Entry
がっくり
gakkuri
Describes a sudden and profound drop in spirit or physical posture caused by sharp disappointment or exhaustion.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Gakkuri is used when someone's morale or physical energy suddenly collapses. It emphasizes the visible aspect of being let down, such as shoulders drooping or someone falling to their knees after hearing bad news.
- Sudden loss of morale due to disappointment.
- Physical slumping or collapsing from fatigue or shock.
Sense Map
Emotional Dejection
A sudden loss of spirit or hope following bad news or a failure.
I felt gakkuri after failing the certification exam.
Physical Collapse
The body slumping or breaking down due to total lack of energy or physical shock.
The marathon runner sat down gakkuri at the finish line.
Usage Note
How to Use
がっくりする
Used as a verb to describe the state of being deeply disappointed or physically drained.
がっくり（と）肩を落とす
A common idiom meaning to drop one's shoulders in deep disappointment.
がっくりくる
Used when disappointment or shock hits someone suddenly and hard.
How to Use
Common Phrases
がっくりと肩を落とす
to droop one's shoulders in disappointment
試験に落ちてがっくりする
to be crushed by failing an exam
膝からがっくり崩れる
to collapse from the knees
期待が外れてがっくりくる
to be hit hard by unmet expectations
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Failure | negative | Used when one is hit hard by a negative outcome. |
| Exhaustion | neutral | Describes a body that has simply run out of fuel. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
がっかり がっかり / similar | Use for standard everyday disappointment. | Gakkari is more about the feeling; gakkuri is more about the visible drop in energy or posture. | I was disappointed (gakkari) when it rained. |
げんなり げんなり / similar | Use when feeling fed up or weary from repetition or excess. | Gennari is being sick of something; gakkuri is a sudden loss of heart. | Feeling weary (gennari) from the long meeting. |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using gakkuri for trivial disappointments.
Stick to gakkari for minor things. Gakkuri implies a significant drop in spirit that might be visible.
Confusing it with simple sadness.
Gakkuri specifically refers to the loss of energy or posture, not just an emotional state of being sad.
Examples
Examples
第一志望の大学に落ちて、彼はがっくりと肩を落とした。
だいいちしぼうのだいがくにおちて、かれはがっくりとかたをおとした。
After failing to get into his first-choice university, his shoulders slumped in deep disappointment.
VisualFocuses on the visible physical change in shoulder posture.
全力で走った後、ゴール前でがっくりと膝をついた。
ぜんりょくではしったあと、ごーるまえでがっくりとひざをついた。
After running at full speed, he collapsed to his knees right before the goal.
LiteralDescribes physical exhaustion that makes the body unable to stand.
宝くじが外れたと知って、父はがっくりしている。
たからくじがはずれたとしって、ちちはがっくりしている。
Upon learning that his lottery ticket didn't win, Dad is feeling completely dejected.
FigurativeUsed to express the mental loss of spirit due to dashed hopes.
チームが逆転負けして、サポーターたちはがっくりきた。
ちーむがぎゃくてんまけして、さぽーたーたちはがっくりきた。
The team lost after a comeback, and the supporters were hit hard by disappointment.
FigurativeThe phrase 'gakkuri kuru' emphasizes the sudden hit of disappointment.
徹夜明けの彼女は、机に向かったままがっくりと眠り込んでしまった。
てつやあけのかのじょは、つくえにむかったままがっくりとねむりこんでしまった。
After staying up all night, she fell sound asleep with her head slumping onto the desk.
VisualDescribes the body slumping due to extreme sleepiness and fatigue.
Similar Words
がっかり
gakkari
To feel disappointed or lose spirit when things don't turn out as expected. Focuses more on the emotional feeling of disappointment.
げんなり
gennari
A state of losing energy, motivation, or patience due to exhaustion or tediousness. Used for weariness or being fed up with something.
くたくた
kutakuta
Describes being completely exhausted, clothing that has become soft and worn out from use, or food boiled until it is mushy.
Questions
How is gakkuri different from gakkari?
Gakkari focuses on the internal feeling of being let down. Gakkuri focuses on the sudden physical slumping or loss of energy that follows.
Can gakkuri be used for objects?
It is almost exclusively used for people or animals that exhibit posture or morale.
Is gakkuri formal?
It is a neutral, everyday word. It's suitable for conversation but not for formal business reports unless describing a physical state vividly.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1003190
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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