낙담하다

§ What does 낙담하다 mean?

The Korean verb 낙담하다 (nak-dam-ha-da) literally means 'to be discouraged' or 'to be dejected'. It's a useful word for expressing feelings of disappointment, sadness, or a loss of hope when things don't go as planned or when facing difficulties. Think of it as feeling down or losing your spirit about something.

DEFINITION

To be discouraged or dejected; to lose heart or spirit.

You'll hear or use 낙담하다 in various situations where someone is feeling low due to setbacks. For example, if you studied hard for an exam but didn't do well, you might feel 낙담하다. Or if you've been working on a project for a long time and it falls apart, that feeling of being let down and losing motivation is 낙담하다.

It's important to note that 낙담하다 is generally used for a more significant feeling of discouragement rather than just a fleeting moment of sadness. It implies a deeper sense of disappointment that can affect one's drive and enthusiasm.

§ When do people use 낙담하다?

People use 낙담하다 when they want to convey a strong sense of being disheartened or when their hopes have been dashed. Here are some common scenarios:

• After a failure or setback: This is perhaps the most common situation. If someone fails an important test, doesn't get a job they really wanted, or experiences a business failure, they might feel 낙담하다.
• When facing difficulties or obstacles: If a task or goal seems too overwhelming or impossible to achieve, people can become 낙담하다. This could be due to a lack of progress, unexpected problems, or external pressures.
• When feeling unmotivated: Sometimes, a prolonged period of difficulty or a series of disappointments can lead to a general feeling of being 낙담하다, where one loses their usual drive and motivation.
• In supportive conversations: You might use 낙담하다 to describe someone else's feelings when trying to offer comfort or understanding. For instance, "He seems very discouraged these days."

English hint: I failed the exam, so I was discouraged.

English hint: Despite continuous failures, he did not get discouraged.

Understanding the nuance of 낙담하다 will help you express your feelings more accurately in Korean and better understand the emotional states of others. It’s a key word for describing when someone has truly lost heart in a situation, rather than just feeling a bit sad.

Hello! Today, we're breaking down a common Korean verb: 낙담하다 (nakdamhada). This word means "to be discouraged" or "to be dejected." It's super useful when you want to express feeling down or losing hope.

Korean Word

낙담하다 (nakdamhada)

Pronunciation

[낙땀하다]

Word Type

Verb

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

To be discouraged, to be dejected, to lose heart, to feel down.

§ How to use it in a sentence

Since 낙담하다 is a verb, you'll conjugate it just like other Korean verbs. The most common way you'll see it is in its plain form, past tense, or future tense, depending on what you want to say.

Here are some common ways to use 낙담하다:

• 낙담하다 (plain form): This is the basic dictionary form.
• 낙담해요 (present polite form): Used in everyday conversations.
• 낙담했어요 (past polite form): To express that someone was or became discouraged.
• 낙담하지 마세요 (negative imperative): "Don't be discouraged."

§ Common sentence structures

You'll often see 낙담하다 used with subjects (who is discouraged) and sometimes with reasons (why they are discouraged).

1. Subject + 이/가 + 낙담하다: This is the most straightforward way. The particle 이 or 가 marks the subject.

Translation hint

He failed the exam, so he was discouraged.

Translation hint

Even if you fail, never be discouraged.

2. Something 때문에/로 인해 + 낙담하다: To express the cause or reason for being discouraged.

Translation hint

Many people were discouraged because of that news.

Translation hint

She was not discouraged by continuous failures.

3. 낙담한 (discouraged/dejected - adjective form): When you want to describe someone or something as being in a state of discouragement, you can use the adjective form.

Translation hint

He sat with a discouraged expression.

§ Practice sentences

Try to fill in the blanks or create your own sentences using 낙담하다.

Translation hint

Even though I didn't get good results, don't be too discouraged.

Translation hint

The team lost the game, so all the players were discouraged.

Keep practicing and don't get 낙담하다! Learning a new language takes time and effort. You're doing great!

§ Mixing Up 낙담하다 with Other Words for Sadness

Many learners get confused between 낙담하다 and other Korean words that express negative feelings like sadness or disappointment. While 낙담하다 definitely involves feeling down, it specifically means to be discouraged or dejected. It implies a loss of hope or confidence, often due to a setback or failure.

DEFINITION

To be discouraged or dejected; to lose hope or confidence.

§ Incorrect Usage with Objects or Causes

You might be tempted to use 낙담하다 with a direct object, similar to how you might say "I am discouraged *by* something" in English. However, 낙담하다 is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. Instead, you'll often see the cause of the discouragement expressed using particles like -에 (e) or -으로 인해 (eullo inhae).

Here, 시험 결과에 (test results + particle for cause/reason) clearly indicates what caused the discouragement, rather than having the results as a direct object.

§ Using It When a Stronger Emotion is Needed

Sometimes, learners use 낙담하다 when a stronger or different negative emotion is more appropriate. For example, if someone is simply sad because their favorite show ended, 낙담하다 might be too strong. Consider if the feeling is truly about a loss of drive or hope, or just general unhappiness.

• If someone is just sad: 슬프다 (seulpeuda - to be sad)

• If someone is disappointed: 실망하다 (silmanghada - to be disappointed)

• If someone is frustrated: 좌절하다 (jwajeolhada - to be frustrated)

While there can be overlap, understanding the nuances will make your Korean sound more natural.

§ Overusing It

Like with any new vocabulary word, there's a tendency to overdo it when you first learn 낙담하다. Korean, like English, has many ways to express negative feelings. Try to vary your vocabulary. Don't always go for 낙담하다 when other verbs or expressions might fit better depending on the context.

§ Forgetting the Passive Form

While 낙담하다 is an intransitive verb, meaning it describes the state of *being* discouraged, you might hear or see forms that seem to imply being *made* discouraged. It's usually the context or surrounding phrases that give this meaning, rather than a direct passive transformation of 낙담하다 itself.

For example, you would say:

Not a direct passive construction like you might expect in English. The particle -에 already indicates the cause of his state of being discouraged. This is an important distinction for A2 learners to grasp. Keep practicing and pay attention to how native speakers use it in various situations!

§ Understanding 낙담하다 (To Be Discouraged)

§ Meaning and Usage of 낙담하다

DEFINITION

To be discouraged or dejected. It implies a loss of hope or confidence, often due to a setback or difficulty.

§ Similar Words and When to Use 낙담하다 vs. Alternatives

• 실망하다 (silmanghada): This means 'to be disappointed'. While similar, 실망하다 often implies that someone or something didn't meet your expectations. You can be disappointed in a person, an outcome, or an event. 낙담하다 is more about a general loss of spirit or hope.

  친구의 거짓말에 실망했어요.

  I was disappointed by my friend's lie.

• 좌절하다 (jwajeolhada): This means 'to be frustrated' or 'to be thwarted'. It often implies that your efforts or plans were blocked or failed, leading to a feeling of being stuck or unable to achieve something. While it can lead to discouragement, 좌절하다 focuses more on the obstacle itself.

  계획이 무산되어서 좌절했어요.

  I was frustrated because the plan fell through.

• 우울하다 (uulhada): This means 'to be gloomy' or 'to be depressed'. This is a stronger and more prolonged feeling than 낙담하다. While discouragement can be temporary, 우울하다 suggests a deeper and more lasting sadness or low mood.

  요즘 날씨 때문에 좀 우울해요.

  I feel a bit gloomy because of the weather these days.

§ Practice Using 낙담하다