悲観|ひかんhikan[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbpessimism; (taking a) gloomy view; discouragement; despondency; despair; disappointment
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 悲観する（ひかんする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 悲観します（ひかんします） |
| Negative (nai) | 悲観しない（ひかんしない） |
| polite (masen) | 悲観しません（ひかんしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 悲観せず・悲観せぬ（ひかんせず・ひかんせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 悲観した（ひかんした） |
| polite (mashita) | 悲観しました（ひかんしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 悲観しなかった（ひかんしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 悲観しませんでした（ひかんしませんでした） |
| Te form | 悲観して（ひかんして） |
| Potential | 悲観できる（ひかんできる） |
| Passive | 悲観される（ひかんされる） |
| Causative | 悲観させる（ひかんさせる） |
| Causative passive | 悲観させられる（ひかんさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 悲観すれば（ひかんすれば） |
| tara | 悲観したら（ひかんしたら） |
| Volitional | 悲観しよう（ひかんしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 悲観しましょう（ひかんしましょう） |
| Imperative | 悲観しろ（ひかんしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related絶望ぜつぼうNeutralTotal loss of hope — stronger than 「悲観」, which is dwelling on the bad side or feeling discouraged when things go wrong.
- Related失望しつぼうNeutralDisappointment when expectations fall through; 「悲観」 focuses on taking a gloomy view of the future.
- RelatedやけNeutralA state or act of giving up on oneself out of frustration; 「悲観」 is just gloomy thinking or discouragement, with no self-abandonment.
- Related失意しついWrittenIn written/formal prose, dejection over unfulfilled ambitions or failure; 「悲観」 centers on a negative view of the future.
- Related自暴自棄じぼうじきWrittenA four-character idiom for abandoning and mistreating oneself; 「悲観」 is mere discouragement and need not involve giving up on oneself.
- Related捨て鉢すてばちNeutralGoing reckless after losing hope; stresses rash behavior, while 「悲観」 stays at the mental level of discouragement.
- Related絶念ぜつねんWrittenIn written/formal prose, giving up hope or plans — a deliberate act of abandoning them; 「悲観」 is feeling discouraged about the outlook or one's circumstances.
- RelatedやけくそCasualColloquial and rough: an intensified 「やけ」, giving up on oneself in despair; 「悲観」 is more neutral.
- RelatedやけっぱちCasualColloquial: convinced all is lost and acting wildly; 「悲観」 is only mental discouragement and more neutral.
- RelatedやけのやんぱちCasualColloquial, emphatic: throwing everything to the wind in desperation; 「悲観」 is more neutral and involves no impulsive action.
- Antonym楽観らっかんNeutralThe antonym: taking an optimistic view of the outlook and not worrying — the opposite stance to 「悲観」.
Default to 「悲観」 for taking a gloomy view of the future or feeling discouraged over setbacks, as in 「悲観的」「将来を悲観する」. Use 「絶望」 for total loss of hope, 「失望」 for disappointed expectations, and 「やけ」 for giving up on oneself. 「楽観」 is the antonym.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
