Greeting colleagues at the start of a shift

The idea

おはようございます is a polite morning greeting; some workplaces also use it at the start of a later shift. お疲れさまです acknowledges colleagues during work. When leaving before others, say お先に失礼します; a colleague may answer お疲れさまでした. よろしくお願いします expresses a wish for good cooperation. Practices vary by workplace.

Examples

• 田中たなかさん、おはようございます。Good morning, Ms Tanaka.
• 今日きょうも、よろしくお願ねがいします。I look forward to working with you today, too.
• 佐藤さとうさん、お疲つかれさまです。Hello, Mr Sato; thank you for your work.
• 今日きょうは、お先さきに失礼しつれいします。I am leaving before you today.
• 皆みなさん、お疲つかれさまでした。Thank you for your work, everyone.
• 手伝てつだってくれて、ありがとうございます。Thank you for helping me.

Watch out

お疲れさまです is not simply “you look tired”. Avoid assuming that one greeting is required at every workplace or time of day.

Try it yourself

1. Greet a colleague in the morning. 朝あさ、同僚どうりょうに会あいました。＿。（おはようございます／おやすみなさい）

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   おはようございます

   おはようございます is the polite greeting when you meet a colleague in the morning.

2. Tell colleagues you are leaving before them. 同僚どうりょうより先さきに帰かえります。＿。（お先さきに失礼しつれいします／いただきます）

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   お先に失礼します

   お先に失礼します tells colleagues politely that you are leaving before them.

3. Reply to a colleague who is leaving before you. 先さきに帰かえる同僚どうりょうに返事へんじします。＿。（お疲つかれさまでした／おはようございます）

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   お疲れさまでした

   お疲れさまでした is a common response to a colleague who is leaving.

Use it today

Role-play arriving, greeting a colleague and leaving before them. Switch roles and reply to the person leaving.