Translation guide
This English expression describes a feeling of losing motivation or excitement, often due to a disappointing event or realization. In Japanese, it is commonly expressed with verbs like 冷める (sameru) or そがれる (sogareru), or through phrases that convey a sudden drop in mood.
Express that one's motivation or excitement has suddenly decreased, often due to an external factor.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to cool down' or 'to lose interest/enthusiasm'. Often used when initial excitement fades.
Focus on the cause that dampened enthusiasm, often using passive or causative forms.
Passive form meaning 'to have one's enthusiasm dampened'. Emphasizes the external cause.
冷める (sameru) is an intransitive verb that describes a natural cooling of emotions, often without specifying a direct cause. そがれる (sogareru) is the passive form of そぐ (sogu, to chip away) and implies an external factor actively dampening one's enthusiasm. Use 冷める for a general loss of interest, and そがれる when you want to emphasize what caused it.
The English phrase 'have one's enthusiasm dampened' does not have a single direct equivalent. Translating word-for-word (e.g., 熱意が湿らされる) sounds unnatural. Instead, use the expressions above that match the context.
彼の話を聞いて、一気に熱が冷めた。
After hearing his story, my enthusiasm dampened all at once.
Literally 'feelings cool down', a common way to say one's enthusiasm has dampened.
After hearing the reviews of that movie, my enthusiasm to go see it dampened.
Transitive verb meaning 'to be dampened' or 'to be discouraged'. Often used with nouns like 意欲 (いよく, motivation) or 熱意 (ねつい, enthusiasm).
My motivation was dampened by the string of failures.
Casual expression meaning 'one's mood/excitement drops'. テンション (tension) here means excitement level.
The picnic was canceled due to rain, and my enthusiasm dampened.
Literally 'lose motivation', a direct way to say one's drive has been dampened.
I lost my motivation after being rejected by my boss.
My enthusiasm was dampened by his cold response.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'to be discouraged at the outset' or 'to have one's enthusiasm dampened right at the start'.
My enthusiasm was dampened right from the start by that first mistake.
Literally 'to have one's spirit dampened', a more literary expression.
My enthusiasm was dampened by his single remark.