失望
shitsubō[ɕit͡sɨbo̞ː]
The English phrase 'disappointment' is translated into Japanese as 失望 (shitsubō).
失望 is used to describe a sense of letdown or the cause of a letdown. It carries a heavy connotation of losing hope or faith in someone or something.
Meaning: cause, letdown (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 失, meaning 'loss' or 'to lose' and 望, meaning 'hope' or 'expectation'. Literally, it means 'loss of hope/expectation'.
Which one should you use?
While 失望 describes a deep, heavy sense of losing hope or faith, the word 残念 is used more commonly for everyday disappointments or situations that are simply 'regrettable' or 'a shame'.
How do you pronounce it?
shitsubō
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, expressing 失望 toward a superior or elder can be seen as an aggressive act because it implies the other person has failed a moral expectation.
- The character 望 in 失望 also appears in the word for 'full moon' 望月, as the moon is seen as the ultimate object of longing and hope.
- In highly formal Japanese, one might use the phrase 期待を裏切る meaning 'to betray expectations' instead of 失望 to describe the act of disappointing someone.
Examples in context
- 彼の態度は失望の種だ。Kare no taido wa shitsubou no tane da.His attitude is a source of disappointment.
- それは大きな失望だった。Sore wa ookina shitsubou datta.That was a huge disappointment.
- 期待が失望に変わる。Kitai ga shitsubou ni kawaru.Expectations turn into disappointment.
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are talking about a failed exam.
- 陽太 Yota試験に落ちて、本当に失望したよ。Shiken ni ochite, hontō ni shitsubō shita yo.I failed the exam and I'm really disappointed.
- 結衣 Yui陽太、そんなに失望しなくていいよ。Yōta, sonna ni shitsubō shinakute ii yo.Yota, you don't have to be that disappointed.
- 陽太 Yotaでも、一生懸命勉強したから。Demo, isshōkenmei benkyō shita kara.But I studied so hard.
- 結衣 Yui次はきっと大丈夫だよ。Tsugi wa kitto daijōbu da yo.I'm sure it will be okay next time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 失望, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
