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.
I lost motivation after a series of failures.
Literally 'one's spirit breaks'. A vivid expression for when discouragement makes you want to quit.
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.
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.
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.
A formal, somewhat literary term meaning to be dispirited or dejected. Used in writing or formal speech.
Expressing that you are discouraged from doing something because of obstacles or negative feedback.
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'.
I was discouraged from studying abroad by my parents.
To make someone lose the will to do something. The causative-passive form is common.
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.
I'm feeling discouraged after seeing the rejection notice.
The team is discouraged by the defeat.
I felt discouraged in front of the experts and couldn't speak well.
His negative attitude discouraged me.