실망시키다

The word 실망시키다 is a causative verb formed by adding the suffix '-시키다' to the noun '실망' (disappointment). In Korean, -시키다 acts as a bridge to turn a state of feeling into an action performed upon others.

When you use this word, you are essentially saying that your actions or lack thereof have negatively impacted someone else's emotional state. It is a powerful word because it carries the weight of broken trust or failed expectations.

Think of it as the opposite of 'making someone proud.' Whether it is failing a test your parents were excited about or missing a deadline at work, this verb captures that heavy feeling of letting another person down.

The root 실망 (失望) comes from Sino-Korean characters. 실 (失) means 'to lose,' and 망 (望) means 'hope' or 'expectation.' Literally, it means 'to lose hope.'

Historically, the structure of adding -시키다 to nouns to create causative verbs became a standard way in the Korean language to describe external influences on feelings. This evolution allowed speakers to distinguish between 'feeling disappointed' (실망하다) and 'causing disappointment' (실망시키다).

Over the centuries, this construction has become essential for social etiquette in Korea, where maintaining harmony and meeting the expectations of elders or superiors is culturally significant. It reflects a linguistic shift toward expressing accountability in social interactions.

You will mostly use 실망시키다 when you want to apologize or express regret about a situation. It is common to say 'I didn't mean to disappoint you,' which translates to 실망시킬 의도는 없었어요.

Common collocations include 기대를 저버리고 실망시키다 (to abandon expectations and disappoint) or 모두를 실망시키다 (to disappoint everyone). It is used across all registers, but be careful—it is a heavy word.

In a professional setting, it sounds quite serious. If you are talking to a friend, it sounds like a genuine, heartfelt admission of guilt. Use it sparingly to maintain its impact.

1. 기대를 저버리다: To fail to meet expectations. Often paired with 실망시키다 for emphasis.

2. 실망의 쓴맛을 보다: To taste the bitterness of disappointment.

3. 실망이 크다: To be very disappointed (the state resulting from being 실망시키다).

4. 실망을 안겨주다: To give someone disappointment (a slightly more formal way to say it).

5. 실망하지 않게 하다: To make sure not to disappoint (a promise of future performance).

Grammatically, this is a causative verb. It requires an object (the person being disappointed), usually marked with the particle -을/를.

Pronunciation follows standard Korean rules: [실망씨키다]. The 'ㅅ' sound in '시키다' becomes a tensed 'ㅆ' due to the preceding consonant. Focus on the clear 'sil-mang' start, followed by the sharp 'si-ki-da' ending.

It does not have plural forms as it is a verb. However, it conjugates heavily based on tense and politeness levels (e.g., 실망시켰어요, 실망시킬 거예요, 실망시키지 마세요).