Translation guide
The English word 'brood' can be a verb meaning to think deeply and unhappily, or a noun meaning a family of young animals. This guide focuses on the verb sense, which is the most common challenge for learners.
Express that someone is dwelling on negative thoughts, worrying, or ruminating in a gloomy way.
This is the closest natural equivalent. It means to think about something so intensely that you become distressed or obsessed. Often used for serious worries.
Refer to a group of baby birds or other animals hatched or born at the same time.
Specifically refers to a brood or litter of animals. 一腹 means one birth or hatching.
めんどりが一腹のひよこを連れている。
The hen is leading her brood of chicks.
Direct translations like 孵化する (to hatch) or 熟考する (to ponder) do not capture the negative, dwelling sense of 'brood'. Use the options above instead.
彼は失敗を孵化している。
He is hatching his failure. (incorrect)
彼は一人で思い詰めている。
He is brooding alone.
あまり思い詰めないでください。
Don't brood over it too much.
A very common onomatopoeic verb for worrying or brooding over trivial things. Slightly lighter than 思い詰める, often used in advice.
失敗をくよくよしても仕方がない。
There's no point brooding over your mistakes.
彼女は小さなことをくよくよしがちだ。
She tends to brood over little things.
Means to be lost in thought, often with a negative nuance. It can imply brooding, but not always unhappy; context matters.
彼は何か考え込んでいるようだ。
He seems to be brooding about something.
Literally 'to sink', but metaphorically means to feel depressed or brood. Often used as 気分が沈む (to feel down).
彼は暗い考えに沈んでいる。
He is brooding in dark thoughts.
A more literary or formal expression for being gloomy and brooding. Often used in written descriptions.
彼は鬱々として日々を過ごしている。
He spends his days brooding gloomily.
Means chick or young bird, but can be used collectively for a brood of chicks. Often used with counters.
ツバメの雛が巣から顔を出している。
The swallow's brood is peeking out of the nest.
Means 'with children' or 'accompanied by offspring'. Can describe a parent animal with its brood.
子連れのアヒルが池を泳いでいる。
A duck with her brood is swimming in the pond.