Expressing Disappointment in Japanese: How to Say ‘I’m Disappointed, It Didn’t Live Up to My Expectations’

Disappointment is a universal feeling, and expressing it in different languages can be both therapeutic and necessary in various situations. In Japanese, just like in any language, conveying disappointment is an important aspect of effective communication. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to express disappointment in Japanese using the phrase: “I’m disappointed, it didn’t live up to my expectations.”

Saying ‘I’m Disappointed, It Didn’t Live Up to My Expectations’ in Japanese

To express disappointment in Japanese, you can use the following phrase:

Japanese: 期待外れだった (Kitai hazure datta)

Pronunciation: Kee-tah-ee hah-zoo-reh daht-tah

Breaking it down:

  • 期待 (Kitai): This word means “expectations.”
  • 外れ (Hazure): This term means “miss” or “fall short of.”
  • だった (Datta): This is the past tense of the copula “だ (da),” which is used to indicate that something “was.”

So, when you say, “期待外れだった,” you’re expressing disappointment by essentially stating, “I’m disappointed, it didn’t live up to my expectations.” This phrase can be useful in various situations, from discussing a disappointing movie or meal to expressing your feelings about an unmet personal or professional expectation.

Remember that context and tone are essential when expressing disappointment. In Japanese culture, it’s often preferred to express negative emotions in a subtle and reserved manner, focusing on constructive feedback when necessary.

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Krisada Hemsoe

I'm Krisada, the creator of JLPT TUTOR. I created this site to share the path of my Japanese learning That I achieved my JLPT N1. You may struggle with Kanji , Grammar , Listening, reading and fail again and again. I know how you feel when you see "Not Pass" I want to share what I learnt in this past through this website. Hope you enjoy

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