Translation guide
The English word 'antidepressant' refers to a type of medication used to treat depression. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this is with the loanword 抗うつ薬 (こううつやく) or the more colloquial 抗うつ剤 (こううつざい). This guide covers how to talk about antidepressants in medical, everyday, and informal contexts.
Referring to antidepressant drugs in a medical or general context.
Standard medical term for antidepressant medication. Used by doctors and in formal contexts.
I got a prescription for antidepressants from my doctor.
Commonly used in everyday conversation and media. Slightly less formal than 抗うつ薬 but widely understood.
Variant using the older kanji 鬱. Seen in some medical texts but less common today.
Referring to classes of antidepressants like SSRIs or tricyclics.
Abbreviation for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, commonly used in Japanese medical contexts as-is.
SSRIs are said to have relatively few side effects.
Tricyclic antidepressants. Older class of drugs, still used in some cases.
Casually mentioning that someone is on antidepressants.
Natural way to say 'I'm taking antidepressants' in conversation.
He is on antidepressants.
More formal way to say 'taking antidepressants', often used in medical settings.
While アンチデプレッサント exists as a direct loanword, it is rarely used in natural Japanese. Stick to 抗うつ薬 or 抗うつ剤.
Both mean 'antidepressant', but 抗うつ薬 is more formal/medical, while 抗うつ剤 is slightly more colloquial. In most everyday situations, either is fine.
She has been on antidepressants for two years.
Antidepressants can take several weeks to start working.
抗うつ薬の副作用について説明します。
I will explain the side effects of antidepressants.
Since I started taking antidepressants, I've been feeling better.
The notation 抗鬱薬 is rarely used nowadays.
Tricyclic antidepressants are potent but have many side effects.
I am currently taking antidepressants.