Translation guide
Expressing a state of feeling down, sad, or lacking energy. Japanese offers many nuanced expressions depending on the cause, intensity, and context.
To say you feel sad, gloomy, or not your usual self, without specifying a strong reason.
A common, natural way to say you're feeling down or depressed. Suitable for everyday conversation.
I've been feeling down lately.
Describes a heavy, gloomy, melancholic feeling. Often used for a lingering low mood.
Rainy days make me feel gloomy.
Literally 'have no energy'. Used when someone looks or feels listless, down, or not their usual cheerful self.
He seems down today, doesn't he?
Literally 'to sink'. Figuratively means to feel depressed or in low spirits. Often used in the phrase 気分が沈む.
I felt down after hearing the bad news.
To express that you've lost motivation or hope because of a setback or failure.
To be disappointed or disheartened. Very common for everyday disappointments.
I was disheartened when I failed the exam.
To feel depressed or down, often after a specific negative event. Stronger than がっかり.
A more formal or literary expression meaning to be dispirited or dejected.
The team was dispirited by the defeat.
To describe a state of low physical or mental energy, often with a sense of lethargy.
Literally 'motivation doesn't come out'. The most natural way to say you can't get motivated or feel listless.
I can't get motivated to do anything today.
Describes a feeling of sluggishness or lethargy, often physical. Common in casual speech.
Literally 'the spirit is heavy'. Expresses a feeling of being weighed down, reluctant to do something, or emotionally drained.
To express sadness from being alone or missing someone.
落ち込む is the most common for feeling down after a specific event. 憂鬱 implies a deeper, more lingering gloom, often without a clear cause. 沈む is more literary and often used in set phrases like 気分が沈む.
I'm depressed because of a broken heart.
Every day feels gloomy.
English 'low spirits' is not directly translated. Phrases like 低い精神 are unnatural. Use the expressions above depending on the nuance.
彼女に振られて落ち込んでいる。
I'm feeling down after being dumped by my girlfriend.
I feel lethargic from the summer heat.
明日の会議を考えると気が重い。
Thinking about tomorrow's meeting makes me feel heavy-hearted.
Feeling helpless, forlorn, or anxious from lack of support or company. Stronger than 寂しい.
Going abroad alone makes me feel forlorn.