Translation guide
Describes the physical action of lowering one's head, often expressing shame, sadness, or defeat. Japanese uses several verbs and phrases depending on the nuance.
To lower one's head because of shame, guilt, or embarrassment.
The most common and natural way to say 'hang one's head' in the sense of looking down in shame or sadness. It's a verb that means to bow or bend one's head forward.
He hung his head in embarrassment.
Scolded, the child hung his head.
Literally 'to lay one's face down', implying hiding one's face by lowering the head, often due to shame or to avoid eye contact.
She hung her head in shame.
Means 'to look down' or 'to face downward'. It can be used for hanging one's head, but is more general and can simply mean looking at the ground.
He hung his head without saying anything.
To lower one's head due to sadness, disappointment, or feeling down.
Specifically means to hang one's head in dejection or despair. It conveys a drooping, defeated posture.
He hung his head in disappointment at the news of failing.
Literally 'to drop one's shoulders', this phrase describes a dejected posture that often includes hanging the head. It emphasizes the overall body language of disappointment.
To lower one's head as a sign of giving up, admitting defeat, or submitting.
A more formal or literary expression meaning 'to hang one's head' or 'to bow one's head', often used in contexts of defeat, humility, or deep respect.
The loser hung his head and left.
Similar to 頭を垂れる but uses 'neck' instead of 'head'. It can sound slightly more literary or poetic.
He admitted his guilt and hung his head.
うつむく is a general term for looking down, often due to shyness, embarrassment, or avoiding eye contact. うなだれる specifically implies a drooping, dejected hanging of the head from sadness or despair. Use うつむく for mild shame, and うなだれる for deep disappointment.
He hung his head in embarrassment.
He hung his head after being rejected in love.
She hung her head in sorrow.
He hung his head in discouragement.