Meaning
The kanji 疲 means tired, fatigued, weary, or exhausted. It describes a state where your physical or mental energy is depleted, often after strenuous activity, prolonged work, or simply not enough rest. This kanji is very common in everyday Japanese because everyone experiences tiredness. For instance, if you've had a long day at work, you'd typically say you're 疲れた (tsukareta).
Its structure gives us clues about its meaning. The radical on the left, 疒, is known as the 'sickness' or 'disease' radical. It often appears in kanji related to illness, ailments, or generally feeling unwell. This component immediately suggests a state of physical burden or discomfort.
The right-hand component is 皮, meaning 'skin' or 'hide'. While 皮 mainly provides the phonetic 'hi' sound for the kanji's On'yomi reading (like in 疲労), it also offers a conceptual link. Think of it as feeling 'worn out' to the bone, or having your energy 'peeled away' by exertion. The combination of the 'sickness' radical and the 'skin' component paints a vivid picture of someone feeling unwell and drained, much like a worn-out piece of leather. This powerfully represents the sensation of being utterly exhausted and unwell.
The kanji 疲 has 10 strokes and is taught to Japanese elementary school students in the sixth grade. It's also a required kanji for the JLPT N3 level. Understanding 疲 is essential for talking about and comprehending feelings of fatigue in various situations.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi, or Chinese-derived reading, for 疲 is ヒ (HI). You'll typically find this reading in compound words (熟語) formed with other kanji. It often shows up in more formal or technical terms related to fatigue, exhaustion, or wear and tear, especially in medical, industrial, or economic discussions.
- 疲労 (hirō) — fatigue, exhaustion
This is one of the most common On'yomi compounds. It refers to being tired or worn out, whether physically or mentally. For example, 疲労 回復 (hirō kaifuku) means "recovery from fatigue."
- 疲弊 (hihei) — exhaustion, destitution, wear and tear
While also meaning exhaustion, 疲弊 often conveys a stronger sense of being completely depleted or impoverished. This term is frequently used in economic or social contexts. For instance, 経済疲弊 (keizai hihei) refers to economic stagnation or exhaustion.
- 疲労困憊 (hirō konpai) — utter exhaustion, complete physical and mental collapse
This compound describes an extreme level of fatigue, where someone is utterly spent and debilitated. It goes beyond mere tiredness, bordering on total physical and mental collapse.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi, or native Japanese readings, are used when 疲 functions as a standalone verb or is paired with Japanese grammatical endings (okurigana). These readings are more common in everyday conversation and when expressing personal feelings of tiredness.
- 疲れる (tsukareru) — to get tired, to be fatigued
This is the most frequently used form. As an intransitive verb, it means "to become tired" or "to be tired." It can describe both physical and mental fatigue. For example, 仕事で疲れる (shigoto de tsukareru) means "to get tired from work."
- 疲れ (tsukare) — tiredness, fatigue (noun)
This is the noun form derived from the verb 疲れる. It refers to the state or feeling of being tired. For example, 今日は疲れが溜まっている (kyō wa tsukare ga tamatte iru) means "today, my fatigue has accumulated."
- 疲れやすい (tsukareyasui) — easily tired, prone to fatigue
This adjective describes someone or something that tires quickly or often. For instance, 疲れやすい体質 (tsukareyasui taishitsu) means "a constitution that gets tired easily."
- 疲らす (tsukarasu) — to tire someone out, to strain (transitive verb)
This is a transitive verb, meaning "to make someone or something tired" or "to strain." While less common than 疲れる, it's used in expressions like 目を疲らす (me o tsukarasu), meaning "to strain one's eyes."
Common Words & Compounds
Here are some common words and compounds using the kanji 疲, grouped by their usage and nuance:
General Fatigue & Conditions:
疲労 (hirō) — fatigue, exhaustion (general term)
疲弊 (hihei) — exhaustion, destitution (often economic/social, or severe wear and tear)
疲労困憊 (hirō konpai) — utter exhaustion, complete physical and mental collapse
肉体疲労 (nikutai hirō) — physical fatigue
精神疲労 (seishin hirō) — mental fatigue
Actions & States of Being Tired:
疲れる (tsukareru) — to get tired, to be fatigued (intransitive verb)
疲れ (tsukare) — tiredness, fatigue (noun form)
疲らす (tsukarasu) — to tire someone out, to strain (transitive verb, e.g., 目を疲らす)
疲れきった (tsukarekitta) — completely exhausted, worn out
疲れ果てる (tsukarehateru) — to be utterly exhausted, to be worn out
Related to Recovery & Prevention:
疲労回復 (hirō kaifuku) — recovery from fatigue
過労 (karō) — overwork, excessive labor (often leading to fatigue)
Specific Contexts of Fatigue:
目の疲れ (me no tsukare) — eye strain, eye fatigue
長旅の疲れ (nagatabi no tsukare) — fatigue from a long journey
時差疲労 (jisa hirō) — jet lag
慢性疲労 (mansei hirō) — chronic fatigue
Example Sentences
毎日仕事で疲れます。
Mainichi shigoto de tsukaremasu.
I get tired from work every day.
この運動は足が疲れるでしょう。
Kono undō wa ashi ga tsukareru deshō.
This exercise will probably make your legs tired.
長距離運転は疲労が溜まりやすいです。
Chōkyori unten wa hirō ga tamariyasui desu.
Long-distance driving tends to accumulate fatigue.
彼は残業でひどく疲れていました。
Kare wa zangyō de hidoku tsukarete imashita.
He was terribly tired from overtime work.
疲れた体には温かいお風呂が一番です。
Tsukareta karada ni wa atatakai ofuro ga ichiban desu.
For a tired body, a warm bath is the best.
最近、目を疲らすことが多いです。
Saikin, me o tsukarasu koto ga ooi desu.
Recently, I often strain my eyes.
このプロジェクトのせいで、精神的に疲労困憊しています。
Kono purojekuto no sei de, seishinteki ni hirō konpai shite imasu.
Because of this project, I am mentally exhausted.
よく休んで、疲労回復に努めてください。
Yoku yasunde, hirō kaifuku ni tsutomete kudasai.
Please rest well and try to recover from your fatigue.
彼は朝から晩まで働いて、疲れきっています。
Kare wa asa kara ban made hataraite, tsukarekitte imasu.
He works from morning till night and is completely exhausted.
Memory Tip
To remember 疲, picture yourself feeling unwell (that's the 疒 'sickness' radical) because you've worked so hard your skin (皮, which also gives the 'hi' sound) feels worn out or tingly from exhaustion. Imagine lying on a bed (implied by 疒), feeling sick and utterly tired, with your skin feeling stretched and weary. The 'sickness' radical on the left indicates an unhealthy state, while the 'skin' component on the right can either phonetically suggest 'hi' from 'hirō' (fatigue) or visually represent energy being 'peeled away'. Together, they convey a deep, draining tiredness.