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 down。这个短语在中文里最直接的对应是“让某人失望”，但它承载的语义重量比简单的 disappoint 要深厚得多。disappointed（失望的状态），你是实实在在地 let him down（辜负了他的信任）。let down 强调的是一种责任的缺失和期望的落空。它描述的是一种从高处（期待）跌落到低处（失望）的动态过程。对于母语为中文的同学来说，理解这个词的关键在于把握那种“辜负”和“没靠住”的感觉。无论是在职场合作、家庭关系，还是在面对像微信（WeChat）转账、外卖配送这种日常生活场景时，let down 都是一个高频且极具表达力的地道表达。let down，我们首先要拆解它的构造。它由动词 let（让、允许）和副词小品词 down（向下）组成。在英语的逻辑里，当你对某人有期待时，这种期待在心理上是处于“高位”的；而当对方未能履行承诺时，这种期待就像失去了支撑一样“掉落”了下来。这就是 let down 的意象来源。- 中文：你（主语） + 让（动词） + 我（宾语） + 失望（形容词/动词）。
- 英语：
You(主语) +let(动词) +me(宾语) +down(副词)。
let down 是一个可拆分短语动词（Separable Phrasal Verb）。这意味着宾语的位置可以灵活变动，但这种灵活性是有严格规则的，尤其是当宾语是代词（如 me, him, them）时。这一点我们会在“Formation Pattern”部分详细说明。let down 暗含了一种“契约感”。它通常用于你对某人有某种程度的依赖或信任的场景。如果是一个路人没做某事，你通常只会感到 disappointed，而不会说他 let you down，因为你们之间没有预设的期望连接。let down 的用法主要遵循以下两种句式结构，但请务必注意代词的特殊性。let 和 down 中间，也可以放在 down 后面。这两种方式在语法上都是正确的。- 结构 A：
let + 名词 + down(最常用，听起来最自然) - 例子：
Don't let your parents down.(别让你父母失望。) - 结构 B：
let down + 名词 - 例子：
Don't let down your parents.(别让你父母失望。)
me, you, him, her, it, us, them，你必须把它们放在 let 和 down 的中间。绝对不能放在后面。- 正确：
let me down/let them down/let us down - 错误：
let down me/let down them
let the team down 或 let down the team | 无 (两者皆可) |let them down | let down them (绝对错误) |let 的形态变化：let 是一个不规则动词，它的过去式和过去分词保持不变，依然是 let。这在时态运用中需要特别留意。- 一般现在时：
He always lets me down.(他总是让我失望。注意第三人称单数加 -s) - 现在进行时：
I feel like I'm letting the whole family down.(我觉得我正让全家人失望。) - 一般过去时：
Yesterday, the bus service let me down.(昨天，公交服务让我失望了。注意：这里let是过去式，形式不变) - 现在完成时：
You have let me down many times.(你已经让我失望很多次了。)
let down 常出现的几个典型场景：- 场景：你的同事答应帮你完成 PPT，结果在开会前一小时告诉你他没做。
- 表达：
I was counting on him to finish the presentation, but he really let me down. - 场景：你在淘宝（Taobao）上买了一件急用的礼服，卖家承诺次日达却没发货。
- 表达：
The seller promised next-day delivery but let me down.
- 场景：你支持的足球队在关键比赛中表现极差。
- 表达：
The national team let down their fans in the final match. - 场景：你在公司的年度考核中表现不佳。
- 表达：
I feel like I let the department down with my poor sales performance.
- 场景：你准备了很久的雅思考试，结果因为粗心没考好。
- 表达：
I didn't study hard enough; I feel like I've let myself down.
let you down。- 场景：你要参加视频面试，结果家里的 Wi-Fi 突然断了。
- 表达：
My internet connection let me down right in the middle of the interview. - 场景：你急着去地铁站，结果共享单车的锁坏了。
- 表达：
The bike-sharing app let me down when I was in a rush.
let down 时，由于受母语思维（L1 Interference）的影响，常犯以下错误：Sandwich Mistake)I won't let down you.let down 看作一个整体，然后把宾语放在后面。但英语规定，代词必须像三明治的肉一样夹在中间。I won't let you down.The rain let me down today. (今天这场雨让我失望了。)let down 显得过于拟人化且不自然。对于天气、自然现象，使用 disappoint 更合适。I was disappointed by the rain today.let down 与 stand upHe let me down.let down 强调的是心情上的辜负。如果你想具体表达“放鸽子”这个动作，地道的词是 stand up (e.g., He stood me up). let down 的范围更广，不仅限于没露面，也包括露面了但事情没办好。Disappoint (v.) | 通用的“使失望”，描述一种结果。 | 中等 | The movie disappointed me. |Let down (phr v.) | 侧重于辜负了信任或没靠住。 | 较强 | You promised to help; don't let me down. |Fail (v.) | 侧重于能力不足或任务未完成，较正式。 | 正式/强 | The system failed to meet the requirements. |Stand up (phr v.) | 特指约会或见面时被“放鸽子”。 | 针对性强 | She stood me up at the cinema. |Disappoint 更多是描述你的主观感受。比如你买了一杯奶茶，觉得不好喝，你会说 The milk tea was disappointing.。但你不会说 The milk tea let me down.（除非这杯奶茶是你排了三小时队、寄予厚望的“神仙奶茶”）。let down 往往涉及一种人际间的契约或长期的可靠性。let down 可以作为名词使用吗？a let-down (或 letdown)。它表示“令人失望的人或事”。例如：The party was a bit of a let-down. (那场派对有点让人失望。)let down 有没有字面上的意思？Please let down the blinds. (请把百叶窗放下来。) 或者 She let down her hair. (她放下头发。) 在阅读时要根据上下文判断是“辜负”还是“放下”。let down 会不会太随意？We feel let down by the delay in production. (我们对生产延误感到失望/被辜负。)letted down？let 是不规则动词，它的三态（原形、过去式、过去分词）全是 let。这是很多同学在写作文或口语考试时容易丢分的地方，一定要记住：没有 letted 这个词！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
| 宾语类型 | 结构 1 (常用) | 结构 2 (较少用/代词不可用) | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
名词 (人)
|
let + 名词 + down
|
let down + 名词
|
Don't `let your friends down` / Don't `let down your friends`
|
|
名词 (物)
|
let + 名词 + down
|
let down + 名词
|
The system `let the users down` / The system `let down the users`
|
|
代词 (人)
|
let + 代词 + down
|
不可用 (错误)
|
He `let me down` (NOT `let down me`)
|
|
代词 (物)
|
let + 代词 + down
|
不可用 (错误)
|
The car `let us down` (NOT `let down us`)
|
|
自身 (反身代词)
|
let oneself down
|
不可用
|
I `let myself down`
|
|
被动语态
|
N/A
|
be let down by + 名词/代词
|
I `was let down by` the service
|
正式程度
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 的失望关系网
谁/什么会让别人失望？
- 朋友 Your friends
- 家人 Your family
- 团队 Your team/colleagues
- 自己 Yourself
- 客户 Clients/Customers
- 科技 Gadgets/Apps
为什么会让人失望？
- 违背承诺 Broken Promise
- 表现不佳 Poor Performance
- 不可靠 Unreliability
- 错过截止日期 Missed Deadline
产生的情绪
- 失望 Disappointment
- 沮丧 Frustration
- 背叛感 Betrayal
- 遗憾 Regret
Let Down 与相似词汇对比
如何正确使用 Let Down
是否有人/某物没能达到预期或承诺？
宾语是否为代词 (me, you, him, her, it, us, them)？
Let Down 的现代应用场景
社交生活
- • 给朋友发短信（没能去聚会）
- • Instagram 配文（网红失信）
- • 咖啡馆闲聊（朋友的建议不靠谱）
科技与工作
- • 外卖 App（送错餐）
- • Zoom 会议（网络掉链子）
- • 游戏语音（队友表现太差）
- • 大学小组作业（组员划水）
自我与信任
- • 个人目标（未达标）
- • 承诺（没能守信）
按水平分级的例句
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.
容易混淆
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.
常见错误
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.
句型
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.
代词必须放中间
He let me down.
不只是普通的“失望”
The movie was disappointing, but the actor let me down.
用于信任与可靠性
My car let me down.
微妙的社交影响
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.
发音
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.
记住它
记忆技巧
When you let someone down, their mood goes down like an elevator.
视觉联想
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
挑战
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.
文化笔记
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.
对话开场白
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?
日记主题
常见错误
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
练习题
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.
选择正确的句子：
翻译成英语：'我永远不会让你失望。'
将这些单词连成句子：
将开头与正确的结尾匹配：
The company couldn't deliver the product on time and thus ___ its customers.
My favourite team let down their fans by losing the final.
哪个句子是正确的？
翻译成英语：'她不想让她的父母失望。'
将这些单词连成句子：
将情境与正确的短语匹配：
Score: /12
常见问题 (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
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