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.
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.
He is hatching his failure. (incorrect)
He is brooding alone.
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.
There's no point brooding over your mistakes.
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.
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).
He is brooding in dark thoughts.
A more literary or formal expression for being gloomy and brooding. Often used in written descriptions.
He spends his days brooding gloomily.
The hen is leading her brood of chicks.
Means chick or young bird, but can be used collectively for a brood of chicks. Often used with counters.
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.
A duck with her brood is swimming in the pond.