お疲れ様です。”Otsukaresamadesu"

お疲れ様です。(Otsukaresamadesu) is a phrase used in Japan at the end of work day, end of an event or when you meet someone who have been working hard. This phrase does not really relate to any phrase in English. In fact, I still have hard time figuring out when it is really appropriate to use this phrase.


おつかれさまです。（Otsukaresamadesu)  have several meanings: "We finally finished", "Wow,
you are working hard", "You have been working hard" and strangest of all when you greet
others who are in the same club activities, co-workers, or your boss.
Working with both Japanese and foreigner here in Japan, we use this phrase at work when
bumping into each other or at the end of the day. But if I have to translate the meaning this is
hard.  Only explanation is that it is used at the end of the day or when you bump into
your co-workers or your boss at work.

When I came back to Japan and started working part time in my University year,
I had hard time wrapping around my head on when is the appropriate time to use this
phrase. Especially there are お疲れさまです。（Otsukaresama-desu)　and　お疲れ様でした。
（Otsukaresama-deshita).  It seemed so confusing because to me who have lived in
English speaking environment for all my teenage year, saying "Hi", Hello",
"Good morning",and "Good evening". I felt strange saying お疲れさまです。
(Otsukaresama-desu) when you meet all the people working in the
working place weither you know them or not because it is appropriate.