Translation guide
The English word "desperate" covers a range of meanings from extreme need and hopelessness to reckless actions. This guide breaks down the most useful Japanese expressions for each nuance.
Expressing that someone is in a situation where they urgently need or want something, often to the point of being willing to do anything.
Literally 'certain death', this is the most common way to say someone is desperate, putting all their effort into something. It can be used for both positive striving and negative desperation.
彼は仕事を探すのに必死だ。
He is desperate to find a job.
彼女は彼の注意を引こうと必死だった。
She was desperate to get his attention.
Verb phrase meaning 'to become desperate' or 'to try frantically'. Often used when someone starts acting out of desperation.
締め切りに間に合わせようと必死になった。
I became desperate to meet the deadline.
A noun meaning inevitability or being bound to happen. Sometimes used in the phrase 必至だ to mean 'desperate' in a more fatalistic sense, but less common than 必死.
彼の成功は必至だ。
His success is desperate (inevitable).
Describing a situation that is so bad that there seems to be no hope, or a person who has lost all hope.
The standard adjective for 'hopeless' or 'desperate' in the sense of a situation with no hope. Can also describe a person's state of mind.
状況は絶望的だ。
The situation is desperate.
彼は絶望的な気分だった。
He felt desperate.
Noun meaning 'despair' or 'hopelessness'. Used in phrases like 絶望する (to despair) or 絶望に陥る (to fall into despair).
This word is heavier and more final than English 'desperate'. Use with care.
Means 'there's nothing that can be done' or 'hopeless'. Often used for situations that are beyond help or people who are incorrigible.
もうどうしようもない状態だ。
It's a desperate situation now.
A colloquial noun/adjective meaning 'desperation' or 'recklessness out of despair'. Implies giving up and acting wildly.
Describing an action that is risky, extreme, or done as a last resort because all other options have failed.
Literally 'throwing away the body', this prefix means 'desperate' or 'reckless' for an action where one risks everything. Often used in phrases like 捨て身の攻撃 (desperate attack).
彼は捨て身の戦法に出た。
He resorted to desperate tactics.
A four-character compound meaning 'desperation' or 'abandonment of oneself to despair'. Often used for someone who acts recklessly because they don't care anymore.
自暴自棄になって酒に走った。
In desperation, he turned to alcohol.
Also used for reckless actions born of despair. See above.
Emphasizing the severity or urgency of a situation, often used in phrases like 'desperate need' or 'desperate shortage'.
Means 'serious' or 'grave'. Commonly used for desperate situations, shortages, or needs.
深刻な水不足に直面している。
We are facing a desperate water shortage.
彼は深刻な資金難に陥っている。
He is in desperate financial straits.
Means 'emergency' or 'urgent'. Used for desperate needs that require immediate action.
緊急の援助が必要だ。
There is a desperate need for aid.
Means 'pressing' or 'imminent'. Often used for desperate situations that are about to happen.
差し迫った危険が迫っている。
There is a desperate danger approaching.
必死 (ひっし) emphasizes the frantic effort or struggle, while 絶望的 (ぜつぼうてき) emphasizes the lack of hope. You can be 必死 without being 絶望的 if you are just trying very hard. Conversely, a situation can be 絶望的 without anyone being 必死 yet.
彼は必死に勉強したが、合格は絶望的だった。
He studied desperately, but passing was hopeless.
English 'desperate' is often used hyperbolically ('I'm desperate for coffee'). In Japanese, using 必死 or 絶望的 for trivial matters can sound overly dramatic. For mild desires, use とても〜したい or 〜たくてたまらない instead.
状況は絶望的だ。
The situation is desperate.
彼は捨て身の脱出を試みた。
He made a desperate attempt to escape.
彼は絶望のあまり自殺した。
In his desperation, he committed suicide.
やけくそで宝くじを買った。
Out of desperation, I bought a lottery ticket.
やけくそで会社を辞めた。
I quit my job out of desperation.
Literally 'frantic as if facing death', this is a strong expression for desperate, all-out effort or struggle.
死に物狂いで戦った。
They fought desperately.