心が死んでいる
kokoro ga shinde iru
The English phrase 'dead inside' is translated into Japanese as 心が死んでいる (kokoro ga shinde iru).
心が死んでいる is used to describe a state of emotional numbness, burnout or a complete lack of motivation and feeling. You can also use the phrase 心が枯れている, which literally means 'heart is withered', to describe emotional emptiness.
How do you pronounce it?
kokoro ga shinde iru
Did you know?
- In modern internet slang, Japanese users often use the term 詰んだ (tsunda), meaning 'checkmated', to express a similar feeling of hopelessness or being 'done' with life.
- While 心が死んでいる describes a state of being, the similar term 心を殺す means 'to kill one's heart' and is often used to describe the act of suppressing emotions to survive a harsh professional environment.
- The term 死んだ目 (shinda me), meaning 'dead eyes', is a common shorthand used to describe the specific blank stare of someone who is 'dead inside'.
Examples in context
- 最近、何も感じないんだよね。Lately, I don't feel anything anymore.
- 最近、感情のない状態が続いています。Lately, I've been in a state of emotional emptiness.
- 彼は無気力な状態が長く続いています。He has been in a prolonged state of apathy.
- 仕事ばかりの毎日で、心が死んでいる気がする。Shigoto bakari no mainichi de, kokoro ga shinde iru ki ga suru.I feel like my heart is dead inside because of working every day.
- 彼はもう、心が死んでいるようだ。Kare wa mou, kokoro ga shinde iru you da.He seems like he is already dead inside.
- あまりの悲しさに、心が死んでいる状態だ。Amari no kanashisa ni, kokoro ga shinde iru joutai da.Due to extreme sadness, I am in a state where my heart is dead inside.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their exhaustion after a long week.
- 陽葵 Himari最近、ずっと心が死んでいる感じがするんだ。Saikin, zutto kokoro ga shinde iru kanji ga suru n da.Lately, I feel like I've been dead inside.
- 陽太 Yotaそんなに疲れているの？大丈夫？Sonna ni tsukarete iru no? Daijoubu?Are you that tired? Are you okay?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、何も感じられないんだ。Un, nani mo kanjirarenai n da.Yeah, I can't feel anything.
- 陽太 Yota少しゆっくり休んだほうがいいよ。Sukoshi yukkuri yasunda hou ga ii yo.You should take a little rest.
