Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'let down' when you fail to meet someone's expectations or break a promise, making them feel disappointed.
- Use it for people: 'I let my mom down' (max 20 words)
- If using a pronoun, put it in the middle: 'I let her down'
- It can also mean physically lowering something: 'Let down the rope'
Overview
let down이라는 구동사(phrasal verb)는 누군가를 실망시키다, 혹은 기대에 미치지 못하다라는 의미를 가진 매우 유용한 표현입니다. 한국어로는 단순히 '실망시키다'라는 동사 하나로 표현되지만, 영어에서는 let이라는 동사와 down이라는 부사가 결합하여 '기대치보다 아래로 떨어지게 만들다'라는 구체적인 이미지를 전달합니다. 한국어 학습자들에게 이 표현이 중요한 이유는 단순히 감정을 표현하는 것을 넘어, 상대방이나 사물에 대해 가졌던 '신뢰'나 '기대'가 깨졌을 때 그 원인을 명확히 지목할 수 있기 때문입니다.let down은 분리 가능한 구동사(separable phrasal verb)입니다. 여기서 let은 '허락하다'라는 의미를 넘어, 어떤 상태를 유지하게 한다는 뜻을 내포하며, down은 물리적인 하강뿐만 아니라 가치나 기대치의 하락을 의미합니다. 한국어의 문법 구조와 비교해 볼 때, 한국어는 '실망시키다'라는 단일 서술어를 사용하여 주어와 목적어의 관계를 맺지만, 영어는 동사와 전치사/부사가 결합하여 하나의 의미 단위를 형성합니다.let이라는 동사 부분만 시제 변화를 겪고 down은 그대로 유지됩니다.You let me down이라고 말하면, '너는 내가 가졌던 너에 대한 신뢰를 무너뜨렸다'는 뉘앙스가 강하게 전달됩니다. 한국어의 '실망하다'가 내면적인 감정에 초점이 있다면, let down은 '상대방의 행동으로 인해 내가 피해를 입거나 기대가 꺾였다'는 외부적 요인에 더 큰 방점이 찍혀 있습니다.let down은 목적어의 종류에 따라 위치가 달라지는 규칙이 있습니다. 명사가 목적어일 때는 let + 명사 + down과 let + down + 명사 모두 가능하지만, 대명사가 목적어일 때는 반드시 let + 대명사 + down의 순서로 써야 합니다.let은 불규칙 동사로, 과거형과 과거분사형이 모두 let으로 동일합니다. 따라서 시제 표현에 주의해야 합니다.let down은 단순히 기분이 나쁜 상황이 아니라, '상대방과 맺은 약속이나 기대가 깨졌을 때' 사용합니다.- 1신뢰나 약속이 깨졌을 때: '내 프로젝트 파트너가 마감 기한을 지키지 않아 나를 실망시켰다'와 같이, 명시적인 약속이 이행되지 않았을 때 사용합니다.
- 2기대치에 미치지 못할 때: 제품의 성능이 광고와 다를 때, 혹은 팀원이 기대만큼 성과를 내지 못했을 때 사용합니다. 'The new phone let me down with its battery life.'(새 휴대폰 배터리가 기대 이하였다.)
- 3자기 자신에게 실망할 때: 목표를 달성하지 못했을 때
I let myself down이라고 표현합니다. 이는 한국어의 '스스로에게 실망했다'는 표현과 매우 유사하게 쓰입니다.
- 1대명사 위치 오류: 한국어는 목적어의 위치가 비교적 자유롭지만, 영어 구동사에서 대명사는 동사와 부사 사이에 끼어 있어야 합니다.
let down me라고 하면 원어민은 매우 어색하게 느낍니다. - 2수동태와의 혼동: 한국어에서는 '나는 실망당했다'처럼 수동형을 쓰기도 하지만,
let down은 능동태로 사용하는 것이 훨씬 자연스럽습니다. 'I was let down by him'보다는 'He let me down'이 더 생생한 표현입니다. - 3무생물 주어에 대한 과도한 사용: 한국어에서는 '날씨가 나를 실망시켰다'처럼 무생물을 주어로 흔히 쓰지만, 영어에서
let down은 어느 정도 의도나 약속을 가진 대상(사람, 팀, 시스템)에게 사용하는 것이 더 적절합니다. 단순한 상황에는disappoint를 쓰는 것이 좋습니다.
- 1'let down'과 'disappoint'는 완전히 같은 뜻인가요?
disappoint는 더 광범위한 실망을 의미하며, let down은 신뢰나 약속이 깨졌을 때의 구체적인 실망을 의미합니다.- 1'let me down' 대신 'let down me'라고 쓰면 안 되나요?
- 1'let down'은 비즈니스 상황에서 써도 되나요?
Conjugation of 'Let down'
| Tense | Subject | Verb Form | Object | Particle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I / You / We / They
|
let
|
him
|
down
|
|
Present Simple
|
He / She / It
|
lets
|
her
|
down
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
let
|
us
|
down
|
|
Present Continuous
|
I
|
am letting
|
them
|
down
|
|
Present Perfect
|
He
|
has let
|
me
|
down
|
|
Future (Will)
|
They
|
will let
|
you
|
down
|
|
Gerund
|
N/A
|
letting
|
someone
|
down
|
Contractions with 'Let down'
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
I will not let you down
|
I won't let you down
|
I promise I won't let you down.
|
|
He has let me down
|
He's let me down
|
He's let me down again.
|
|
They are letting us down
|
They're letting us down
|
They're letting us down right now.
|
Meanings
To fail to support or help someone as they had hoped or expected; to disappoint someone.
Disappoint
To fail to meet expectations or promises made to a person.
“The team let the fans down by losing the final.”
“Don't let me down this time!”
Physical Lowering
To move something to a lower position.
“Can you let the window down a bit?”
“They let down the rescue ladder from the helicopter.”
Lengthen Clothing
To make a garment longer by unfolding the hem.
“My daughter has grown so much I need to let down her skirts.”
“The tailor let down the trousers by two inches.”
Reference Table
| 목적어 종류 | 구조 1 (흔함) | 구조 2 (덜 흔함/대명사) | 예시 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
명사 (사람)
|
`let` + Noun + `down`
|
`let down` + Noun
|
Don't `let your friends down` / Don't `let down your friends`
|
|
명사 (사물)
|
`let` + Noun + `down`
|
`let down` + Noun
|
The system `let the users down` / The system `let down the users`
|
|
대명사 (사람)
|
`let` + Pronoun + `down`
|
N/A (틀림)
|
He `let me down` (NOT `let down me`)
|
|
대명사 (사물)
|
`let` + Pronoun + `down`
|
N/A (틀림)
|
The car `let us down` (NOT `let down us`)
|
|
재귀대명사 (자신)
|
`let oneself down`
|
N/A
|
I `let myself down`
|
|
수동태
|
N/A
|
`be let down by` + Noun/Pronoun
|
I `was let down by` the service
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
The corporation failed to fulfill its obligations to the stakeholders. (Business failure)
The company let the investors down. (Business failure)
They really let us down with that deal. (Business failure)
They totally flaked on us. (Business failure)
'Let Down' 실망의 웹
누가/무엇이 'let down'할 수 있나요?
- Friends 친구
- Family 가족
- Team 팀/동료
- Self 자기 자신
- Customers 고객
- Technology 기기/앱
왜 'let down'할 수 있나요?
- Broken Promise 약속을 어김
- Poor Performance 부진한 성과/결과
- Unreliability 예상대로 작동하지 않음
- Missed Deadline 마감 기한을 놓침
결과적인 감정
- Disappointment 슬픔의 감정
- Frustration 실패로 인한 짜증
- Betrayal 깨진 신뢰
- Regret 자신의 행동에 대한 후회
'Let Down'과 유사 용어 비교
'Let Down' 올바르게 사용하기
누군가/무언가가 기대나 약속을 지키지 못했나요?
동사의 목적어가 대명사(me, you, him, her, it, us, them)인가요?
'Let Down'의 현대적 맥락
사회생활
- • 친구에게 문자 보내기 (약속 불참)
- • 인스타그램 캡션 (신뢰를 저버린 인플루언서)
- • 카페 대화 (친구의 믿을 수 없는 조언)
기술 및 업무
- • 배달 앱 (잘못된 주문)
- • 줌 통화 (인터넷 끊김)
- • 게임 보이스챗 (팀원의 부진한 성과)
- • 대학교 과제 (팀원 잠수)
자신 및 신뢰
- • 개인 목표 (목표 달성 실패)
- • 약속 (약속을 지키지 못함)
수준별 예문
Please don't let me down.
Por favor, no me falles.
I let my mom down.
Le fallé a mi mamá.
Did I let you down?
¿Te fallé?
He lets his friends down.
Él le falla a sus amigos.
She promised to call, but she let me down.
Prometió llamar, pero me falló.
We didn't want to let the teacher down.
No queríamos fallarle al profesor.
They let the rope down to the boat.
Bajaron la cuerda hacia el bote.
I'm sorry for letting you down yesterday.
Siento haberte fallado ayer.
I feel like I've let the whole team down by missing that goal.
Siento que le he fallado a todo el equipo al fallar ese gol.
The movie was a bit of a let-down after all the hype.
La película fue un poco decepcionante después de tanta publicidad.
You can rely on Jane; she never lets anyone down.
Puedes confiar en Jane; ella nunca le falla a nadie.
I had to let down the hem of my trousers because they were too short.
Tuve que bajar el dobladillo de mis pantalones porque eran demasiado cortos.
The government has been accused of letting down the elderly during the crisis.
El gobierno ha sido acusado de fallarle a los ancianos durante la crisis.
It’s a huge responsibility, and I’m terrified of letting everyone down.
Es una gran responsabilidad y me aterra fallarles a todos.
After a long week of work, she finally let her hair down at the party.
Después de una larga semana de trabajo, finalmente se soltó el pelo en la fiesta.
The engine let us down just as we reached the mountains.
El motor nos falló justo cuando llegamos a las montañas.
The systemic failure of the healthcare system has let down the most vulnerable.
El fallo sistémico del sistema de salud le ha fallado a los más vulnerables.
To let down one's guard in such a competitive environment is risky.
Bajar la guardia en un entorno tan competitivo es arriesgado.
He felt a profound sense of having let down his ancestors' legacy.
Sintió una profunda sensación de haber fallado al legado de sus antepasados.
The witness's testimony really let the prosecution down.
El testimonio del testigo realmente le falló a la fiscalía.
The intricate plot was masterfully built, only to be let down by a lackluster ending.
La intrincada trama fue construida magistralmente, solo para ser arruinada por un final mediocre.
In letting down the drawbridge, they signaled their intent to negotiate.
Al bajar el puente levadizo, señalaron su intención de negociar.
The sheer weight of expectation can often cause even the most stoic individuals to let themselves down.
El peso de la expectativa a menudo puede hacer que incluso los individuos más estoicos se fallen a sí mismos.
The fabric was so delicate that letting down the seams required surgical precision.
La tela era tan delicada que bajar las costuras requería precisión quirúrgica.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both use 'let' and a preposition, but 'let off' means to excuse someone from punishment.
Learners sometimes confuse the direction of the particle.
Both involve things not happening as planned.
자주 하는 실수
I let down him.
I let him down.
Don't let down me.
Don't let me down.
He leted me down.
He let me down.
I let down to my friend.
I let my friend down.
I am let down.
I feel let down / I was let down.
The movie let down.
The movie was a let-down.
She lets down her hair for the party.
She let her hair down at the party.
It was a big let down.
It was a big let-down.
I will let down the window.
I will let the window down.
He has let down us.
He has let us down.
The results let down the expectations.
The results fell short of expectations / The results were a let-down.
문장 패턴
I'm sorry I let ___ down.
Don't let ___ down, okay?
The ___ was a total let-down.
I felt ___ after being let down by ___.
Real World Usage
So sorry I can't make it tonight! Hope I didn't let u down too much.
I am very dedicated to my work; I never let my team down.
The new iPhone battery life really let me down.
The defense really let the goalkeeper down on that play.
Can you let down these trousers? They're a bit short.
I don't want to let my kids down by missing their school play.
대명사는 항상 가운데!
He let me down(O) /
He let down me(X) 처럼요.
단순히 '실망하다'가 아니에요
Let down은 기대나 약속을 지키지 못해서 실망감을 안겨주는 것을 의미해요. 단순히 어떤 일에 실망하는 것보다 더 강한 의미를 담고 있어요. The movie was disappointing(O) /
The movie let me down(O, if it failed to meet your specific expectations).
신뢰와 책임감을 표현할 때
let down을 완벽하게 사용할 수 있어요. My phone let me down when I needed it most.
사회적 영향력
letting someone down은 사회적으로 큰 의미를 가질 수 있어요. 종종 신뢰를 저버리거나 중대한 실패를 의미하므로, 신중하게 사용해야 해요. "Don't let your team down!"Smart Tips
Stop! Remember the 'Pronoun Sandwich'. Put the person in the middle.
Use the noun 'let-down' with 'was a'.
Use the passive voice 'to be let down'. It focuses on the feeling of the person.
Use 'let down' to mean lengthening them.
발음
Linking
In 'let down', the 't' in 'let' is often a 'stop t' or blends into the 'd' of 'down'. It sounds like /le'down/.
Pronoun Stress
When a pronoun is in the middle, the stress is usually on 'down'.
Apologetic
I'm so sorry I let you ↘down.
Conveys sincere regret.
암기하기
기억법
When you let someone down, their mood goes down like an elevator.
시각적 연상
Imagine a person standing on a platform. You pull a lever labeled 'LET', and the platform drops 'DOWN'. The person looks sad as they sink.
Rhyme
If you want to be a friend until the end, don't let them down or make them frown.
Story
Leo promised to bring the cake to the party. He forgot it at home. When he arrived empty-handed, he saw his friends' hungry faces. He realized he had let them down, so he ran back to get it.
Word Web
챌린지
Write three sentences about a time a movie, a friend, or a piece of technology let you down. Use a pronoun in at least one sentence.
문화 노트
In the UK, 'letting the side down' is a common idiom meaning to behave in a way that embarrasses your group or family.
Reliability is highly valued. Saying 'I won't let you down' is a powerful way to build trust with a manager.
Fans often use 'let down' to describe their feelings about sequels or series finales.
The phrase originates from the literal act of lowering something, such as a sail on a ship or a drawbridge.
대화 시작하기
Has a movie ever really let you down after you saw a great trailer?
Who is one person in your life who never lets you down?
How do you feel when you let yourself down?
If a friend lets you down, do you give them a second chance?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
My old car always ___ when I need it most.
Find and fix the mistake:
She felt like she had let down herself.
Translate into English: 'El equipo me falló en el último partido.'
Answer starts with: ["T...
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesI promised to help her, so I can't let ___ down.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Correct this: 'The party was a big let down.'
Rewrite using 'let down': 'He disappointed his parents.'
Match the meaning to the sentence.
A: Are you coming to the meeting? B: Yes, I'll be there. I won't ___.
Is 'let down' separable or inseparable?
You can say 'I let down them.'
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesI don't want to ___ my friends by canceling plans at the last minute.
The software always lets down us when we need it most.
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
Translate into English: 'Nunca te decepcionaré.'
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
시작 부분과 올바른 끝 부분을 연결하세요:
The company couldn't deliver the product on time and thus ___ its customers.
My favourite team let down their fans by losing the final.
어떤 문장이 올바른가요?
Translate into English: 'Ella no quiere decepcionar a sus padres.'
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
상황과 올바른 구절을 연결하세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, you must say `let me down`. Pronouns always go in the middle of separable phrasal verbs like this one.
It is neutral to informal. In a very formal business report, you might use `fail to meet expectations`, but in an email to a colleague, `let down` is perfect.
The past tense is also `let down`. For example: 'Yesterday, he let me down.'
It is an idiom meaning to relax and enjoy yourself, usually after working hard.
Yes, `a let-down` (noun) refers to a disappointing situation or person. Example: 'The movie was a total let-down.'
Yes, but usually in a literal sense, like `let down the blinds` or `let down a rope`.
`Let off` means to not punish someone. `Let down` means to disappoint someone.
Yes! 'I was let down by my friends' is a very common and natural way to speak.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Decepcionar / Dejar plantado
English uses a phrasal verb with a mandatory object placement for pronouns.
Décevoir / Laisser tomber
French does not have separable phrasal verbs.
Enttäuschen / Im Stich lassen
German word order in subordinate clauses is different from English.
Gakkari saseru (がっかりさせる)
Japanese lacks the 'verb + preposition' structure entirely.
Khayaba amala (خيب أمل)
Arabic is more formal and doesn't use the 'down' metaphor.
Ràng... shīwàng (让...失望)
The word 'disappointed' in Chinese is an adjective/verb, not a particle like 'down'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
관련 동영상
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### Overview 영어 학습을 하다 보면 가장 먼저 마주치는 벽 중 하나가 바로 '구동사(Phrasal Verbs)'입니다. 한국어는 '벗다',...
잠깐만! 'Hold on' 사용하기
### Overview 영어를 배우는 한국인 학습자들에게 `hold on`은 단순히 '기다리다'라는 의미 이상의 뉘앙스를 가진 아주 매력적...
차려입기: 정장 및 의상 (Dress up)
### Overview 영어를 배우다 보면 단순히 '옷을 입다'라는 행위를 넘어서, 그 행위 뒤에 숨겨진 '의도'나 '목적'을 표현해야 할...
