Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
へこたれる Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
lose heart ; be discouraged ; be exhausted
Colloquial intransitive verb for becoming mentally or physically worn down, often in the face of difficulty or fatigue. Covers both emotional dejection and physical exhaustion.
暑あつ
さ
に
へこたれ
て
、
外そと
に
出で
られ
なかっ
た
。
I was so exhausted by the heat that I couldn't go outside.
Similar words 落お ち 込こ む 落ち込む focuses on feeling depressed or down, while へこたれる emphasizes losing motivation or energy due to external pressure or hardship.
くじける くじける is more about one's spirit being broken or giving up after a setback, whereas へこたれる can also refer to physical exhaustion.
Etymology Derived from the verb へこむ (凹む, 'to become hollow, dented') with the suffix たれる, which adds a sense of being in a state or condition. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the word likely developed from the image of being 'deflated' or 'worn down'.
