How to say "discouraged" in Japanese

• 気落ちきおちCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe ordinary word for feeling discouraged or dispirited after a failure or setback. It describes a natural drop in motivation and fits everyday talk about exams, work, or other disappointments.
  彼かれはその結果けっかに気落きおちしている。↗

  He's depressed about the result.
• 悄然しょうぜん
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Covers discouraged in the sense of crestfallen and dejected, with a somewhat literary flavor. Because it is a less common word, it is seldom the one you want in everyday speech, where 気落ち is more natural.
• 暗然あんぜん
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)A less common, literary word whose primary sense is doleful or tearful; discouraged appears among its glosses but it really conveys gloomy dejection. Rarely the word you want for ordinary cases of discouraged.

For the everyday sense of 'discouraged' after a setback, 「気落ち」 is the usual choice; 悄然 and 暗然 are less common literary words better suited to dejected or doleful descriptions.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 気落ちきおちdiscouraged
• 悄然しょうぜんdejected
• 暗然あんぜんdoleful