Proverb / Kotowaza
意気消沈
To lose heart and become extremely dejected.
one's spirit fades and sinks
Quick Answer
To lose heart and become extremely dejected.
- Literal Image
- one's spirit fades and sinks
- Closest Equivalent
- To be dejected
- How to Use It
- Apply this idiom to people who appear visibly discouraged or have lost their motivation after a setback.
Meaning
Describes a state where one's energy and spirit have withered away, leading to deep discouragement. This expression identifies a mental state of being disheartened by a failure, disappointment, or loss.
Literal Image
one's spirit fades and sinks
Equivalent Proverbs
To be dejected
A formal equivalent for being in low spirits.
Down in the dumps
A casual idiom for being depressed or discouraged.
How to Use It
Apply this idiom to people who appear visibly discouraged or have lost their motivation after a setback.
Tone
Neutral to slightly literary register, appearing in descriptions of people's emotional states after bad news.
Examples
大事な試合に負けて、選手たちは意気消沈してしまった。
After losing an important match, the players were completely dejected.
期待していた企画が通らず、彼はすっかり意気消沈している。
His expected project didn't pass, and he is now totally down in the dumps.
失敗しても意気消沈することなく、すぐに次の挑戦を始めるべきだ。
Even if you fail, you should not lose heart and should immediately start your next challenge.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Composed of abstract kanji vocabulary. While the concept is clear, the reading and compound are part of advanced vocabulary.
意気
いき / iki
spirit; morale
消沈
しょうちん / shochin
dejection; sinking
Usage Profile
Usage note: It describes a significant loss of spirit, not just minor tiredness.
Misread Risk
Do not use this for physical exhaustion; it refers to a mental state of being disheartened.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
'Iki' (意気) refers to spirit, morale, or energy. 'Shochin' (消沈) means to fade away and sink. Together, they describe the state of one's spirit withering and sinking down.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.