What Is “Gaku”? The Japanese Sound of Sudden Disappointment or Collapse

01/04/2026

Ever felt all your energy leave you in an instant — like your emotions or strength just dropped off a cliff?
That sinking moment when your shoulders slump, or your knees buckle?

That’s when “Gaku” (がくっ) enters the scene.

Before we dive in, hear what it sounds like!

Table of Contents

What is “Gaku” (がくっ)?

“Gaku” is a Japanese sound-symbolic word that expresses a sudden drop — physically or emotionally.
It’s often used when:

Your body sags from exhaustion
Your knees give out
You’re shocked or disappointed
You mentally or emotionally shut down

It captures that moment when something just… falls.

Pronunciation

gah-koo (abrupt and heavy — like a quick collapse)

What Does “Gaku” Look Like?

It looks like shoulders dropping after bad news.
Like someone collapsing into a chair.
Like a robot shutting off mid-sentence.

How Do You Say It?

Say it with a heavy drop, like a sigh falling out of your mouth:

Gaku…

It sounds like giving up, or sinking inward:

Gaku…

Examples in Daily Life

Example 1: Failing a test

He checked his score…
and saw a big red “×” on the paper —
Gaku…

Example 2: Losing strength

After hiking all day,
his legs gave out at the top of the hill —

Gaku…

Watch & Feel the “Gaku” World!

Feel the “Gaku” — Car Crash

Cultural Note

In English, you might say:

“He slumped.”
“She collapsed.”
“His energy drained.”

But in Japanese, “Gaku” distills it all into a single emotional thud.
It’s commonly used in manga, anime, and conversation — sometimes humorously, sometimes seriously.

You’ll even see it in exaggerated reaction scenes, when someone gets shocking news and their body droops instantly.