Translation guide
This guide helps you express the idea of something being discouraging in Japanese. It covers describing situations, feelings, and actions that dampen motivation or hope.
To say that a situation, news, or outcome is discouraging, disheartening, or demotivating.
A common and versatile phrase meaning 'to be disappointed' or 'discouraged'. It can describe a feeling or a situation that causes that feeling.
試験の結果はがっかりするものだった。
The exam results were discouraging.
I was discouraged by his reaction.
Means 'to cause discouragement' or 'to dishearten'. It is more formal and often used in written contexts.
そのニュースは国民を落胆させた。
The news discouraged the public.
A strong, literary expression meaning 'to make someone lose spirit' or 'to demoralize'. Used in dramatic or formal writing.
度重なる失敗が彼を意気消沈させた。
Repeated failures discouraged him.
To express that you feel discouraged, demotivated, or disheartened.
Literally 'to lose motivation'. This is a very natural way to say you feel discouraged from doing something.
失敗続きでやる気をなくした。
I got discouraged after a string of failures.
彼の言葉にやる気をなくした。
His words discouraged me.
Means 'to feel depressed' or 'disheartened'. It emphasizes a gloomy, heavy feeling.
雨の日が続くと気が滅入る。
Continuous rainy days are discouraging.
Means 'to feel down' or 'depressed'. It is commonly used for a discouraged emotional state.
To actively discourage someone from taking an action, or to dissuade them.
Means 'to dissuade' or 'to make someone reconsider'. It is a direct way to say you discouraged someone from doing something.
彼を留学から思いとどまらせようとした。
I tried to discourage him from studying abroad.
Causative form of 'to stop', meaning 'to make someone stop' or 'to discourage them from continuing'. Casual and direct.
危ないから子供をやめさせた。
I discouraged the child from doing it because it was dangerous.
Means 'to make someone give up'. It implies discouraging someone to the point of abandonment.
彼の夢を諦めさせるのは難しい。
It's hard to discourage him from his dream.
To describe words or behavior that are discouraging, negative, or demotivating.
Loanword meaning 'negative'. Often used to describe discouraging comments or attitudes.
彼はいつもネガティブなことばかり言う。
He always says discouraging things.
Literally 'to chip away at motivation'. It describes remarks or actions that dampen enthusiasm.
彼の批判は私のやる気をそいだ。
His criticism discouraged me.
Idiom meaning 'to pour cold water on' or 'to discourage'. It implies spoiling someone's enthusiasm or plans.
がっかりする focuses on disappointment, while やる気をなくす specifically refers to losing motivation. Use がっかりする for general letdowns, and やる気をなくす when the discouragement affects your drive to do something.
映画がつまらなくてがっかりした。
I was disappointed because the movie was boring.
上司に怒られてやる気をなくした。
I got discouraged after being scolded by my boss.
There is no single adjective that perfectly matches 'discouraging' in all contexts. Avoid directly translating it as a modifier; instead, use phrases that describe the effect on feelings or motivation.
不合格の知らせに落ち込んでいる。
I'm feeling discouraged by the notice of failure.
彼女の一言が水を差した。
Her single remark was discouraging.