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.
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.
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.
結果を聞いて落ち込んだ。
I lost heart when I heard the results.
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.
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.
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.