Japanese word

断念

Pronunciation

Romajidannen

Meaning

  • nounabandonment

Example

彼女は夢を断念します。kano jo wa yume o dan nen shi ma su

She abandons her dream.

Illustration for 断念 (abandonment)

More examples

資金が足りず、研究計画を断念しました。shi kin ga ta ri zu ken kyū kei kaku o dan nen shi ma shi ta

We abandoned the research plan because we lacked sufficient funds.

Core concept

It presents giving up a desired plan or goal after judging that pursuing it is no longer possible or suitable.

Common phrases

  • 夢を断念するyume o dan nen su ru

    abandon a dream

  • 計画を断念するkei kaku o dan nen su ru

    abandon a plan

  • 断念を余儀なくされるdan nen o yo gi na ku sa re ru

    be forced to abandon

Similar words

諦めakirame: The acceptance that a desired plan or goal cannot be achieved, followed by giving it up.
見切りmikiri: A decision to stop pursuing something after judging that continued effort is unlikely to succeed.

Definition in Japanese

実現が難しいなどの事情を考え、望みや計画をあきらめて取りやめること。jitsu gen ga muzuka shi i na do no ji jō o kanga e nozo mi ya kei kaku o a ki ra me te to ri ya me ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 断 (dan, "cut off") + 念 (nen, "thought or intention") forms 断念 (dannen), or cutting off an intention.

Usage tips

  • In modern Japanese, 断念 (dannen) often appears in the set phrase 断念する (dannen suru), which presents giving up a plan as a considered decision rather than a sudden loss of hope.

Opposites

Related words

  • 断念するdannensuruabandonverb

Word lists with this word