Japanese word

乙

Pronunciation

Romajiotsu

Meaning

  • noungood work

Example

仕事の後、みんなに乙と送りました。shi goto no ato mi n na ni otsu to oku ri ma shi ta

After work, I sent everyone "good work".

Illustration for 乙 (good work)

More examples

試合の運営を手伝ってくれた友人に、乙ですと伝えました。shi ai no un ei o te tsuda tte ku re ta yū jin ni otsu de su to tsuta e ma shi ta

I told my friend, "Good work."

Core concept

乙 (otsu) identifies a person or thing as occupying a recognized secondary position, or briefly acknowledges someone's completed effort.

Common phrases

  • 乙ですotsu de su

    good work

Similar words

お疲れotsukare: A casual expression of recognition for someone's effort or completed work.
ご苦労様gokurōsama: A respectful acknowledgment of someone's completed effort, often used by a superior.
労いnegirai: Words or actions that express recognition of someone's effort or work.

Definition in Japanese

仕事などを終えた相手に、その労をねぎらう気持ちを表す言葉。shi goto na do o o e ta ai te ni so no rō o ne gi ra u ki mo chi o arawa su koto ba

Word origin

The internet slang use of 乙 (otsu) comes from the shortened expression お疲れ様 (otsukaresama), which acknowledges someone's effort after work or a task.

Usage tips

  • The chat expression 乙 (otsu) can sound abrupt outside informal contexts because it abbreviates the fuller acknowledgment お疲れ様 (otsukaresama).

Other meanings

  • secondnoun
  • grade Bnoun
  • the latternoun

Word lists with this word