やけくそ

noun, na-adjective

desperate, reckless, giving up

1. desperate, reckless, abandoning restraint

A state of throwing caution to the wind out of frustration or despair, acting without caring about consequences.

やけくそになった。

I gave up and went reckless.

Out of sheer desperation, I ate the whole lot.

I went on a reckless shopping spree.

もうやけくそだ、どうにでもなれ。

I give up—whatever happens, happens.

やけ (desperation, also written 自棄(やけ)) plus くそ (an intensifier, literally "crap").

やけになる: the plain form, without the coarse くそ; also やけ食(ぐ)い (stress eating) and やけ酒(ざけ) (drinking to drown one's sorrows)
捨(す)て鉢(ばち): desperate, giving up; more literary

Related Words

general

Added 2026.2.1 17:22 · Revised 2026.10.2 15:55

09000/09376_yakekuso