Japanese by Example
Learning through examples in manga

Feeling discouraged after being turned down for a job with 気を落とす

ハクメイとミコチ » Volume 2 » Page 71

Hakumei hoped to help with a stone wall restoration, but the repair guild’s chairman refused her, saying she wasn’t needed for the project.

イワシ:
「なあ ハクメイ。 そんなに()()とすなよ」
“Hey, Hakumei. Don't be so down.”
ハクメイ:
()としてない」
“I'm not down.”

Vocabulary

なあ
casual interjection used to get someone's attention
そんなに
so much, that much
()()とす
to feel discouraged, to be down
  • Idiomatic expression literally meaning "to drop one's spirit"
  • Commonly used to describe feeling disappointed or dejected

Grammar

〜なよ
Casual negative imperative used among friends, meaning "don't do..." Has a gentle, persuasive tone.
〜てない
Colloquial contraction of 〜ていない, negative progressive form meaning "not doing" or "haven't done".