Hello, I’m Kodak.
If you watch anime, read manga, or listen to everyday Japanese conversation, you may hear someone say:
そんなに落ち込まないで。
Sonna ni ochikomanaide.
Don’t be so down.
落ち込む (ochikomu) is commonly used when someone’s mood, confidence, motivation, performance, or level falls below its normal state.
Its most common emotional translations are “to feel down,” “to become discouraged,” “to be depressed,” and “to be dejected.” However, the word also has physical meanings such as falling into a hole, sinking inward, or dropping sharply.
① what 落ち込む (ochikomu) means
② how its physical and emotional meanings are connected
③ how to pronounce, write, and conjugate it
④ how to use it with people, sales, grades, holes, and sunken surfaces
⑤ how it differs from 悲しい, へこむ, がっかりする, 気が滅入る, 沈む, and ふさぎ込む
⑥ how it appears in casual conversation and anime-style dialogue
Today’s Japanese word is 落ち込む (ochikomu)!
It consists of:
落ちる (ochiru) = to fall / go down
+
込む (komu) = to go into / enter deeply / become fully involved in a state
Its core image is “falling down into a lower or deeper place.”
From this image, 落ち込む can describe a body falling into a hole, a surface sinking inward, sales dropping, or a person’s mood sinking.
What Does 落ち込む (Ochikomu) Mean?
落ち込む is an intransitive Japanese verb with four major meanings in modern Japanese.
A person or object falls into a hole, ditch, depression, or lower place.2. To become sunken or cave inward
A surface or body part becomes lower than the surrounding area.3. To decline or slump
Sales, grades, performance, the economy, or another measurable level drops noticeably.
4. To feel down or become discouraged
A person’s mood, confidence, or motivation sinks after a failure, criticism, loss, or disappointment.
Meaning 1: To Fall Into a Hole or Lower Place
子どもが穴に落ち込んだ。
Kodomo ga ana ni ochikonda.
The child fell into a hole.
車のタイヤが溝に落ち込んだ。
Kuruma no taiya ga mizo ni ochikonda.
The car’s tire fell into a ditch.
Meaning 2: To Become Sunken or Indented
寝不足で目が落ち込んでいる。
Nebusoku de me ga ochikonde iru.
His eyes are sunken from lack of sleep.
地面の一部が落ち込んでいる。
Jimen no ichibu ga ochikonde iru.
Part of the ground has sunk in.
Meaning 3: To Decline or Slump
今月は売り上げが大きく落ち込んだ。
Kongetsu wa uriage ga ōkiku ochikonda.
Sales dropped sharply this month.
最近、成績が落ち込んでいる。
Saikin, seiseki ga ochikonde iru.
My grades have been falling recently.
Meaning 4: To Feel Down
試験に落ちて落ち込んでいる。
Shiken ni ochite ochikonde iru.
I am feeling down because I failed the exam.
彼は失恋して、かなり落ち込んでいた。
Kare wa shitsuren shite, kanari ochikonde ita.
He was very depressed after the breakup.
The Core Image: “Falling Down and Deep Inside”
The key to remembering 落ち込む is to connect all its meanings with one movement.
Core image of 落ち込む
A person, object, level, or feeling is in its normal position
↓
It moves downward
↓
It goes into a lower, deeper, or worse state
↓
落ち込む = fall in / sink / slump / feel down
Word Formation: 落ちる + 込む
落ちる Means “To Fall or Go Down”
落ちる (ochiru) means that something moves from a higher position or level to a lower one.
点数が落ちる — a score falls
人気が落ちる — popularity declines
試験に落ちる — fail an exam
込む Adds the Image of Entering or Going Deeply into a State
込む (komu) can attach to the stem of another verb to form a compound verb. Depending on the word, it can express:
飛び込む — jump in
入り込む — enter deeply / get inside
流れ込む — flow intoContinuing or becoming deeply involved in a state
考え込む — think deeply / become lost in thought
眠り込む — fall into a deep sleep
ふさぎ込む — sink into gloom and shut oneself away
In 落ち込む, the most direct physical image is “to fall and go inside.” The word then extends naturally to going down into a lower level or an emotionally dark state.
The Origin and History of 落ち込む
落ち込む is a transparent Japanese compound made from 落ちる and 込む. Its physical downward image was later applied more broadly to levels, conditions, and feelings.
The historical examples listed in Nihon Kokugo Daijiten include:
A physical example describing a body sinking into many soft futons.1898
An example describing land dropping steeply and becoming lower.1950
An example referring to the British economy being at a low level.
1984
An example using the modern emotional sense: becoming deeply discouraged or dejected.
These dates are dictionary citations of early known examples, not proof that nobody used the expression earlier.
The semantic connection can be visualized like this:
fall into a low place
↓
become physically lower
↓
a numerical level declines
↓
a person’s emotional level sinks
Pronunciation and Writing of 落ち込む
Hiragana: おちこむ
Romaji: ochikomu
Mora: お・ち・こ・む (4 morae)
Word type: intransitive godan verb ending in む
Pronounce it in four even rhythmic units: o-chi-ko-mu. Avoid turning the word into the English-stressed rhythm “OH-chee-koh-moo.”
Why Is Only Part of the Word Written in Kanji?
The normal spelling is 落ち込む.
ち — okurigana showing the Japanese verb form
込 — kanji representing entering or putting inside
む — verb ending
The spelling 落込む may appear, but 落ち込む is clearer and standard in ordinary modern writing. The all-hiragana form おちこむ is also possible.
Katakana オチコム may be used for stylistic emphasis, robotic dialogue, advertising, or manga effects, but it is not the normal spelling.
How to Conjugate 落ち込む
落ち込む is a godan verb ending in む. Its te-form and past form use んで / んだ.
Polite: 落ち込みます — feel down / decline
Negative: 落ち込まない — do not feel down
Past: 落ち込んだ — felt down / declined
Te-form: 落ち込んで — feeling down; and then…
Progressive/state: 落ち込んでいる — be feeling down / be in a slump
Conditional: 落ち込めば — if someone or something becomes down
Causative: 落ち込ませる — make someone feel down
落ち込んだ: “Felt Down”
結果を見て落ち込んだ。
Kekka o mite ochikonda.
I felt down when I saw the result.
落ち込んでいる: “Is Feeling Down”
彼はミスをして落ち込んでいる。
Kare wa misu o shite ochikonde iru.
He is feeling down because he made a mistake.
落ち込まないで: “Don’t Feel Down”
一度の失敗で落ち込まないで。
Ichido no shippai de ochikomanaide.
Don’t let one failure get you down.
落ち込ませる: “Make Someone Feel Down”
そんなことを言って、彼女を落ち込ませないで。
Sonna koto o itte, kanojo o ochikomasenaide.
Don’t make her feel bad by saying something like that.
How to Use 落ち込む for Feelings
1. Cause + で + 落ち込む
The particle で can identify the event or reason that causes the emotional drop.
仕事のミスで落ち込んでいる。
Shigoto no misu de ochikonde iru.
I am feeling down because of a mistake at work.
試合の敗北でチーム全体が落ち込んだ。
Shiai no haiboku de chīmu zentai ga ochikonda.
The whole team became discouraged by the loss.
2. Verb in Te-form + 落ち込む
This pattern describes the event that leads to feeling down.
面接に落ちて落ち込んだ。
Mensetsu ni ochite ochikonda.
I felt down after failing the interview.
友達に批判されて落ち込んでいる。
Tomodachi ni hihan sarete ochikonde iru.
I am feeling down after being criticized by my friend.
3. ～のことで落ち込む
Use ～のことで when referring to a topic, incident, or problem someone is worrying about.
昨日のことでまだ落ち込んでいる。
Kinō no koto de mada ochikonde iru.
He is still feeling down about what happened yesterday.
成績のことで落ち込まなくてもいいよ。
Seiseki no koto de ochikomanakute mo ii yo.
You don’t have to feel so down about your grades.
4. すっかり / かなり / ひどく落ち込む
かなり落ち込む — feel quite down
すっかり落ち込む — become completely discouraged
ひどく落ち込む — feel deeply depressed
一時的に落ち込む — feel down temporarily
How to Use 落ち込む for Numbers and Performance
When the subject is sales, grades, demand, productivity, business, or another measurable value, 落ち込む means that the level drops noticeably and enters a poor state.
冬になると客足が落ち込む。
Fuyu ni naru to kyakuashi ga ochikomu.
Customer traffic falls in winter.
新商品の売り上げが予想以上に落ち込んだ。
Shinshōhin no uriage ga yosō ijō ni ochikonda.
Sales of the new product fell more than expected.
後半になるとチームのパフォーマンスが落ち込んだ。
Kōhan ni naru to chīmu no pafōmansu ga ochikonda.
The team’s performance declined in the second half.
落ち込む vs 悲しい: Feeling Down or Feeling Sad?
悲しい (kanashii) directly names the emotion of sadness. 落ち込む describes a downward change in mood, confidence, motivation, or energy.
⇒ I feel sorrow or emotional pain.
⇒ focus: the emotion itself落ち込む
⇒ My mood, confidence, or motivation has gone down.
⇒ focus: a decline from a normal emotional state
祖父が亡くなって悲しい。
Sofu ga nakunatte kanashii.
I am sad that my grandfather passed away.
試験に失敗して落ち込んでいる。
Shiken ni shippai shite ochikonde iru.
I am feeling down after failing the exam.
A person can be both 悲しい and 落ち込んでいる. For example, a breakup may cause sadness, while the resulting loss of confidence and motivation may make the person feel down.
For a detailed explanation of 悲しい, see What Does 悲しい (Kanashii) Mean in Japanese?
落ち込む vs へこむ: Standard or Casual?
へこむ (hekomu) literally means that a surface becomes dented. In casual speech, it can also mean that a person’s confidence or mood takes a hit.
⇒ standard and broadly usable
⇒ can describe emotion, sales, grades, the economy, holes, and sunken surfaces
⇒ often suitable for a continuing low moodへこむ
⇒ casual and conversational in the emotional sense
⇒ often emphasizes receiving a psychological “dent” from criticism, embarrassment, or failure
⇒ can sound lighter, but the actual strength depends on context
上司に注意されて落ち込んだ。
Jōshi ni chūi sarete ochikonda.
I felt down after my boss corrected me.
みんなの前で間違えて、ちょっとへこんだ。
Minna no mae de machigaete, chotto hekonda.
I was a little crushed after making a mistake in front of everyone.
落ち込む vs がっかりする: Feeling Down or Being Disappointed?
がっかりする (gakkari suru) describes disappointment when reality does not match an expectation or hope.
⇒ be disappointed by a result
⇒ focus: the expectation was not met落ち込む
⇒ become emotionally low after the result
⇒ focus: the negative effect on your mood, energy, or confidence
楽しみにしていたイベントが中止になって、がっかりした。
Tanoshimi ni shite ita ibento ga chūshi ni natte, gakkari shita.
I was disappointed that the event I had been looking forward to was canceled.
第一志望の大学に落ちて、しばらく落ち込んでいた。
Daiichishibō no daigaku ni ochite, shibaraku ochikonde ita.
I felt down for a while after failing to get into my first-choice university.
You may experience both in sequence:
⇒ がっかりする
↓
Your mood and motivation remain low afterward
⇒ 落ち込む
落ち込む vs 気が滅入る: A Setback or Oppressive Gloom?
気が滅入る (ki ga meiru) means that one’s spirits become gloomy, depressed, or weighed down.
⇒ often follows a clear failure, criticism, loss, or disappointing result
⇒ common in everyday conversation気が滅入る
⇒ an unpleasant environment, thought, weather, duty, or continuing problem weighs on the mind
⇒ somewhat heavier, more descriptive, or more literary
ミスをして落ち込んでいる。
Misu o shite ochikonde iru.
I am down because I made a mistake.
雨の日が続くと気が滅入る。
Ame no hi ga tsuzuku to ki ga meiru.
Endless rainy days get me down.
落ち込む vs 沈む: Everyday or Literary?
沈む (shizumu) literally means to sink below the surface. It can figuratively describe a mood, voice, expression, or atmosphere becoming dark and subdued.
⇒ common verb for a person becoming discouraged
⇒ often linked to a specific setback沈む
⇒ emphasizes emotional heaviness, quietness, or darkness
⇒ often used in narration and descriptive writing
結果が悪くて落ち込んだ。
Kekka ga warukute ochikonda.
I felt down because the result was bad.
知らせを聞いた彼の表情は暗く沈んだ。
Shirase o kiita kare no hyōjō wa kuraku shizunda.
His expression darkened when he heard the news.
落ち込む vs ふさぎ込む: Feeling Down or Withdrawing into Gloom?
塞ぎ込む (fusagikomu) means to lose one’s energy, become deeply gloomy, and emotionally close oneself off.
⇒ mood, confidence, or motivation goes down
⇒ can be mild, temporary, or seriousふさぎ込む
⇒ become deeply gloomy and shut oneself away
⇒ often suggests a stronger or more prolonged withdrawal
試合に負けて少し落ち込んだ。
Shiai ni makete sukoshi ochikonda.
I felt a little down after losing the game.
大切な人を失って、彼は家にふさぎ込んでしまった。
Taisetsu na hito o ushinatte, kare wa ie ni fusagikonde shimatta.
After losing someone important, he became deeply withdrawn at home.
Does 落ち込む Mean Clinical Depression?
English dictionaries sometimes translate 落ち込む as “to be depressed.” In ordinary English, this may simply mean “to feel very down.”
However, 落ち込んでいる does not by itself mean that someone has a medical diagnosis of depression.
⇒ feeling down, discouraged, dejected, or emotionally low
⇒ may be temporary and connected with a specific eventうつ病
⇒ depression as a medical condition抑うつ状態 / うつ状態
⇒ a depressive state or depressed mood in medical or psychological contexts
A temporary change in mood is part of ordinary life. If a severely depressed mood continues for weeks, removes interest or pleasure, and interferes with everyday life, Japanese public-health guidance recommends speaking with a mental-health professional rather than judging the condition from one word alone.
Natural Example Sentences with 落ち込む
小さなミスでそんなに落ち込まないで。
Chiisana misu de sonna ni ochikomanaide.
Don’t get so down over a small mistake.
彼は自分の点数を見て落ち込んでいた。
Kare wa jibun no tensū o mite ochikonde ita.
He was feeling down after seeing his score.
面接でうまく話せなくて、かなり落ち込んだ。
Mensetsu de umaku hanasenakute, kanari ochikonda.
I felt really discouraged because I could not speak well in the interview.
落ち込んでいる時に、友達が励ましてくれた。
Ochikonde iru toki ni, tomodachi ga hagemashite kureta.
My friend encouraged me when I was feeling down.
一度断られたくらいで落ち込む必要はない。
Ichido kotowarareta kurai de ochikomu hitsuyō wa nai.
There is no need to get discouraged just because you were rejected once.
彼女は批判されるとすぐ落ち込んでしまう。
Kanojo wa hihan sareru to sugu ochikonde shimau.
She gets discouraged easily when she is criticized.
最近、会社の業績が落ち込んでいる。
Saikin, kaisha no gyōseki ga ochikonde iru.
The company’s performance has been declining recently.
物価が上がり、消費が落ち込んだ。
Bukka ga agari, shōhi ga ochikonda.
Prices rose, and consumer spending fell.
やせて頬が落ち込んで見える。
Yasete hō ga ochikonde mieru.
His cheeks look sunken because he has lost weight.
暗くて足元が見えず、穴に落ち込んだ。
Karakute ashimoto ga miezu, ana ni ochikonda.
I could not see my footing in the dark and fell into a hole.
落ち込むことはあっても、諦めたくはない。
Ochikomu koto wa atte mo, akirametaku wa nai.
I may feel down sometimes, but I do not want to give up.
昨日は落ち込んでいたけど、今日は少し元気になった。
Kinō wa ochikonde ita kedo, kyō wa sukoshi genki ni natta.
I was down yesterday, but I feel a little better today.
Useful Phrases and Collocations
ひどく落ち込む — become deeply discouraged
すっかり落ち込む — become completely dejected
落ち込んだ気分 — a depressed / low mood
落ち込んだ表情 — a dejected expression
落ち込んだ声 — a discouraged voice
落ち込む必要はない — there is no need to feel down
落ち込まないで — don’t feel down
落ち込んでも仕方がない — there is no point in staying discouraged
気分が落ち込む — one’s mood sinks
売り上げが落ち込む — sales decline
成績が落ち込む — grades fall
景気が落ち込む — the economy slumps
How 落ち込む Is Used in Anime and Manga
In anime and manga, 落ち込む often appears after a character fails, is rejected, loses a match, receives criticism, or believes they have disappointed someone.
Sonna ni ochikomu na yo.
Don’t be so down.まだ昨日のことで落ち込んでるの？
Mada kinō no koto de ochikonderu no?
Are you still down about what happened yesterday?落ち込んでる場合じゃない！
Ochikonderu baai janai!
This is no time to be discouraged!
失敗するたびに落ち込んでたら、前に進めないぞ。
Shippai suru tabi ni ochikondetara, mae ni susumenai zo.
If you get discouraged every time you fail, you’ll never move forward.
別に落ち込んでない。
Betsu ni ochikondenai.
I’m not upset or anything.
一人にして。今ちょっと落ち込んでる。
Hitori ni shite. Ima chotto ochikonderu.
Leave me alone. I’m feeling a little down right now.
In casual speech, Japanese frequently shortens ～ている to ～てる:
落ち込んでいる → 落ち込んでる
何をしている？ → 何してる？
A Natural Dialogue Using 落ち込む
Genki nai ne. Dōshita no?
You don’t seem yourself. What happened?B: 今日の面接、全然うまくいかなかったんだ。
Kyō no mensetsu, zenzen umaku ikanakatta n da.
Today’s interview did not go well at all.A: それで落ち込んでるの？
Sore de ochikonderu no?
Is that why you’re feeling down?
B: うん。自信がなくなってきた。
Un. Jishin ga nakunatte kita.
Yeah. I’m starting to lose confidence.
A: 一回うまくいかなかっただけだよ。そんなに落ち込まないで。
Ikkai umaku ikanakatta dake da yo. Sonna ni ochikomanaide.
It was only one interview that did not go well. Don’t be so discouraged.
Common Mistakes with 落ち込む
Mistake 1: Using an Object with を
落ち込む is normally intransitive. The person or thing that falls, declines, or becomes discouraged is marked with が or presented as the topic with は.
× 私は売り上げを落ち込んだ。
○ 売り上げが落ち込んだ。
Sales declined.
○ 売り上げを落とした。
Someone or something caused sales to fall.
Mistake 2: Confusing 落ちる and 落ち込む
I failed the exam.試験に落ちて落ち込んだ。
I failed the exam and felt down.落ちる describes the failure.
落ち込む describes the emotional result.
Mistake 3: Translating Every 落ち込む as “Depressed”
For ordinary setbacks, feel down, be discouraged, be dejected, or be upset may be more accurate and less medically loaded.
Mistake 4: Using 落ち込む for Simple Sadness
Use 悲しい when you simply want to name sorrow. Use 落ち込む when someone’s overall mood, confidence, energy, or motivation has dropped.
Mistake 5: Assuming the Emotional Meaning Is the Only Meaning
The same verb can describe holes, sunken eyes, economic slumps, falling sales, and emotional discouragement. Always check the subject and context.
FAQ About 落ち込む (Ochikomu)
What does ochikomu mean in Japanese?
落ち込む (ochikomu) can mean to fall into a hole, become sunken, decline or slump, or feel emotionally down and discouraged.
What is the most common emotional meaning of ochikomu?
The most common emotional meaning is “to feel down,” “to become discouraged,” or “to be dejected,” often after a failure, rejection, criticism, or disappointment.
How do you write ochikomu in Japanese?
The standard spelling is 落ち込む. It can also be written in hiragana as おちこむ.
What are the word parts in ochikomu?
It combines 落ちる, meaning “to fall,” with 込む, which adds the image of entering inside or becoming deeply involved in a state.
Is ochikomu a godan verb?
Yes. It is a godan verb ending in む. Its past form is 落ち込んだ, and its te-form is 落ち込んで.
What does ochikonde iru mean?
落ち込んでいる means that someone is feeling down or that a value such as sales or performance is currently in a slump.
How do you say “Don’t be discouraged” in Japanese?
Say 落ち込まないで (ochikomanaide). A common supportive phrase is そんなに落ち込まないで, meaning “Don’t be so down.”
What is the difference between ochikomu and kanashii?
悲しい directly expresses sadness or sorrow. 落ち込む describes a downward change in mood, confidence, energy, or motivation.
What is the difference between ochikomu and hekomu?
Both can mean to feel discouraged. 落ち込む is the standard and broader expression, while emotional へこむ is more casual and often suggests that confidence has taken a dent.
What is the difference between ochikomu and gakkari suru?
がっかりする focuses on disappointment because an expectation was not met. 落ち込む focuses on the continuing drop in mood or confidence afterward.
Does ochikomu mean depression?
It can be translated as “feel depressed” in the everyday sense of feeling down, but it does not by itself mean the medical condition うつ病.
Can ochikomu describe sales or the economy?
Yes. Expressions such as 売り上げが落ち込む and 景気が落ち込む mean that sales or the economy declines noticeably.
Can ochikomu describe a physical hole?
Yes. 穴に落ち込む means to fall into a hole, and 地面が落ち込む means that the ground sinks or caves in.
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of 落ち込む
落ち込む can mean “fall into,” “sink inward,” “decline,” “slump,” or “feel down.”● Core image
Something falls below its normal position or condition and enters a lower or deeper state.● Word formation
落ちる = fall / go down
＋
込む = enter inside / go deeply into a state
● Writing and pronunciation
Kanji: 落ち込む
Hiragana: おちこむ
Romaji: ochikomu
Mora: お・ち・こ・む
● Grammar
落ち込む is an intransitive godan verb.
落ち込んだ = felt down / declined
落ち込んでいる = is feeling down / is in a slump
落ち込まないで = don’t feel down
● Emotional nuance
悲しい = feel sorrow
落ち込む = mood, energy, motivation, or confidence falls
へこむ = casual “take a psychological dent”
がっかりする = be disappointed by a result
気が滅入る = feel weighed down by gloom
ふさぎ込む = become deeply gloomy and withdrawn
● Translation warning
“Feel down” or “be discouraged” is often safer than “be depressed.” 落ち込んでいる does not by itself indicate the medical condition うつ病.
Imagine a person standing on normal, level ground.
A failure opens a hole beneath their confidence
↓
Their mood falls into that lower place
↓
落ち込む = to feel down
The same downward image also explains falling into a hole, sunken eyes, declining sales, and poor performance!
References
- Kotobank: 落ち込む — modern definitions and historical examples for physical, numerical, and emotional meanings.
- Kotobank: 込む — meanings of 込む in compound verbs, including entering, continuing, and becoming fully involved in a state.
- Kanjipedia: 落 — meanings and formation of the kanji 落.
- Kanjipedia: 込 — meanings and formation of the Japanese-created kanji 込.
- Kotobank: 悲しい.
- Kotobank: 滅入る.
- Kotobank: 沈む.
- Kotobank: 塞ぎ込む.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Mood disorders — distinction between ordinary mood changes and persistent symptoms that may require professional support.