not carry strong emotional connotations.

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 疲れ with 疲れる (つかれる), which is the verb meaning "to get tired." Remember 疲れ is the noun form, so it often appears with particles like が or を.

Example Sentences

ながいしごとのあとで、ひどいつかれをかんじた。

After a long day of work, I felt terrible fatigue.

つかれがたまると、たいちょうをくずしやすくなる。

When fatigue accumulates, it becomes easier to get sick.

つかれをとるために、おんせんにいきたい。

I want to go to a hot spring to relieve my fatigue.