やけ・自棄・焼けyake[1]atamadaka (head-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, na-adjectivedesperation; despair; self-abandonment
Conjugation
Plain formやけ
Polite (desu)やけです
Negative (dewa nai)やけではない
polite (dewa arimasen)やけではありません
Past (datta)やけだった
Past negative (dewa nakatta)やけではなかった
Te form (de)やけで
Adverbial (ni)やけに
Conditional (nara)やけなら

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym自暴自棄じぼうじきWrittenWritten/formal prose. A four-character idiom for self-abandonment; 「やけ」 is the everyday spoken word, often as 「やけになる」.
  • Synonym捨て鉢すてばちNeutralNeutral. Stresses a reckless attitude with no thought of consequences; 「やけ」 is the everyday word, typically in 「やけになる」 or 「やけ酒」.
  • SynonymやけっぱちCasualColloquial. An emphatic form of 「やけ」 for giving up completely.
  • RelatedやけくそCasualColloquial and a bit coarse; an emphatic version of 「やけ」 for going all out once you have stopped caring.
  • RelatedやけのやんぱちCasualColloquial, jocular phrase for reckless action in a what-the-hell mood; carries a comic flavor.
  • Antonym自制じせいNeutralNeutral. Holding your emotions and desires in check — the opposite of 「やけ」, with the focus on controlling feelings.
  • Antonym克己こっきWrittenWritten/formal prose. Overcoming your own feelings and desires by willpower — the opposite of the self-abandonment of 「やけ」.

After a setback, use 「やけ」 for giving up on yourself: 「やけになる」, 「やけ酒」, 「やけ食い」. For stronger colloquial nuance say 「やけくそ」 or 「やけっぱち」; in writing use 「自暴自棄」. The opposites are 「自制」 and, in formal prose, 「克己」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 自分自身じぶんじしんに失望しつぼうし、自分じぶんを見捨みすてること。
English equivalents

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