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.
医者に抗うつ薬を処方してもらった。
I got a prescription for antidepressants from my doctor.
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.
Commonly used in everyday conversation and media. Slightly less formal than 抗うつ薬 but widely understood.
抗うつ剤を飲み始めてから気分が楽になった。
Since I started taking antidepressants, I've been feeling better.
Variant using the older kanji 鬱. Seen in some medical texts but less common today.
抗鬱薬は現在あまり使われない表記です。
The notation 抗鬱薬 is rarely used nowadays.
Referring to classes of antidepressants like SSRIs or tricyclics.
Abbreviation for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, commonly used in Japanese medical contexts as-is.
SSRIは副作用が比較的少ないと言われている。
SSRIs are said to have relatively few side effects.
Tricyclic antidepressants. Older class of drugs, still used in some cases.
三環系抗うつ薬は効果が強いが副作用も多い。
Tricyclic antidepressants are potent but have many side effects.
Casually mentioning that someone is on antidepressants.
Natural way to say 'I'm taking antidepressants' in conversation.
彼は抗うつ剤を飲んでいる。
He is on antidepressants.
More formal way to say 'taking antidepressants', often used in medical settings.
現在、抗うつ薬を服用しています。
I am currently taking antidepressants.
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.
彼女は2年間抗うつ剤を飲んでいる。
She has been on antidepressants for two years.
抗うつ薬は効果が出るまでに数週間かかることがある。
Antidepressants can take several weeks to start working.