Translation guide
How to express being in a slump in Japanese, covering sports, work, creative blocks, and economic downturns.
To say that an athlete, team, or person is in a slump, performing poorly for a period.
A direct loanword from English 'slump', commonly used in sports, work, and creative contexts. スランプ means 'slump', and 陥る means 'to fall into'. This is the most natural and common way to say 'be in a slump'.
He has been in a slump lately.
The whole team seems to be in a slump.
Means 'sluggish' or 'in a slump', often used for performance in sports, business, or sales. It is a na-adjective, so it can directly describe a person or team.
He is in a slump this season.
Literally 'condition is bad', a very common and versatile phrase to indicate not performing well, feeling off, or being in a slump. Can be used for health, performance, or mood.
I've been in a slump lately.
Means 'to be sluggish' or 'to be in a prolonged slump', often used for teams, economies, or ratings. Implies a longer-term downturn.
The team is in a slump.
To express being stuck creatively, having writer's block, or lacking inspiration.
Simply stating 'I'm in a slump' using the loanword. Very common for creative blocks.
I can't come up with any ideas; I'm totally in a slump.
Means 'to reach a deadlock' or 'to be stuck', often used when progress halts in creative work or problem-solving.
Literally 'to be boiled down', but idiomatically means to reach an impasse after much thought, often in discussions or creative work. Note: Some people misuse it to mean 'ideas are well refined', so context matters.
Can be misinterpreted; use 行き詰まる for clarity.
To describe a downturn in the economy, market, or business performance.
Means 'recession' or 'economic slump'. Used for the economy as a whole or a specific industry.
The Japanese economy is in a slump.
Literally 'business conditions are bad', a common way to say the economy is in a slump.
The economy has been in a slump lately, huh.
Specifically for sales being in a slump, meaning 'sales have dropped sharply'.
スランプ is a loanword and feels modern, used for any kind of slump. 不振 is more formal and often used in news or reports about performance. 調子が悪い is casual and can refer to health, mood, or performance, so it's less specific.
I can't get out of this slump.
Investigate the cause of the slump.
I'm off my game today and making lots of mistakes.
Avoid literal translations like 'スランプにいる' or '不振にいる'. Use スランプに陥っている, 不振だ, or 調子が悪い.
The team has been in a slump since the star player got injured.
I'm in a creative slump and can't write anything.
The economy is in a slump, so finding a job is tough.
売り上げが不振だ。
Sales are in a slump.
彼は今日調子が悪そうだ。
He seems to be off his game today.
My research is in a slump / I'm stuck in my research.
議論が煮詰まってしまった。
The discussion has reached a deadlock.
Sales of the new product are in a slump.