Translation guide
Describes a feeling of deep disappointment and dejection, often after a failure or when hopes are dashed. Japanese expresses this through various words and phrases that convey sadness, discouragement, and a visible drop in spirits.
To describe someone who looks deeply disappointed and sad, often with drooping posture or a gloomy expression.
An onomatopoeic adverb often used with する to describe someone looking dejected, lonely, or crestfallen. It emphasizes a visible, quiet sadness.
彼は不合格の知らせを聞いて、しょんぼりしていた。
He was crestfallen when he heard the news of his failure.
犬がしょんぼりと尻尾を垂らしている。
The dog is crestfallen with its tail drooping.
A common word for disappointment. It can describe both the feeling and the visible expression of being let down. Often used with する.
試合に負けて、がっかりした顔をしている。
He has a crestfallen look after losing the match.
期待していたのに、がっかりだ。
I was crestfallen even though I had high hopes.
A more formal compound meaning 'dejected' or 'dispirited'. It describes a state of low morale and crestfallen demeanor.
彼は上司に叱られて意気消沈している。
He is crestfallen after being scolded by his boss.
A literary word meaning 'dejected' or 'crestfallen'. It is often used in written narratives to describe a person's downcast appearance.
悄然と肩を落とす。
To drop one's shoulders crestfallenly.
To express the internal emotion of being crestfallen, without necessarily focusing on appearance.
A noun/する-verb meaning 'disappointment' or 'discouragement'. It conveys a strong sense of being crestfallen, often due to a specific event.
結果を聞いて落胆した。
I was crestfallen when I heard the result.
落胆の色を隠せない。
I can't hide my crestfallen expression.
Means 'disappointment' or 'despair'. It is slightly more formal and can imply a loss of hope, fitting for a crestfallen state.
Literally 'the spirit leaks out'. It describes the feeling of deflation and crestfallenness when something anticipated falls through.
To describe the physical manifestation of being crestfallen, such as hanging one's head or slumping shoulders.
Literally 'to drop one's shoulders'. A common idiom for looking crestfallen or dejected.
彼は肩を落として帰っていった。
He went home crestfallen, with his shoulders drooping.
A verb meaning 'to hang one's head' in dejection or shame. It vividly depicts a crestfallen posture.
Literally 'to droop one's neck/head'. A more literary expression for a crestfallen appearance.
敗者は首を垂れて立ち去った。
The loser left crestfallen, with head hung low.
しょんぼり emphasizes the visible, often quiet and lonely aspect of being crestfallen, like a child or pet looking sad. がっかり is more about the feeling of disappointment and can be used for both internal emotion and expression. がっかり is more common in everyday speech.
プレゼントがもらえなくて、子供はしょんぼりしていた。
The child was crestfallen because they didn't get a present.
映画がつまらなくてがっかりした。
I was crestfallen because the movie was boring.
There is no direct single-word translation for 'crestfallen' in Japanese. Using a dictionary gloss like 落胆する or がっかりする is usually fine, but to capture the visual aspect, use phrases like 肩を落とす or しょんぼりする depending on context.
彼の態度に失望した。
I was crestfallen by his attitude.
旅行が中止になって、気が抜けた。
I felt crestfallen when the trip was canceled.
To hang one's head crestfallen after being scolded.