synonym Comparative
くじける
VS
へこむ
Differences Between "くじける" and "へこむ"
Option A
くじける
Meaning
to be discouraged; to lose heart; to be disheartened; to be crushed
Reading
くじける (kujikeru)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
何度失敗しても、彼は決して夢を諦めず、くじけなかった。
No matter how many times he failed, he never gave up on his dream and never lost heart.
Option B
へこむ
Meaning
to be dented; to feel down; to be discouraged
Reading
へこむ (hekomu)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
車が電柱にぶつかって、ドアがへこんでしまった。
The car hit a utility pole, and the door got dented.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(to be discouraged; to lose heart; to be disheartened; to be crushed)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- くじける: Refers to losing one's motivation or spirit due to difficulty, failure, or exhaustion. Often used in negative forms (くじけない) to express resilience. (意気消沈する)
- へこむ: Can refer to a physical dent or, more commonly, to feeling depressed or discouraged. 物理的にへこむことと、気持ちが落ち込むことの両方に使われます。
- くじける: Refers to losing one's motivation or spirit due to difficulty, failure, or exhaustion. Often used in negative forms (くじけない) to express resilience. (意気消沈する)
- へこむ: Can refer to a physical dent or, more commonly, to feeling depressed or discouraged. 物理的にへこむことと、気持ちが落ち込むことの両方に使われます。
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