Meaning and Usage
"凹む" (へこむ) primarily means "to be dented" or "to be indented," often used to describe physical dents on objects like cars or balls. It also has a figurative meaning of feeling down, depressed, or discouraged.
Common Contexts
Physically, you might hear it when talking about damage to items: "車が凹んだ" (the car got dented). Emotionally, it describes a person's mood after a setback: "試験に失敗して凹んだ" (I felt down after failing the exam).
Collocations and Patterns
- 車が凹む: the car gets dented
- 凹んだ気持ち: a depressed or discouraged feeling
- 少し凹む: to feel a little down
Register and Nuance
"凹む" is casual and common in spoken Japanese. When used emotionally, it conveys a mild to moderate feeling of discouragement rather than deep depression.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "凹む" with "落ち込む" (to feel down). While similar, "凹む" often implies a temporary or mild feeling, and is also used for physical dents, unlike "落ち込む."