Translation guide
This guide covers how to express losing interest in something or someone in Japanese, from casual to formal, and from temporary boredom to complete loss of passion.
Expressing that you are no longer interested in something you used to enjoy or care about.
A direct and neutral way to say 'lose interest'. Suitable for both spoken and written Japanese.
最近、ゲームに興味を失った。
I've lost interest in games lately.
Means 'to get tired of' or 'to be bored with'. Very common in casual conversation. Often used with に.
このゲームに飽きた。
I'm bored with this game.
Literally 'interest fades'. Slightly more formal and often used in written contexts.
その話題への関心が薄れてきた。
My interest in that topic has been fading.
Means 'to cool down', used metaphorically for passion or interest. Often used for relationships or hobbies.
彼女への気持ちが冷めた。
My feelings for her have cooled.
Specifically for when romantic feelings fade.
The most natural way to say romantic feelings have cooled. 冷める implies a loss of passion.
彼に気持ちが冷めてしまった。
I've lost feelings for him.
More explicit about love/affection cooling. Slightly more formal.
長年連れ添ったが、愛情が冷めてしまった。
We've been together for years, but the love has faded.
When you become bored or disengaged with a specific thing.
Literally 'interest disappears'. Very common and neutral.
その話に興味がなくなった。
I lost interest in that story.
Emphasizes that you ended up getting bored, often with a nuance of regret.
毎日同じ仕事で飽きてしまう。
I get bored with the same work every day.
When interest fades over time rather than suddenly.
Uses だんだん (gradually) with 薄れる (to fade). Natural for describing a slow loss of interest.
その趣味にはだんだん興味が薄れてきた。
I've gradually lost interest in that hobby.
飽きる implies boredom or weariness, often from repetition. 興味を失う is more neutral and can be used even without a negative experience. For example, you can 興味を失う in a topic simply because your priorities changed, but 飽きる suggests you are tired of it.
While you can say 彼に興味を失った (I lost interest in him), it sounds clinical. For romantic feelings, 気持ちが冷める or 冷める is much more natural.