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B1 noun 10 min read

挫折

zasetsu
Examples
Explanation 挫折 in your Level:
At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'zasetsu' often, but you might see it in simple contexts like giving up on a hobby. Think of it as a very strong way to say 'I stopped doing something because it was too hard.' For example, if you tried to learn a difficult game and stopped after one day, that is 'zasetsu.' In English, we might just say 'I quit,' but 'zasetsu' sounds like you really tried and then 'broke.' It is a combination of two kanji: 'za' (to crush) and 'setsu' (to break). When you learn this word, remember it usually goes with 'suru' (to do). So, 'zasetsu suru' means 'to give up' or 'to have a setback.' At this stage, focus on the fact that it's for activities like studying, sports, or diets.
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For A2 learners, 'zasetsu' is a useful word to describe personal experiences. You can use it to explain why you aren't doing something anymore. Instead of just saying 'yamemashita' (I quit), saying 'zasetsu shimashita' explains that the reason was the difficulty or a challenge you couldn't overcome. It's common in sentences like 'Diet ni zasetsu shimashita' (I gave up on my diet). Notice the particle 'ni' is used for the thing you gave up on. This is a key grammar point for this level. You might also start seeing it in simple stories where a character fails at something important. It's a 'heavier' word than 'shippai' (mistake), so use it for things that you put some effort into.
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At the B1 level, you should understand that 'zasetsu' is not just 'quitting' but a 'setback' or 'frustration' in a larger journey. It's a noun that often appears in the phrase 'zasetsu wo ajiwau' (to taste/experience a setback). This level involves discussing dreams and goals, and 'zasetsu' is the perfect word for when those dreams hit a wall. You should also recognize the noun 'zasetsu-kan' (a sense of frustration). For example, after failing an exam, you might feel 'zasetsu-kan.' At B1, you can use this word to add more emotional depth to your Japanese. It shows you understand the nuance of persistence and the pain of stopping. It is also used in self-help contexts like 'How to study without giving up' (zasetsu shinai gakushu-hou).
At the B2 level, 'zasetsu' becomes a key term for analyzing narratives and discussing social issues. You will hear it in news reports about failed projects or in interviews with successful people discussing their past. You should be able to distinguish 'zasetsu' from 'tonza' (deadlock/halt) and 'dannen' (abandonment). 'Zasetsu' is more personal and psychological. You might use it in a formal setting, like a job interview, to describe a challenge you overcame: 'Zasetsu wo norikoeta keiken' (The experience of overcoming a setback). At this level, you should also be comfortable with more complex grammar patterns like 'zasetsu ni oikomu' (to drive someone to a setback). It's a word that bridges personal emotion and formal description.
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For C1 learners, 'zasetsu' is part of a sophisticated vocabulary used to discuss human resilience and institutional failure. You should understand its use in academic or literary contexts, where it might describe the 'zasetsu' of a political movement or a philosophical ideal. The kanji's physical meaning of 'crushing and breaking' is often used metaphorically in high-level literature. You should be able to use the word in nuanced ways, such as discussing the 'zasetsu' of modernism or the psychological impact of repeated 'zasetsu' on a generation. At this level, you can also use related idioms and formal collocations like 'kibou ga zasetsu suru' (hopes are crushed). Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's weight and its place in the broader Japanese discourse on effort and failure.
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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of 'zasetsu.' You understand that the word carries a specific cultural weight in Japan, related to the concept of 'Gaman' (endurance) and 'Ganbaru' (perseverance). You can discuss the sociolinguistic implications of the word, such as why 'zasetsu' is often romanticized in Japanese media as a necessary step toward true strength. You are proficient in using the word in highly formal, abstract, or poetic contexts. You can distinguish between the subtle nuances of 'zasetsu,' 'hokai' (collapse), and 'shippai' in complex socio-political analyses. For a C2 speaker, 'zasetsu' is not just a vocabulary item; it's a conceptual tool used to describe the friction between human will and the limitations of reality.
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Examples

The Japanese word 挫折 (zasetsu) is a profound term that encapsulates the experience of hitting a wall so significant that one is forced to stop or give up on a path. While often translated as 'setback' or 'frustration,' its etymological roots in kanji suggest a much more physical and visceral imagery. The first character, 挫 (za), carries the meaning of 'crushing,' 'spraining,' or 'breaking down.' The second character, 折 (setsu), means 'to fold,' 'to break,' or 'to bend.' Together, they describe a state where a person's will or progress is literally 'crushed and broken.' In Japanese society, where perseverance (ganbaru) is highly valued, zasetsu is not just a minor annoyance; it represents a significant psychological event where the momentum of one's ambition meets an immovable object.

The Psychological Weight
Unlike a simple failure (shippai), which might be a one-time error, zasetsu implies a process that was ongoing—a dream, a study plan, or a career path—that has been interrupted or abandoned due to internal or external pressure.

彼はプロのピアニストになる夢に挫折した。
(He gave up on his dream of becoming a professional pianist after facing setbacks.)

You will encounter this word frequently in biographies of successful people, sports documentaries, and educational contexts. It is often used to describe the 'low point' in a narrative arc before a comeback. However, it is also used in mundane contexts, such as 'giving up' on a diet or a difficult book. The nuance remains the same: the feeling of being defeated by the difficulty of the task at hand. It is a noun that frequently transforms into a suru-verb (挫折する) to describe the act of experiencing this defeat.

Distinction from Failure
While 'shippai' is the opposite of success, 'zasetsu' is the opposite of continuation. You can fail (shippai) many times without experiencing zasetsu, provided you keep going. Zasetsu occurs when the failure causes you to stop the journey entirely.

ダイエットに挫折して、ケーキを食べてしまった。
(I gave up on my diet and ended up eating cake.)

Cultural Nuance
In Japan, the ability to overcome zasetsu (挫折を乗り越える) is considered a hallmark of a strong character. It is a word that carries both the pain of the break and the potential for a more resilient reconstruction of the self.

大きな挫折を味わったことで、彼はより強くなった。
(By tasting a great setback, he became stronger.)

In summary, zasetsu is a word for the heavy moments. It describes the snapping of a plan or the crushing of a spirit. Whether it's a student failing an entrance exam or an entrepreneur closing a business, zasetsu is the term used to define the emotional and structural collapse of that specific endeavor. Understanding this word helps you tap into the Japanese perspective on effort, persistence, and the inevitable walls one encounters in life.

Using 挫折 (zasetsu) effectively requires understanding its common verb pairings and noun collocations. It is most frequently used as a noun followed by the verb suru (to do/experience) or as the object of verbs that describe 'tasting' or 'overcoming' hardship. Because it describes a state of being broken or stopped, it often appears in contexts involving long-term goals or personal development.

Grammatical Pattern: [Noun] + に挫折する
This is the most common way to say you gave up on something. The particle ni indicates the goal or activity that caused the setback.

独学でのプログラミング習得に挫折した。
(I gave up on learning programming through self-study.)

Another frequent pattern is using zasetsu as a noun to describe the experience itself. In this case, verbs like ajiwau (to taste/experience) or keiken suru (to experience) are used. Ajiwau is particularly common in literature and formal speech to emphasize the emotional depth of the failure.

Grammatical Pattern: 挫折を味わう
Literal: To taste a setback. This emphasizes the bitterness and personal impact of the failure.

若いうちに挫折を味わうことは、将来の糧になる。
(Experiencing setbacks while young will become food for the future/growth.)

When discussing how someone deals with a setback, you will often hear zasetsu wo norikoeru (to overcome a setback). This is a positive expression used to describe resilience.

Resilience Contexts
挫折を乗り越えて成功をつかむ (To overcome setbacks and grab success).

多くの挫折を乗り越えて、彼は今の地位を築いた。
(He built his current position by overcoming many setbacks.)

In a more passive or descriptive sense, you can use zasetsu ni oikomu (to drive someone to a setback) or zasetsu wo maneku (to invite/cause a setback). These are more formal and often used in business or historical analysis.

資金不足が、そのプロジェクトを挫折に追い込んだ。
(Lack of funds drove the project to a setback/failure.)

Finally, remember that zasetsu is a relatively heavy word. While it can be used for small things like a diet, using it for something very trivial like 'giving up on watching a 2-minute video' would sound unnaturally dramatic. Save it for things that required a degree of effort or commitment.

The word 挫折 (zasetsu) is a staple of Japanese media, literature, and educational discourse. It is a word that resonates with the collective consciousness regarding the difficulty of achievement. You will hear it in various real-world scenarios, ranging from the highly formal to the introspective.

1. Sports Documentaries and Interviews
Athletes often talk about 'zasetsu' when discussing injuries or losses. In a program like 'NHK Special' or 'Professional: Shigoto no Ryuugi,' the narrator might describe an athlete's injury as a '大きな挫折' (major setback). The narrative usually focuses on how they returned from that point.

怪我でオリンピック出場を逃したことは、人生最大の挫折でした。
(Missing the Olympics due to injury was the greatest setback of my life.)

2. Business and Entrepreneurship
In the business world, 'zasetsu' refers to projects that were cancelled or startups that failed. Business magazines like 'President' or 'Nikkei Business' frequently feature articles titled '挫折から立ち直る方法' (How to recover from a setback).

新規事業の挫折を機に、組織体制を見直した。
(Using the setback of the new business as an opportunity, we reviewed the organizational structure.)

3. Education and Self-Improvement
Teachers and cram school (juku) instructors use this word to encourage students. They might say, '挫折を恐れるな' (Don't fear setbacks). It's also incredibly common in the titles of self-help books for learning English or losing weight, such as '挫折しない英語学習法' (An English learning method where you won't give up).

三日坊主で終わってしまうのは、計画に無理があるからの挫折だ。
(Ending as a 'three-day monk' (quitting quickly) is a setback caused by an unrealistic plan.)

4. Anime and Manga
In Shonen manga, the protagonist almost always faces a 'zasetsu' point. It's the moment they realize they aren't strong enough, leading to a training montage. This word is key to the 'Growth' (Seicho) theme in Japanese storytelling.

Whether it's a politician explaining a failed policy or a friend admitting they stopped going to the gym, zasetsu provides a culturally accepted way to frame 'giving up' not as a permanent character flaw, but as a specific event of being 'broken' by circumstances or difficulty.

While 挫折 (zasetsu) is a versatile word, English speakers often confuse it with other terms for failure or disappointment. Understanding the boundaries of zasetsu is key to sounding natural in Japanese.

Mistake 1: Confusing 挫折 (Zasetsu) with 失敗 (Shippai)
'Shippai' is the general word for 'failure' or 'mistake.' You can 'shippai' at a small task, like making a typo. However, 'zasetsu' is only for when that failure makes you stop or give up on a larger goal. You don't 'zasetsu' at typing a word; you 'shippai' at it.

❌ 漢字の書き方に挫折した。
✅ 漢字の書き方を間違えた (or 失敗した)。
(Don't use zasetsu for a simple stroke-order error. Use it if you quit learning kanji altogether.)

Mistake 2: Confusing 挫折 (Zasetsu) with 失望 (Shitsubou)
'Shitsubou' means 'disappointment' or 'despair.' It is an internal emotion. 'Zasetsu' is the event of the setback. While zasetsu causes shitsubou, they are not interchangeable. You 'feel' shitsubou, but you 'experience' or 'do' zasetsu.

❌ 彼の態度に挫折した。
✅ 彼の態度に失望した。
(You are disappointed by his attitude; you don't experience a 'setback' because of his attitude unless it stops your project.)

Mistake 3: Misusing the Particle 'Ni'
When using 'zasetsu suru,' the target of the setback must take the particle 'ni.' Beginners often use 'wo' by mistake because they think 'I failed [the exam].' But in Japanese, you 'setback *at* [the exam process].'

❌ 数学を挫折した。
✅ 数学に挫折した。
(I gave up on mathematics.)

Mistake 4: Overusing it for Social Situations
'Zasetsu' is rarely used for social rejection. If someone rejects your romantic confession, you don't say you 'zasetsu-ed.' You use 'furareru' (to be dumped) or 'shitsuren' (heartbreak). 'Zasetsu' is for goals and efforts, not interpersonal relationships, unless the relationship was part of a specific life-plan that 'broke.'

By avoiding these common pitfalls, you will use zasetsu with the appropriate weight and nuance, showing a deep understanding of Japanese goal-oriented vocabulary.

To truly master 挫折 (zasetsu), it's helpful to compare it with its synonyms and related terms. Each has a slightly different shade of meaning depending on whether the focus is on the result, the emotion, or the act of giving up.

挫折 (Zasetsu) vs. 失敗 (Shippai)
挫折: Focuses on the 'breaking' of a process. You stop doing it. (e.g., quitting a marathon halfway).
失敗: Focuses on the 'incorrect result.' You finished, but it didn't go well. (e.g., finishing a marathon but getting a bad time).
挫折 (Zasetsu) vs. 断念 (Dannen)
挫折: Often implies an involuntary stopping due to difficulty or loss of heart. It feels 'crushing.'
断念: A more clinical or decisive 'giving up.' It implies a conscious decision to abandon a plan, often for logical reasons. (e.g., 'Due to weather, we abandoned (dannen) the climb').

資金難のため、計画を断念した。
(Abandoned the plan due to financial difficulties—sounds like a business decision.)

挫折 (Zasetsu) vs. 頓挫 (Tonza)
挫折: Usually applied to people or personal dreams. It has a psychological component.
頓挫: Usually applied to projects, plans, or negotiations. It means a 'sudden hitch' or 'stalemate.' It is more objective and business-oriented.

交渉が頓挫した。
(Negotiations came to a standstill/halt.)

挫折 (Zasetsu) vs. ギブアップ (Gibu Appu)
挫折: Formal, serious, and deeply emotional.
ギブアップ: Informal loanword (Give up). Used in casual conversation or sports when someone is literally saying 'I quit!' right now.

もう無理、ギブアップ！
(It's too much, I give up!—very casual.)

Choosing the right word depends on your audience. In a formal essay or a serious conversation about your life path, zasetsu is almost always the best choice to convey the gravity of your experience. In a business report, tonza or dannen might be more appropriate. In a gym with friends, gibu appu is perfectly fine.

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Examples by Level

1

ダイエットに挫折しました。

I gave up on my diet.

Uses [Noun] + に + 挫折する.

2

ピアノの練習に挫折した。

I gave up on practicing the piano.

Past tense of 挫折する.

3

彼は勉強に挫折しました。

He gave up on his studies.

Polite form (masu).

4

挫折はしたくないです。

I don't want to give up.

Negative desire form.

5

挫折しても大丈夫です。

It's okay even if you face a setback.

Te-form + mo daijoubu.

6

毎日走ることに挫折した。

I gave up on running every day.

Verb nominalizer 'koto' + ni.

7

この本は難しくて挫折した。

This book was hard, so I gave up.

Adjective 'te-form' for reason.

8

挫折しないでください。

Please don't give up.

Negative request form.

1

プログラミングの学習に挫折してしまった。

I ended up giving up on learning programming.

Uses ~te shimau to show regret.

2

一度の挫折で諦めないで。

Don't give up after just one setback.

Noun + de (reason/circumstance).

3

彼はスポーツの道で挫折を経験した。

He experienced a setback in his sports career.

挫折を経験する (to experience a setback).

4

挫折したけれど、また始めたい。

I failed/gave up, but I want to start again.

Keredo (but) for contrast.

5

挫折の原因は何ですか？

What was the cause of the setback?

Noun + no + noun.

6

彼女は大きな挫折を乗り越えた。

She overcame a major setback.

乗り越える (to overcome).

7

挫折しそうな時は、友達に相談します。

When I'm about to give up, I talk to my friends.

~sou (looks like/about to) + toki.

8

三日坊主は、挫折の始まりだ。

Being a 'three-day monk' is the start of a setback.

Descriptive sentence.

1

若いうちに挫折を味わうことは大切だ。

It is important to experience (taste) setbacks while young.

挫折を味わう (idiomatic expression).

2

彼は事業の失敗で深い挫折感に襲われた。

He was overwhelmed by a deep sense of frustration due to his business failure.

挫折感 (sense of frustration) + ni osowareru (overwhelmed).

3

計画が挫折した理由を分析する必要がある。

We need to analyze the reason why the plan failed.

Relative clause modifying 'riyuu'.

4

挫折を恐れずに新しいことに挑戦しよう。

Let's challenge new things without fearing setbacks.

~zu ni (without doing).

5

留学生活で何度も挫折しかけた。

I almost gave up many times during my life abroad.

V-stem + kakeru (almost did).

6

挫折から立ち直るには時間が必要だ。

It takes time to recover from a setback.

立ち直る (to recover/stand up again).

7

彼は受験に挫折して、別の道を選んだ。

He failed his exams and chose a different path.

Te-form for sequence.

8

挫折のない人生なんて、つまらない。

A life without setbacks is boring.

Noun + no nai (without).

1

そのプロジェクトは予算不足により挫折を余儀なくされた。

The project was forced into a setback due to a lack of budget.

余儀なくされる (to be forced to).

2

過去の挫折を糧にして、彼は再び立ち上がった。

Using past setbacks as nourishment, he stood up once again.

糧にする (to turn into food/strength).

3

エリート街道を歩んできた彼にとって、それは初めての挫折だった。

For him, who had walked the elite path, that was his first setback.

歩んできた (has walked up to now).

4

挫折の経験が、今の彼の粘り強さを作っている。

His experience of setbacks has created his current persistence.

粘り強さ (persistence/tenacity).

5

理想と現実のギャップに挫折する若者が増えている。

The number of young people who experience frustration due to the gap between ideal and reality is increasing.

Relative clause modifying 'wakamon'.

6

彼は挫折をバネにして、世界大会で優勝した。

He used his setback as a spring (motivation) and won the world championship.

バネにする (to use as a springboard).

7

挫折は、成功への通過点に過ぎない。

A setback is nothing more than a passing point on the way to success.

に過ぎない (nothing more than).

8

どんなに挫折を繰り返しても、彼は諦めなかった。

No matter how many times he repeated (experienced) setbacks, he did not give up.

どんなに ~temo (no matter how much).

1

独裁政権の崩壊は、民主化運動の挫折を意味していた。

The collapse of the dictatorship signified the setback/failure of the democratization movement.

Abstract political context.

2

彼の理論は、実証実験の段階で大きな挫折に見舞われた。

His theory was struck by a major setback at the stage of empirical experimentation.

に見舞われる (to be struck/hit by something bad).

3

自己実現を追求する過程での挫折は、実存的な問いを投げかける。

Setbacks in the process of pursuing self-actualization pose existential questions.

Philosophical register.

4

その改革案は、保守派の強い抵抗にあって挫折した。

The reform proposal failed due to strong resistance from the conservatives.

にあって (meeting with/facing).

5

挫折の淵に立たされた時こそ、人間の真価が問われる。

It is exactly when one is pushed to the brink of a setback that their true worth is questioned.

淵に立たされる (to be stood at the edge of an abyss).

6

近代文学における挫折のテーマは、都市化と密接に関わっている。

The theme of frustration in modern literature is closely related to urbanization.

Literary analysis register.

7

彼は度重なる挫折の末に、ついに独自の境地に達した。

After repeated setbacks, he finally reached a unique level of mastery.

の末に (after/at the end of).

8

社会構造の歪みが、個人の努力を挫折へと追いやっている。

The distortions in the social structure are driving individual efforts toward failure.

へと追いやる (to drive/push toward).

1

啓蒙主義の理想が挫折した後に現れたのは、虚無主義であった。

What appeared after the ideals of the Enlightenment were frustrated was nihilism.

Historical/Philosophical narrative.

2

その壮大な叙事詩は、作者の死によって挫折を余儀なくされた未完の大作である。

That grand epic is an unfinished masterpiece that was forced into frustration (stoppage) by the author's death.

Formal literary description.

3

挫折の経験を単なる負の遺産とするのではなく、弁証法的に統合すべきだ。

Rather than treating the experience of setback as a mere negative legacy, it should be integrated dialectically.

Academic/Dialectical terminology.

4

グローバル経済の進展が、地域コミュニティの自立を挫折させている側面は否定できない。

One cannot deny the aspect that the progress of the global economy is frustrating the independence of local communities.

Causing a setback (causative-ish usage).

5

物語の後半で描かれる主人公の挫折は、読者に深いカタルシスを与える。

The protagonist's setback depicted in the latter half of the story provides the reader with a deep catharsis.

Literary criticism.

6

科学の万能性という幻想が挫折した現代において、我々は何を信じるべきか。

In the modern age where the illusion of scientific omnipotence has been frustrated, what should we believe?

Abstract cultural commentary.

7

制度的な挫折を個人の能力不足に帰着させる言説は、極めて危うい。

Discourse that attributes systemic setbacks to individual incompetence is extremely dangerous.

Sociological critique.

8

彼の芸術家としての生涯は、挫折と再起を繰り返す螺旋のような歩みであった。

His life as an artist was a journey like a spiral, repeating setbacks and resurrections.

Poetic biographical style.

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Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

挫折 Chinese
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