がっかり

が

っ

か

り

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

noun or participle which takes 'suru', adverb

be disappointed; feel let down; lose heart

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

The main modern use. Common as がっかりする for feeling disappointed or discouraged, and also adverbially as がっかりと to describe a dejected manner.

試し験けんに落おちて、彼かれはがっかりしていた。
He was disappointed after failing the exam.

結けっ果かを聞きいて、彼かの女じょはがっかりと肩かたを落おとした。

When she heard the result, her shoulders sank in disappointment.

2

noun or participle which takes 'suru', adverb

feel exhausted; feel drained

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Much less common than the disappointment sense; it refers to losing energy or feeling worn out. In ordinary modern Japanese, ぐったりする or 疲れ切る is usually clearer for physical exhaustion.

「長なが旅たびでがっかりした」のがっかりは、疲つかれ切きった意い味みで使つかわれている。
The gakkari in “I was worn out from the long trip” is being used to mean exhausted.

Written forms

がっかりUsage78%
Common hiragana spelling for this mimetic expression; this is the safest everyday form.
ガッカリUsage22%
Katakana spelling is also used, often for visual emphasis or a more expressive mimetic feel.

Similar words

失しつ望ぼうする
A more formal and direct verb meaning to be disappointed; がっかり is more everyday and expressive.
落おち込こむ
Means to feel down or depressed, often for a longer emotional slump; がっかり focuses on disappointment or discouragement after an expectation is not met.
ぐったり
The normal modern mimetic word for being limp, exhausted, or drained; it is clearer than the rare exhaustion sense of がっかり.

Etymology

A Japanese mimetic or sound-symbolic expression. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; Hiragana and katakana spellings are listed; no kanji form is specified.