落胆

• Reading: らくたん
• Romaji: rakutan
• Kanji breakdown: 落 (raku) — fall, drop; 胆 (tan) — gallbladder, courage, nerve
• Pronunciation: /ɾa.kɯ.taɴ/

Meaning

Discouragement; dejection; disappointment. A feeling of losing heart after a setback.

A noun and suru-verb (自動詞) expressing deep disappointment or loss of motivation after something does not go as hoped. More literary and formal than がっかり (gakkari), 落胆 implies a heavier, more lasting sense of dejection. Often used in written Japanese and news reporting to describe emotional responses to significant setbacks.

Examples

1. 試験の結果に落胆を隠せなかった。 I couldn't hide my disappointment at the exam results.
2. 落胆している暇はないと自分に言い聞かせた。 I told myself there was no time to be discouraged.
3. チームの敗北にファンは落胆した。 The fans were disheartened by the team's defeat.

Usage Guide

Context: news, literature, formal writing

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 落 (raku, fall/drop) + 胆 (tan, gallbladder/courage). Literally 'falling courage' — one's spirit sinking after a disappointment. In traditional Chinese medicine, the gallbladder was associated with bravery.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal