Proverb / Kotowaza
自暴自棄
To become desperate and act recklessly because things did not go as planned.
To treat oneself roughly and abandon oneself.
Quick Answer
To become desperate and act recklessly because things did not go as planned.
- Literal Image
- To treat oneself roughly and abandon oneself.
- How to Use It
- Used to describe someone who has given up hope and is behaving recklessly due to a setback, failure, or heartbreak.
Meaning
This four-character idiom describes a psychological state of despair where a person feels that nothing matters anymore. Because things have not gone their way, they give up on their own well-being and behave self-destructively. It points to the act of abandoning oneself after facing severe setbacks or disappointments.
Literal Image
To treat oneself roughly and abandon oneself.
How to Use It
Used to describe someone who has given up hope and is behaving recklessly due to a setback, failure, or heartbreak.
Tone
Critical but empathetic; it acts as a warning against letting despair ruin one's future.
Examples
失敗が続いても、自暴自棄になってはいけない。
Even if you continue to fail, you must not give in to despair.
彼は失恋のショックで自暴自棄になっている。
He is acting recklessly out of the shock of a heartbreak.
自暴自棄な生活を改め、再出発する。
I will change my reckless lifestyle and make a fresh start.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses formal Sino-Japanese vocabulary and kanji to describe a complex emotional state.
自暴
じぼう / jibou
treating oneself poorly; recklessness
自棄
じき / jiki
abandoning oneself; despair
Usage Profile
Usage note: Implies a strong judgment that the person is behaving destructively and needs to reconsider their actions.
Misread Risk
Do not use to describe simple sadness or crying; it specifically denotes reckless or self-destructive behavior born from giving up on oneself.
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Origin
This idiom originates from the words of the Chinese philosopher Mencius. In this context, "jibou" (自暴) refers to treating oneself roughly or poorly, while "jiki" (自棄) means to abandon oneself.
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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.