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.
彼の冷たい反応に熱意をそがれた。
My enthusiasm was dampened by his cold response.
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.
After hearing his story, my enthusiasm dampened all at once.
Literally 'feelings cool down', a common way to say one's enthusiasm has dampened.
その映画の評判を聞いて、見に行く気持ちが冷めた。
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).
失敗続きで意欲がそがれた。
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.
雨でピクニックが中止になって、テンションが下がった。
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.
上司に否定されて、やる気をなくした。
I lost my motivation after being rejected by my boss.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'to be discouraged at the outset' or 'to have one's enthusiasm dampened right at the start'.
最初のミスで出鼻をくじかれた。
My enthusiasm was dampened right from the start by that first mistake.
Literally 'to have one's spirit dampened', a more literary expression.
彼の一言で気勢をそがれた。
My enthusiasm was dampened by his single remark.