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B1 noun #7,000 most common 10 min read

脱力感

Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 脱力感 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 脱力感 in your Level:

At the A1 level, 脱力感 (datsuryokukan) is quite an advanced word. Beginners usually learn the word 'tsukaremashita' (I am tired) first. To understand 'datsuryokukan,' think of it as a very, very strong version of 'tired.' Imagine you played soccer for five hours and you can't even stand up. That feeling in your legs is 'datsuryokukan.' You don't need to use this word yet, but you might see the kanji for 'power' (力) and 'feeling' (感) which you will learn early on. Just remember: 'tsukare' is for normal tired, and 'datsuryokukan' is for when all your energy has 'run away' (datsu) from your body. It is a noun, so you say 'datsuryokukan ga arimasu' (I have datsuryokukan). It is mostly used in books or when talking to a doctor. If you tell your teacher 'datsuryokukan ga arimasu,' they will think you are very sick or very dramatic! Stick to 'tsukaremashita' for now, but keep this word in your 'advanced' pocket for when you want to sound like a native speaker describing a big event.

For A2 learners, you are starting to see more kanji compounds. 脱力感 is made of three parts: 脱 (to exit/remove), 力 (power), and 感 (feeling). You might already know 'chikara' (power) and 'kanjiru' (to feel). This word describes the feeling of your power exiting your body. It is useful when you want to describe something more specific than just 'being tired.' For example, after a very long exam, you might feel like you have no energy left to even speak. That is 'datsuryokukan.' You can use it with 'ga aru' (there is) or 'o kanjiru' (to feel). At this level, try to recognize it in reading. If you see it in a story, it means the character is feeling very weak or has given up. It is often used in medical contexts too. If you go to a clinic in Japan and say 'Zenshin (whole body) ni datsuryokukan ga arimasu,' the doctor will understand that you feel physically weak all over. It is a good word to know for health and expressing deep exhaustion.

At the B1 level, you should begin to use 脱力感 to add nuance to your Japanese. This word is perfect for describing the 'aftermath' of a situation. Whether it is the satisfying exhaustion after a successful project or the crushing disappointment after a failure, 脱力感 captures that moment when the adrenaline stops and your body goes limp. You should learn the common verb pairings: '脱力感を覚える' (to feel/experience exhaustion) and '脱力感に襲われる' (to be overcome by exhaustion). Notice how 'oboeru' is used here—it's a more literary and natural choice than 'kanjiru' for this specific noun. You might also encounter it in news reports or articles about mental health and burnout. It is a key term for describing the symptoms of 'May Sickness' (gogatsu-byou) in Japan. Understanding the difference between this and 'muryokukan' (helplessness) is important at this level. Remember, 'datsuryokukan' is more about the physical and energetic sensation of being 'emptied out.'

B2 learners should be comfortable using 脱力感 in both formal and semi-formal contexts. You should recognize that this word carries a certain weight; it is not for minor fatigue. It is often used in literature to describe a character's internal state after a climax. For example, 'A sense of datsuryokukan washed over him as he watched the ship sail away.' You can use it to describe a 'hollow' feeling. In a business context, it might be used to describe the collective state of a team after a long period of overwork. You should also be aware of its medical nuances—it is the standard term for 'malaise' or 'muscular weakness' in clinical reports. Try to use it with descriptive adjectives like 'hageshii' (intense), 'hidoi' (terrible), or even 'kokochiyoi' (pleasant) to show that you understand the word can describe both negative and positive (relieving) exhaustion. This level of precision is what separates intermediate and advanced speakers.

At the C1 level, you should appreciate the poetic and psychological depth of 脱力感. It is not just a physical state but a reflection of the 'ki' (energy) flow within the body. In literary analysis, you might discuss how a character's 脱力感 symbolizes their loss of purpose or their surrender to fate. You should also be able to distinguish it from similar terms like 虚脱感 (kyodatsukan - a more profound, almost catatonic state) or 倦怠感 (kentaikan - a lingering, weary fatigue). A C1 speaker knows that 脱力感 often implies a sudden drop in tension. It is the 'snap' of the rubber band. You can use it in high-level discussions about sociology, such as the 脱力感 felt by a generation facing economic stagnation. Furthermore, you should be familiar with the technical use of 'datsuryoku' (without the 'kan') in Japanese traditional arts like Noh or martial arts like Aikido, where 'datsuryoku' (intentional relaxation) is a highly refined skill, contrasting with 'datsuryokukan' (the involuntary feeling of weakness).

For C2 proficiency, 脱力感 should be a tool for expressing subtle existential and physiological states. You can use it to describe the 'ennui' of modern existence or the physiological 'crash' following a hyper-manic episode. At this level, you can manipulate the word within complex grammatical structures, such as using it as a modifier: '脱力感に満ちた眼差し' (a gaze filled with a sense of powerlessness). You should be able to discuss the etymological roots of the kanji and how the concept of 'datsu' (shedding) informs the Japanese perception of energy loss. In professional medical or psychological discourse, you would use it to describe specific patient symptoms with precision. You also understand the cultural irony where 'datsuryoku' (relaxation) is sought after in Zen and meditation, yet 'datsuryokukan' (the feeling of being drained) is often a symptom of the 'exhaustion society.' Your usage should reflect an understanding of these paradoxical layers, using the word to paint vivid, emotionally resonant pictures in both writing and high-level oratory.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

脱力感 in 30 Seconds

A noun meaning a sense of powerlessness or being drained of energy.
Often occurs after high stress, shock, or intense physical exertion.
Commonly pairs with verbs like 'oboeru' (to feel) and 'osowareru' (to be overcome).
Different from simple tiredness; it implies a 'limp' or 'deflated' state.

The Japanese word 脱力感 (datsuryokukan) is a sophisticated noun that describes a profound sense of lethargy, a loss of physical strength, or a psychological state of feeling completely drained and 'deflated.' To understand this word, we must look at its constituent kanji: 脱 (datsu), meaning to shed, remove, or escape; 力 (ryoku), meaning power, strength, or energy; and 感 (kan), meaning feeling or sensation. Together, they literally translate to the 'sensation of shedding one's strength.' While it can refer to physical exhaustion after a grueling marathon or a long day of manual labor, its most common and nuanced usage in modern Japanese is psychological. It describes that specific moment when the tension leaves your body, often after a period of extreme stress, a sudden disappointment, or the completion of a massive task that leaves you feeling like an empty shell. In English, we might translate it as 'lethargy,' 'a sense of powerlessness,' or 'feeling washed out.' However, none of these quite capture the 'suddenness' that 脱力感 often implies. It is the feeling of a balloon losing its air; you were held together by tension and effort, and now that the effort is gone, you are limp. This word is frequently used in literature, medical contexts to describe symptoms of depression or burnout, and in daily conversation to express the aftermath of a shock. For example, if you worked on a project for months only for it to be canceled, the feeling you have while staring at your blank screen is 脱力感. It is not just being 'tired' (tsukare); it is a lack of the very will to move your limbs.

Physical Nuance: The literal sensation of muscles becoming weak or limp, often seen in medical diagnoses for muscle disorders.

Emotional Nuance: The psychological 'deflation' following a shock or the end of a high-pressure situation.

試合に負けた瞬間、全身にひどい脱力感を覚えた。 (The moment we lost the match, I felt a terrible sense of powerlessness throughout my body.)

緊張が解けて、急に脱力感に襲われた。 (The tension broke, and I was suddenly overcome by a feeling of exhaustion.)

In a societal context, Japan's high-pressure work culture often references 脱力感 in discussions about burnout (moetsuki). It is a key term in understanding the 'post-effort' slump. When a Japanese person says they have 脱力感, they are communicating that they have no 'ki' (life force) left to engage with the world at that moment. It is a more 'hollow' feeling than simple fatigue. In anime and manga, you often see characters depicted with slumped shoulders and white, hollow eyes to visually represent this exact word. It is the physical manifestation of 'I give up' or 'I am finished.'

Using 脱力感 (datsuryokukan) correctly requires understanding the specific verbs it typically pairs with. Because it is a 'feeling' or 'state,' it often functions as the object of verbs that describe experiencing or being hit by an emotion. The most common verb is 覚える (oboeru), which in this context means 'to feel' or 'to experience' rather than 'to remember.' Saying 脱力感を覚える (datsuryokukan o oboeru) is the standard, somewhat formal way to say 'I feel a sense of powerlessness.' Another very common and more dramatic verb is 襲われる (osowareru), which means 'to be attacked' or 'to be overcome.' Using 脱力感に襲われる (datsuryokukan ni osowareru) suggests that the feeling came on suddenly and irresistibly, like a wave crashing over you. This is perfect for describing the aftermath of hearing bad news or finishing an incredibly difficult exam.

Verb Pairing: 覚える (Oboeru): Standard usage for experiencing the feeling. 'I feel a sense of...'

Verb Pairing: 襲われる (Osowareru): Used when the feeling is sudden, intense, and overwhelming.

大きな仕事を終えて、心地よい脱力感に包まれた。 (After finishing a big job, I was wrapped in a pleasant sense of exhaustion.)

Note the use of '心地よい' (kokochiyoi - pleasant) in the example above. This shows that 脱力感 isn't always negative; it can be the satisfying 'good tired' you feel after achieving something great. However, without such a qualifier, it usually leans toward the negative or neutral. You can also use the verb 感じる (kanjiru - to feel), though it is slightly less idiomatic than 覚える in written Japanese. For describing a chronic state, you might say 脱力感がある (datsuryokukan ga aru - there is a feeling of powerlessness). In medical or clinical settings, doctors might ask, '全身に脱力感はありますか？' (Do you have a feeling of weakness throughout your whole body?).

When constructing sentences, remember that 脱力感 is a state of being. It is something you 'have' or 'experience.' It is not an action you perform. Therefore, you cannot 'datsuryokukan' someone else. You can, however, cause someone to feel it. If you want to describe a person who looks like they have lost all energy, you can use the phrase '脱力感に満ちた' (datsuryokukan ni michita - filled with a sense of powerlessness) to describe their appearance or expression. This is common in descriptive writing and novels to paint a picture of a defeated character.

脱力感 (datsuryokukan) is a staple of Japanese media, particularly in genres that deal with high stakes, emotional drama, or medical issues. In anime, you will hear this word during 'the slump'—that middle part of the story where the hero has lost their first major battle and is sitting in the rain, unable to even lift their sword. The voice actor might mutter about a 'hageshii datsuryokukan' (intense feeling of powerlessness). It conveys a deeper level of defeat than just saying 'mou dame da' (it's no use). It implies their very muscles refuse to cooperate because their spirit is broken. In news broadcasts, you will hear it in the context of 'gogatsu-byou' (May sickness), a common Japanese phenomenon where new students or employees feel a sudden loss of motivation and energy after the initial excitement of April wears off.

「あの日以来、何に対しても脱力感しか感じられないんだ。」 (Since that day, I can't feel anything but a sense of powerlessness toward everything.)

In the workplace, colleagues might use it more subtly. If a team finishes a grueling three-day deadline, the manager might say, '皆さん、脱力感はあるかと思いますが、ゆっくり休んでください' (I expect you all feel drained, so please take a good rest). Here, it is used to acknowledge the collective effort and the subsequent 'crash.' It is also a very common term in health and wellness blogs in Japan. You will see articles titled 'How to deal with datsuryokukan in the summer heat' (referring to heat exhaustion) or 'Datsuryokukan and its relationship with iron deficiency.' In these contexts, it is a clinical term for physical lethargy.

News/Media: Used to describe the psychological state of a population after a major event or disaster.

Medical/Wellness: A symptom indicating that the body lacks the energy to function normally.

Finally, you will encounter this word in the lyrics of J-Pop and J-Rock songs. Artists often use it to describe the emptiness of modern life or the feeling of a breakup. The 'kan' (feeling) suffix makes it very evocative and poetic, allowing the listener to visualize the physical sensation of their heart or body growing heavy and unresponsive. It is a word that bridges the gap between the physical body and the internal soul.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using 脱力感 (datsuryokukan) as a direct replacement for the simple word 'tired' (tsukareta). While they are related, they are not interchangeable. If you just finished a light jog, you are 'tsukareta.' If you finished a light jog and your legs are literally buckling and you feel like you can't even hold your head up, then you might use 'datsuryokukan.' Using 'datsuryokukan' for everyday minor tiredness sounds overly dramatic or clinical, like saying 'I am experiencing a physiological state of powerlessness' when you just need a nap. Another mistake is confusing it with 無力感 (muryokukan). While they look similar, 無力感 (muryokukan) specifically means 'a sense of helplessness'—the feeling that nothing you do matters. 脱力感 (datsuryokukan) is more about the *physical or energetic* sensation of being drained. You can feel 無力感 (helpless) while still having plenty of physical energy to pace around the room; you feel 脱力感 (drained) when you literally want to sink into the floor.

Mistake: Over-dramatization: Using it for simple, everyday fatigue (use 疲れ instead).

Mistake: Semantic Confusion: Confusing it with 無力感 (helplessness) or 倦怠感 (lassitude/boredom).

Incorrect: 「ちょっと歩いたから脱力感がある。」 (I walked a bit so I have datsuryokukan.) - Too heavy!

Wait, there's also 倦怠感 (kentaikan). This is another 'kan' word that means 'fatigue' or 'lassitude.' The difference is that 倦怠感 is often used for a lingering, long-term feeling of being 'weary' or 'fed up,' whereas 脱力感 is often a more immediate sensation of strength leaving the body. If you have the flu for a week, you have 倦怠感. If you just heard your car was stolen and your knees go weak, you have 脱力感. Additionally, learners often forget the 'kan' (感) at the end. You cannot just say 'datsuryoku' to mean the feeling. 'Datsuryoku' by itself is often a technical term in martial arts or sports meaning 'relaxing the muscles' (which is a conscious, positive action). Adding the 'kan' turns it into the involuntary 'feeling' of being drained.

Lastly, be careful with the context of 'datsuryoku' (without the 'kan') in meditation or yoga. In those fields, 'datsuryoku' is a goal—to remove unnecessary tension from the body. If you tell a yoga teacher you have 'datsuryokukan,' they might think you are suffering from a medical condition, whereas if you say you are practicing 'datsuryoku,' they will think you are a dedicated student. The suffix 'kan' changes the meaning from a 'practice' to a 'sensation/symptom'.

To truly master 脱力感 (datsuryokukan), you should know the family of words that describe 'not having energy.' Each has a specific flavor. First is 疲労感 (hirokukan). This is the standard word for 'feeling of fatigue.' It is more formal than 疲れ (tsukare) and is often used in medical or professional settings. While 脱力感 focuses on the *loss* of power, 疲労感 focuses on the *accumulation* of tiredness. Next is 虚脱感 (kyodatsukan). This is an even stronger version of 脱力感. It translates to 'a sense of lethargy' or 'prostration,' often used when someone is so mentally or physically broken they are almost catatonic. It is common in very dramatic literature or when describing severe trauma.

無力感 (Muryokukan): Focus: Helplessness. 'I can't change anything.'

倦怠感 (Kentaikan): Focus: Weariness/Languor. Often used for illness or being 'fed up' with a situation.

疲労感 (Hirokukan): Focus: General fatigue from work or exercise.

Comparison: 脱力感 (limpness) vs 無力感 (helplessness).

Another interesting alternative is the onomatopoeia ぐったり (guttari). While 脱力感 is a noun, ぐったり is an adverb used to describe the state of being completely worn out. You might say 'ぐったりしている' (to be dead tired/limp). This is much more common in casual, spoken Japanese. If you say 'I have datsuryokukan' in a casual conversation with friends, it might sound a bit 'bookish,' whereas 'guttari shichatta' (I'm totally wiped) sounds natural. Finally, there is 虚脱 (kyodatsu) which is the state of collapse itself. Choosing between these depends on whether you want to sound clinical (kentaikan), dramatic (kyodatsukan), descriptive (datsuryokukan), or casual (guttari).

Understanding these subtle differences allows you to express your state of energy with precision. Japanese culture is very sensitive to levels of energy and 'ki,' so having a diverse vocabulary to describe your 'tiredness' is actually a sign of high linguistic and cultural fluency. Whether you are describing the post-marathon limpness or the post-breakup hollow feeling, 脱力感 is your go-to word for that specific 'emptied out' sensation.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In martial arts, 'datsuryoku' is actually a high-level skill where you relax your muscles to move faster and more efficiently, but adding 'kan' turns it into a symptom of being tired!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dæt.su.ɾjo.ku.kæn/

US /dɑt.su.ɾjo.ku.kɑn/

Japanese has pitch accent rather than stress. In 'Datsuryokukan', the pitch typically stays relatively flat or starts low and rises slightly.

Rhymes With

Muryokukan (無力感) Hirokukan (疲労感) Kentaikan (倦怠感) Kyodatsukan (虚脱感) Anshinkan (安心感) Kodokukan (孤独感) Fuan-kan (不安感) Manzokukan (満足感)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ryoku' as 'ree-oh-koo' (should be one syllable 'ryo').
Elongating the 'u' sounds (datsuu-ryokuu).
Missing the 'kan' suffix when referring to the feeling.
Pronouncing the 'tsu' like a 't' (it should be like the 'ts' in 'cats').
Confusing the pitch with 'datsuryoku' (the action of relaxing).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 7/5

The kanji are N2/N1 level, but the word is common in media.

Writing 8/5

Writing 'datsu' (脱) and 'kan' (感) correctly requires practice.

Speaking 5/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but usage nuance is key.

Listening 6/5

Easy to hear, but can be confused with other '-kan' words.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

力 (Chikara) 感じる (Kanjiru) 疲れ (Tsukare) 抜ける (Nukeru) 強い (Tsuyoi)

Learn Next

無力感 (Muryokukan) 倦怠感 (Kentaikan) 虚脱 (Kyodatsu) 燃え尽き (Burnout) 疲弊 (Hihei)

Advanced

虚無感 (Kyomukan) 喪失感 (Soushitsukan) 絶望感 (Zetsuboukan) 焦燥感 (Shousoukan) 違和感 (Iwakan)

Grammar to Know

Noun + に襲われる (Ni osowareru)

恐怖に襲われる / 脱力感に襲われる

Noun + を覚える (O oboeru)

違和感を覚える / 脱力感を覚える

Te-form for Reason

負けて脱力感がある (I feel powerless because I lost.)

Noun + のような (No you na)

糸が切れたような脱力感 (Exhaustion like a cut string.)

Noun + を伴う (O tomonau)

脱力感を伴う病気 (A disease accompanied by weakness.)

Examples by Level

とてもつかれて、脱力感があります。

I am very tired and have a feeling of powerlessness.

Uses 'ga arimasu' to show existence of the feeling.

足に脱力感を感じます。

I feel a loss of strength in my legs.

Uses 'o kanjimasu' as a simple way to say 'feel'.

テストのあと、脱力感がありました。

After the test, there was a feeling of exhaustion.

Uses 'no ato' (after) to show the timing.

ひどい脱力感です。

It is a terrible feeling of powerlessness.

Simple 'desu' ending for description.

体全体に脱力感があります。

There is a feeling of weakness in the whole body.

'Zenshin' or 'karada zentai' means whole body.

走ったあとの脱力感。

The exhaustion after running.

Noun phrase used as a title or exclamation.

急な脱力感で座りました。

I sat down due to a sudden feeling of weakness.

Uses 'de' to show the reason.

病気で脱力感があります。

I have a feeling of weakness because of illness.

Uses 'de' to indicate cause/reason.

仕事が終わって、すごい脱力感を覚えた。

Work ended, and I felt a huge sense of exhaustion.

Uses 'oboeta' (past tense of oboeru) to mean 'felt'.

緊張がとけると、脱力感が出る。

When tension is released, a feeling of weakness comes out.

Uses 'tokeru' (to melt/release) and 'deru' (to come out).

そのニュースを聞いて、脱力感に襲われた。

Hearing that news, I was overcome by a sense of powerlessness.

Uses the passive 'ni osowareta' (was attacked/overcome by).

脱力感があって、何もしたくない。

I have a sense of exhaustion and don't want to do anything.

Uses 'te-form' to connect two states.

夏の暑さで脱力感がひどい。

The summer heat makes the feeling of lethargy terrible.

Uses 'de' to show the cause (heat).

彼は脱力感のある顔をしている。

He has a face that looks drained of energy.

Uses 'no aru' as an adjective phrase for 'kao' (face).

しばらく脱力感が続いた。

The feeling of powerlessness continued for a while.

Uses 'tsuzuita' (continued).

お風呂に入ると、脱力感で動けなくなる。

When I get in the bath, the exhaustion makes me unable to move.

Uses 'de' for reason and 'ugokenaku naru' (become unable to move).

プロジェクトが中止になり、強い脱力感に襲われた。

The project was canceled, and I was overcome by a strong sense of powerlessness.

Formal passive construction 'ni osowareru'.

激しい運動の後は、心地よい脱力感がある。

After intense exercise, there is a pleasant sense of exhaustion.

Uses 'kokochiyoi' to give a positive nuance.

五月病の主な症状は、無気力と脱力感だ。

The main symptoms of May sickness are lethargy and a sense of powerlessness.

Uses 'to' to list nouns.

精神的なショックから、全身に脱力感を覚えた。

Due to mental shock, I experienced a sense of exhaustion throughout my whole body.

Uses 'oboeta' for experiencing a sensation.

あまりの忙しさに、脱力感を通り越して麻痺している。

I'm so busy that I've gone past exhaustion and am just numb.

Uses 'toorikoshite' (going past/beyond).

薬の副作用で、軽い脱力感が出ることがあります。

Side effects of the medicine may cause a slight feeling of weakness.

Medical context usage.

試合に敗れた選手たちは、一様に脱力感を漂わせていた。

The players who lost the match all uniformly drifted with a sense of defeat.

Uses 'tadayowasete ita' (were exuding/drifting with).

脱力感を解消するために、ゆっくり休養をとる。

In order to resolve the feeling of exhaustion, I will take a slow rest.

Uses 'kaishou suru' (to resolve/eliminate).

燃え尽き症候群になると、慢性的な脱力感に悩まされる。

When you get burnout syndrome, you are plagued by chronic exhaustion.

Uses 'nayamasareru' (to be troubled/plagued by).

目標を達成した瞬間に、糸が切れたような脱力感を感じた。

The moment I achieved my goal, I felt an exhaustion like a string snapping.

Metaphor 'ito ga kireta you na' (like a cut string).

彼の言葉には、どこか脱力感を誘う響きがあった。

There was a sound in his words that somehow invited a sense of powerlessness.

Uses 'sasou' (to invite/induce).

その映画の結末は、観客に深い脱力感を与えた。

The movie's ending gave the audience a deep sense of powerlessness.

Uses 'ataeta' (gave).

震災の後、多くの人々が虚脱感や脱力感を訴えた。

After the earthquake, many people complained of lethargy and exhaustion.

Uses 'uttaeta' (complained of symptoms).

現代社会のスピードについていけず、脱力感を抱く若者が増えている。

Young people who feel a sense of powerlessness because they can't keep up with the speed of modern society are increasing.

Uses 'idaku' (to hold/harbor a feeling).

手術後の患者は、しばしば強い脱力感を経験する。

Post-surgery patients often experience intense feelings of weakness.

Medical/Professional context.

あまりの理不尽さに、怒りを通り越して脱力感を覚えた。

It was so unreasonable that I went past anger and felt a sense of powerlessness.

Contrast between 'anger' and 'datsuryokukan'.

長年連れ添った伴侶を亡くし、彼は底知れぬ脱力感の中にいた。

Having lost his lifelong partner, he was in a fathomless sense of powerlessness.

Uses '底知れぬ' (bottomless/fathomless).

政治への不信感が、国民の間に一種の脱力感を生んでいる。

Distrust in politics is creating a kind of apathy/powerlessness among the citizens.

Abstract societal usage.

彼の作品は、都会生活の虚無感と脱力感を見事に描き出している。

His work masterfully depicts the nihilism and lethargy of urban life.

Literary/Artistic criticism.

全身を貫くような脱力感に、一歩も動くことができなかった。

With a sense of powerlessness that seemed to pierce my whole body, I couldn't move a single step.

Uses 'tsuranuku' (to pierce/penetrate).

期待が大きかった分、失敗した時の脱力感もひとしおだった。

Because the expectations were so high, the exhaustion upon failure was all the more intense.

Uses 'hitoshio' (all the more/especially).

その宗教的体験の後は、この世のすべてが空虚に思えるほどの脱力感に包まれた。

After that religious experience, I was wrapped in such exhaustion that everything in this world seemed empty.

Spiritual/Existential context.

脱力感は、時に精神の防衛本能として機能することがある。

Exhaustion can sometimes function as a defense instinct of the mind.

Scientific/Psychological observation.

夕暮れ時の街並みを眺めていると、ふと奇妙な脱力感に襲われることがある。

Looking at the streets at dusk, I am sometimes suddenly overcome by a strange sense of lethargy.

Uses 'futo' (suddenly/incidentally).

実存的な危機に直面した際、人間は根源的な脱力感に苛まれる。

When facing an existential crisis, humans are tormented by a fundamental sense of powerlessness.

Uses '苛まれる' (to be tormented by).

作者は、戦後の廃墟に漂う虚脱感と脱力感を、乾いた文体で綴った。

The author chronicled the lethargy and powerlessness drifting through the post-war ruins in a dry prose style.

High-level literary analysis.

過剰な情報社会において、個人の主体性は脱力感の中に埋没しつつある。

In an excessive information society, individual autonomy is becoming buried within a sense of powerlessness.

Sociological critique.

その沈黙には、言葉に尽くせぬほどの脱力感と諦念が凝縮されていた。

In that silence, an unspeakable sense of exhaustion and resignation was condensed.

Uses '諦念' (resignation/philosophical acceptance).

神経生理学的な観点から言えば、脱力感は神経伝達物質の枯渇に起因する場合が多い。

From a neurophysiological perspective, exhaustion is often caused by the depletion of neurotransmitters.

Technical/Scientific register.

万策尽きた後の脱力感は、時として新たな自己の再構築への契機となる。

The powerlessness after exhausting all options sometimes becomes the catalyst for reconstructing a new self.

Philosophical/Reflective usage.

近代文学における「脱力感」の系譜を辿ることは、日本人の精神史を紐解くことと同義である。

Tracing the genealogy of 'datsuryokukan' in modern literature is synonymous with unraveling the spiritual history of the Japanese people.

Academic/Historical context.

彼の演奏には、技術を超越した凄絶な脱力感が宿っていた。

In his performance, there dwelt a sublime/ghastly sense of relaxation that transcended technique.

Uses '凄絶' (sublime/fierce) and 'yadoru' (to dwell/reside).

Common Collocations

脱力感を覚える

脱力感に襲われる

心地よい脱力感

全身の脱力感

激しい脱力感

脱力感を抱く

脱力感が漂う

脱力感を見せる

慢性的脱力感

脱力感を拭えない

Common Phrases

脱力感がある

— To have a feeling of weakness or exhaustion.

今日は体に脱力感がある。

脱力感を感じる

— To feel a sense of powerlessness.

自分の無力さに脱力感を感じる。

ひどい脱力感

— A terrible or intense feeling of exhaustion.

ひどい脱力感で立ち上がれない。

脱力感に陥る

— To fall into a state of lethargy.

ショックで脱力感に陥ってしまった。

脱力感が出る

— The feeling of exhaustion emerges.

緊張が切れると脱力感が出る。

脱力感を伴う

— To be accompanied by a feeling of weakness.

頭痛と脱力感を伴う症状。

脱力感が抜ける

— The feeling of exhaustion goes away.

ようやく脱力感が抜けてきた。

脱力感を隠せない

— Cannot hide one's exhaustion/powerlessness.

彼は敗北後の脱力感を隠せなかった。

脱力感に包まれる

— To be wrapped in/surrounded by a feeling of exhaustion.

静かな夜、脱力感に包まれる。

脱力感を与える

— To give someone a sense of powerlessness.

その光景は人々に脱力感を与えた。

Often Confused With

脱力感 vs 無力感

Muryokukan is 'I can't do anything' (helplessness), while Datsuryokukan is 'I have no energy' (exhaustion).

脱力感 vs 倦怠感

Kentaikan is more like 'lassitude' or 'malaise' often from illness; Datsuryokukan is often a reaction to a specific event.

脱力感 vs 虚脱感

Kyodatsukan is much stronger, implying a total mental and physical collapse or shock.

Idioms & Expressions

"糸が切れた凧"

— Like a kite with a snapped string; someone who has lost all direction or energy.

彼は脱力感で、糸が切れた凧のようだ。

Metaphorical

"気が抜ける"

— To lose one's spirit or focus, leading to a state of 'datsuryokukan'.

大きな行事が終わって気が抜けた。

Common

"腰が抜ける"

— To be so shocked or scared that your legs give out (extreme datsuryokukan).

幽霊を見て腰が抜けた。

Common

"腑抜け"

— A person who has lost their backbone/spirit; a coward or someone in a state of datsuryokukan.

負けてから彼は腑抜けのようになった。

Informal

"精魂尽き果てる"

— To use up every bit of soul and spirit, resulting in total exhaustion.

精魂尽き果てて、脱力感しかない。

Literary

"抜け殻になる"

— To become an empty shell (completely devoid of energy).

受験が終わって抜け殻になった。

Common

"骨抜きになる"

— To be deprived of one's core strength or to be weakened/made limp.

甘い言葉に骨抜きにされた。

Idiomatic

"力が抜ける"

— Strength leaves the body (can be relief or exhaustion).

合格を知って、全身の力が抜けた。

Common

"ガックリくる"

— To be extremely disappointed/disheartened, leading to a slump.

不採用通知にガックリきた。

Informal

"魂が抜ける"

— As if one's soul has left their body; extreme lethargy or shock.

彼は魂が抜けたような顔をしている。

Dramatic

Easily Confused

脱力感 vs 脱力

It's the base word.

脱力 is the act of relaxing or the state of being limp; 脱力感 is the *feeling* of being limp.

脱力してリラックスする vs 脱力感を感じる

脱力感 vs 疲労

Both mean tired.

疲労 is general fatigue; 脱力感 is specifically the loss of strength/tension.

疲労がたまる vs 脱力感に襲われる

脱力感 vs 無気力

Both involve low energy.

無気力 is a lack of motivation (mental); 脱力感 is a lack of strength (physical/energetic).

無気力な学生 vs 試合後の脱力感

脱力感 vs 倦怠

Similar medical usage.

倦怠 is a broader sense of being tired/bored; 脱力感 is the specific sensation of limpness.

倦怠期 vs 全身の脱力感

脱力感 vs 虚脱

Very similar meaning.

虚脱 is a more severe medical/psychological collapse than datsuryokukan.

虚脱状態に陥る vs 軽い脱力感

Sentence Patterns

（Noun）のあとで、脱力感があります。

仕事のあとで、脱力感があります。

急に（Noun）に襲われた。

急に脱力感に襲われた。

～に脱力感を覚える。

彼の態度に脱力感を覚える。

～というほどの脱力感。

立ち上がれないというほどの脱力感。

脱力感を拭い去ることができない。

失敗した後の脱力感を拭い去ることができない。

～に伴う脱力感。

激しい頭痛に伴う脱力感。

脱力感に苛まれる。

底知れぬ脱力感に苛まれる。

脱力感の極致にある。

彼は今、脱力感の極致にある。

Word Family

Nouns

脱力 (Datsuryoku - relaxation/loss of power)

脱力感 (Datsuryokukan - the feeling)

Verbs

脱力する (Datsuryoku suru - to relax muscles/lose strength)

Adjectives

脱力的な (Datsuryokuteki na - lethargic/powerless)

力 (Power)

脱出 (Escape)

感覚 (Sensation)

無力 (Powerless)

活力 (Vitality)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in literature, news, and medical contexts. Moderate in daily conversation.

Common Mistakes

Using it for 'sleepy'. → 眠い (Nemui)
Datsuryokukan is about energy and strength, not the need for sleep.
Confusing it with 'muryokukan'. → 無力感 (Muryokukan)
Muryokukan is about helplessness; Datsuryokukan is about physical/energetic limpness.
Saying 'datsuryokukan suru'. → 脱力感がある (Datsuryokukan ga aru)
It's a noun, so it cannot be turned into a verb with 'suru'. Use 'datsuryoku suru' for the action.
Using it for minor tiredness. → 疲れ (Tsukare)
Datsuryokukan is too heavy for just being 'a little tired'.
Miswriting the kanji 脱. → 脱
Be careful with the left side (flesh radical) and the right side.

Tips

Use with 'oboeru'

Pairing 脱力感 with 覚える (oboeru) makes you sound more like a native speaker in written Japanese.

Positive vs Negative

Add 'kokochiyoi' (pleasant) to make it positive, otherwise it's usually neutral or negative.

Remember the 'Kan'

Always include 感 (kan) when you are talking about the *feeling* of being drained.

Medical Situations

Use this word at the clinic to describe general weakness; it's more precise than 'tired'.

The String Metaphor

Think of it as 'the string of the heart snapping' (kokoro no ito ga kireru).

Related '-kan' words

Learn it alongside 'muryokukan' and 'hirokukan' to master energy descriptions.

Dramatic Effect

Use 'ni osowareru' (to be attacked by) to emphasize a sudden, overwhelming feeling.

Anime Cues

Listen for this word when a character is defeated or loses hope.

May Sickness

Associate it with 'Gogatsu-byou' to remember its link to burnout.

Descriptive Writing

Use it to describe the atmosphere of a room after a big event (e.g., 'datsuryokukan ga tadayou').

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'DATSU' as 'Darts' and 'RYOKU' as 'Rookies'. If 'Darts' hit the 'Rookies', they lose their 'KAN' (can-do attitude) and feel limp.

Visual Association

Imagine a balloon that has just had its knot untied. The air (power/ryoku) is escaping (datsu), and the balloon becomes limp and floppy (the kan/feeling).

Word Web

Fatigue Limp Powerless Drained Burnout Relief Weakness Lethargy

Challenge

Try to use 'datsuryokukan' in a sentence describing how you feel after a 3-hour Japanese study session.

Word Origin

Formed by combining 'Datsuryoku' (loss of strength) with the suffix 'Kan' (feeling). 'Datsuryoku' has roots in both medical and martial arts terminology.

Original meaning: The physical state of muscles losing their tension or tone.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Cultural Context

While usually neutral or clinical, be careful using it to describe someone else's work ethic, as it implies they have no drive.

English speakers might use 'burnout' or 'lethargy', but 'datsuryokukan' specifically highlights the physical sensation of weakness.

Used frequently in the lyrics of the band 'Amazarashi' to describe urban despair. A common trope in 'Salaryman' manga where the protagonist collapses after work. Often used in medical dramas like 'Doctor X' to describe patient symptoms.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

After a sports match

負けて脱力感に襲われた
心地よい脱力感
足に脱力感がある
全身の力が抜けた

At the doctor's office

全身に脱力感があります
急な脱力感
慢性的な脱力感
脱力感を伴う発熱

After a major project

達成感と脱力感
気が抜けて脱力感が出た
しばらく脱力感が続いた
脱力感で動けない

Hearing bad news

ショックで脱力感を覚えた
深い脱力感に沈む
脱力感しか感じない
一気に脱力感がきた

Describing urban life

都会の脱力感
無気力と脱力感
現代人の脱力感
脱力感のある日常

Conversation Starters

"最近、急に脱力感に襲われることはありますか？ (Lately, do you ever find yourself suddenly overcome by a sense of powerlessness?)"

"大きな仕事を終えた後の脱力感、どうやって解消していますか？ (How do you deal with the exhaustion after finishing a big job?)"

"スポーツの後の心地よい脱力感についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about that pleasant feeling of exhaustion after sports?)"

"ショックなニュースを見て脱力感を感じたことはありますか？ (Have you ever felt a sense of powerlessness after seeing shocking news?)"

"五月病のような脱力感を経験したことがありますか？ (Have you ever experienced a 'May Sickness' type of lethargy?)"

Journal Prompts

今日、脱力感を感じた瞬間がありましたか？それはなぜですか？ (Was there a moment today when you felt a sense of powerlessness? Why was that?)

「心地よい脱力感」と「嫌な脱力感」の違いについて書いてください。 (Write about the difference between 'pleasant exhaustion' and 'unpleasant powerlessness'.)

脱力感に襲われたとき、自分を元気にするために何をしますか？ (When you are overcome by exhaustion, what do you do to cheer yourself up?)

日本の「五月病」と脱力感の関係について自分の考えを述べてください。 (State your thoughts on the relationship between Japan's 'May Sickness' and exhaustion.)

将来、脱力感を感じないようにするために、今できることは何ですか？ (What can you do now to avoid feeling a sense of powerlessness in the future?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not necessarily. It can be used as '心地よい脱力感' (pleasant exhaustion) after a good workout or a job well done, representing a healthy release of tension.

No, that would be 'nemui'. 脱力感 is about a lack of strength or energy in the limbs and spirit, not the urge to sleep.

Tsukare is the general word for 'tired'. 脱力感 is a more specific, noun-based description of the 'limp' feeling that often follows stress.

Yes, it is a very common medical term for 'malaise' or 'muscle weakness'. Doctors use it to diagnose various conditions.

Yes, it is one of the primary words used to describe the feeling of burnout (moetsuki) in Japan.

Words like 'jujitsukan' (fulfillment) or 'katsuryoku' (vitality) are considered opposites in terms of energy state.

No, it is a noun. You must use it with a verb like 'aru', 'kanjiru', or 'oboeru'.

Yes, but it sounds a bit more dramatic or descriptive than the usual 'tsukareta'. Use it if you really feel 'drained'.

It means 'to remove' or 'to escape'. It's the same 'datsu' as in 'datsushitsu' (dehumidify) or 'datsugoku' (prison break).

Yes, it is generally pronounced with a flat accent (Heiban), meaning the pitch stays relatively level after an initial rise.