Translation guide
How to express feeling discouraged in Japanese, from mild disappointment to deep loss of motivation.
Expressing that you feel like giving up or have lost the will to continue.
Literally 'lose motivation'. A common, natural way to say you feel discouraged about doing something.
失敗続きでやる気をなくした。
I lost motivation after a series of failures.
Literally 'one's spirit breaks'. A vivid expression for when discouragement makes you want to quit.
あんなに厳しいことを言われて、気持ちが折れた。
After being told such harsh things, I felt completely discouraged.
Similar to 気持ちが折れる, but slightly more emotional. Often used when facing overwhelming difficulty.
何度も断られて心が折れそうだ。
I've been rejected so many times I feel like giving up.
Expressing a drop in spirits due to an unfavorable outcome or situation.
The most common word for feeling disappointed or let down. Can be used for mild to moderate discouragement.
テストの結果にがっかりした。
I was discouraged by the test results.
To feel down or depressed. Stronger than がっかりする, implies a lingering low mood.
不合格の通知を見て落ち込んでいる。
I'm feeling discouraged after seeing the rejection notice.
A formal, somewhat literary term meaning to be dispirited or dejected. Used in writing or formal speech.
チームは敗戦に意気消沈している。
The team is discouraged by the defeat.
Expressing that you are discouraged from doing something because of obstacles or negative feedback.
To shrink back or hesitate due to fear or discouragement. Often used when facing a daunting task.
高い費用に尻込みして、留学をあきらめた。
I was discouraged by the high cost and gave up on studying abroad.
To feel intimidated or lose confidence in the face of a challenge or superior opponent.
経験者の前で気後れして、うまく話せなかった。
I felt discouraged in front of the experts and couldn't speak well.
When someone actively tries to dissuade you or dampen your enthusiasm.
To dissuade someone from doing something. The passive form is often used to mean 'be discouraged from doing'.
親に留学を思いとどまらせられた。
I was discouraged from studying abroad by my parents.
To make someone lose the will to do something. The causative-passive form is common.
彼の否定的な態度が私のやる気をなくさせた。
His negative attitude discouraged me.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'be discouraged' in all contexts. Using a phrase like 落胆する (らくたんする) is possible but sounds formal and less natural in daily conversation. Choose an expression based on the nuance you want to convey.