Translation guide
The English verb 'discourage' has two main uses: (1) to make someone feel less confident or enthusiastic, and (2) to try to prevent something by making it seem difficult or unpleasant. Japanese expresses these ideas with different verbs, adjectives, and set phrases. The most common equivalents are 落胆させる (to dishearten) and 思いとどまらせる (to dissuade).
To cause someone to feel less hopeful, confident, or eager about something.
The most direct equivalent for 'discourage' in the sense of disheartening someone. It is a causative form of 落胆する (to be discouraged).
彼の批判は彼女を落胆させた。
His criticism discouraged her.
Common, slightly more casual than 落胆させる. It means to disappoint or let down, often causing loss of motivation.
テストの結果が彼をがっかりさせた。
The test results discouraged him.
Literally 'to make someone lose motivation'. Very natural when talking about discouraging someone from doing a specific task.
厳しい言葉は学生のやる気をなくさせる。
Harsh words discourage students.
A formal, literary expression meaning to demoralize or dispirit. Used in writing or formal speech.
その知らせはチームを意気消沈させた。
The news discouraged the team.
To try to stop someone from doing something by making them realize it is difficult, unpleasant, or not worthwhile.
The most standard verb for dissuading someone from a course of action. It implies making someone reconsider and stop.
彼を留学から思いとどまらせようとした。
I tried to discourage him from studying abroad.
A more general causative phrase meaning 'to make someone stop doing ~'. It can be used for discouraging, but is less specific than 思いとどまらせる.
親は子供がゲームをするのをやめさせようとした。
The parents tried to discourage their child from playing games.
Literally 'to tell someone not to do ~'. A simple, everyday way to express discouraging someone verbally.
彼に遅刻しないように言った。
I discouraged him from being late.
A stronger, more formal word meaning to make someone give up or abandon an idea. Often used in serious contexts.
彼の反対が計画を断念させた。
His opposition discouraged the plan.
To make something less likely to happen by creating obstacles or disincentives.
Means to deter or check. Commonly used in contexts like crime prevention or discouraging unwanted behavior.
高い罰金が違法駐車を抑止する。
High fines discourage illegal parking.
Means to hinder or obstruct. It can be used when something discourages an action by making it difficult.
悪天候が外出を妨げた。
The bad weather discouraged going out.
Literally 'to make someone lose the will to do ~'. A natural way to say something discourages a specific action.
長い待ち時間が客の買う気をなくさせる。
Long waiting times discourage customers from buying.
落胆させる only means to dishearten. To express 'discourage someone from doing something', use 思いとどまらせる or a phrase like ～するのをやめさせる.
Both mean to disappoint or dishearten. 落胆させる is slightly more formal and often used in written language, while がっかりさせる is more common in everyday speech.
失敗に落胆してはいけない。
Don't let failure discourage you.
私たちは彼が辞めるのを思いとどまらせようとした。
We tried to discourage him from quitting.