Translation guide
How to express becoming discouraged, losing motivation, or feeling disheartened in Japanese.
Expressing that one's spirit or enthusiasm has weakened, often due to a setback.
Literally 'the heart breaks'. A very common, natural way to say you've lost the will to continue or feel completely discouraged.
何度も失敗して心が折れた。
I failed so many times I lost heart.
Means one's feelings/spirits are crushed or discouraged. Slightly more emotional than 心が折れる.
批判されて気持ちがくじけた。
I lost heart after being criticized.
To feel down or depressed. Often used when one loses heart and becomes gloomy.
To lose motivation or drive. Focuses on the loss of willingness to do something.
あんなに練習したのに、やる気をなくした。
Even though I practiced so much, I lost heart.
A more formal, literary expression meaning to be dejected or dispirited.
チームは敗戦に意気消沈した。
The team lost heart after the defeat.
Expressing that one has abandoned hope or optimism about a situation.
Directly means 'to lose hope'. Natural and clear.
彼は将来に希望を失った。
He lost heart about the future.
心が折れる emphasizes a breaking point where you can't continue, while 落ち込む is a general feeling of being down. Use 心が折れる when you want to quit; use 落ち込む when you're just sad.
徹夜続きで心が折れた。
After consecutive all-nighters, I lost heart.
友達とけんかして落ち込んだ。
I felt down after arguing with a friend.
Do not translate 'lose heart' literally as 心を失う (こころをうしなう). That sounds like physically losing your heart and is unnatural. Use the phrases above instead.
結果を聞いて落ち込んだ。
I lost heart when I heard the results.
To despair. Stronger than losing heart; implies complete loss of hope.
状況に絶望して、何も手につかなかった。
I lost heart and couldn't focus on anything.
To give up. Often used when one loses heart and stops trying.
何をやってもうまくいかなくて、諦めた。
Nothing went well, so I lost heart and gave up.