Translation guide
Expressing sadness, disappointment, or low spirits in a downcast manner. Japanese uses various adverbs, mimetic words, and descriptive phrases to convey acting or feeling dejected.
Describing someone's actions or demeanor when they are visibly sad or discouraged.
A mimetic adverb meaning 'dejectedly' or 'dispiritedly', often used when someone looks downcast or lonely.
彼はしょんぼりと帰っていった。
He went home dejectedly.
犬がしょんぼりと座っている。
The dog is sitting dejectedly.
From the verb がっかりする (to be disappointed). Used to describe doing something in a disappointed or dejected state.
がっかりして、彼はため息をついた。
Dejectedly, he sighed.
A more formal or literary expression meaning 'in low spirits' or 'dejectedly'.
彼は意気消沈してうつむいた。
He hung his head dejectedly.
A literary word meaning 'dejectedly' or 'crestfallen'. Rare in everyday speech.
彼は悄然として立ち去った。
He left dejectedly.
Emphasizing the emotional weight or sadness behind an action.
Literally 'with a sunken feeling', a natural way to say 'with a heavy heart' or 'dejectedly'.
沈んだ気持ちで家に帰った。
I went home dejectedly.
Means 'in a gloomy/depressed mood', suitable for describing dejected actions.
憂うつな気分で仕事を続けた。
He continued working dejectedly.
Describing visible signs of dejection, such as drooping shoulders or a downcast face.
Literally 'looking down', often implies dejection or shame.
彼女はうつむいて歩いていた。
She was walking dejectedly, looking down.
Literally 'with shoulders dropped', a common idiom for looking dejected.
肩を落として部屋を出た。
He left the room dejectedly.
With a dejected/downcast face. しょげる means to be dispirited.
しょげた顔で座っていた。
He was sitting dejectedly.
しょんぼり emphasizes the outward appearance of dejection (lonely, dispirited look), while がっかりして focuses on the feeling of disappointment. Use しょんぼり for visible demeanor and がっかりして when the action stems from disappointment.
しょんぼりと公園のベンチに座っていた。
He was sitting dejectedly on a park bench.
がっかりして、何も言えなかった。
Dejected, I couldn't say anything.
There is no single Japanese adverb that covers all uses of 'dejectedly'. Avoid direct translations like 落胆して (which is more 'disappointedly') unless the context is clear. Often, a phrase describing body language or emotional state is more natural.