だめだ
だめだ
expression
it's no good, I can't
1.
it's no good, it won't work
Expresses that something is hopeless, broken, or not functioning. Used when a plan, attempt, or object fails.
だめだ、動かない。
No good — it won't move.
いろいろ試したけど、だめだった。
I tried various things, but none of them worked.
この方法じゃだめだ。別のやり方を考えよう。
This method isn't going to work. Let's think of another way.
2.
I can't, I'm done for
Expresses personal inability or exhaustion. The speaker is at their limit, physically or mentally.
もうだめだ、眠い。
I can't take it anymore — I'm so sleepy.
笑いが止まらない。だめだ、もう我慢できない。
I can't stop laughing. I'm done — I can't hold it in.
もうだめだと思ったけど、なんとか最後まで走れた。
I thought I was done for, but somehow I managed to run to the end.
だめだ is the casual predicate form of だめ (no good, useless). While だめ as a standalone na-adjective has a separate entry, だめだ functions as a complete exclamatory expression in spoken Japanese, often delivered as an emotional reaction.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- だめだ、〜: "No good —" followed by the problem
- もうだめだ: "I'm done for / it's hopeless" — signals reaching a limit
- だめだった: past form, reporting a failed attempt
- だめだ、だめだ: repeated for emphasis, expressing growing frustration
TONE:
- Flat delivery: matter-of-fact assessment of failure
- Emphatic delivery: dramatic despair or exasperation
- Muttered to self: resignation
RELATED EXPRESSIONS:
- むりだ: emphasizes impossibility ("it can't be done")
- だめだ: emphasizes failure or unsuitability ("it's no good")
- あかん: Kansai dialect equivalent of だめだ
Related Words
Related:
むりだ (impossible)