Translation guide
This guide covers how to express that something is depressing in Japanese, from describing sad situations to expressing personal feelings of gloom.
To say that something (e.g., news, weather, a movie) makes you feel sad, gloomy, or hopeless.
An adjective meaning gloomy, depressing, or melancholy. Often used for weather, atmosphere, or feelings.
The weather is depressing today, isn't it?
That news is really depressing.
A common phrase meaning 'to feel depressed' or 'to be depressing'. Literally 'the spirit sinks in'. Used for situations that bring down your mood.
Continuous rainy days are depressing.
Listening to his story is depressing.
Similar to 憂鬱 but often implies a darker, more oppressive gloom. Used for atmosphere, places, or moods.
This room has a depressing atmosphere.
Literally 'dark', but often used metaphorically to mean gloomy or depressing (e.g., a dark mood, dark story).
That movie was a depressing story.
Means 'to feel down/depressed'. Focuses on the resulting emotional state rather than the cause.
I feel depressed because of continuous failures.
To say 'I am depressed' or 'I feel depressed'.
The most common way to say 'I'm depressed' or 'I'm feeling down'. Literally 'I have fallen into a low state'.
I've been really depressed lately.
I'm depressed because I failed the exam.
Directly states 'I am gloomy/depressed'. Slightly more formal or literary than 落ち込んでいる.
I don't feel like doing anything; I'm depressed.
Means 'to feel heavy-hearted' or 'to feel depressed about something upcoming'. Often used when dreading something.
Loanword from English 'blue', meaning sad or depressed. Casual and somewhat colloquial.
I'm feeling kind of blue today.
To refer to clinical depression or severely depressing circumstances.
憂鬱 (yūutsu) describes a gloomy atmosphere or a lingering depressed mood, while 落ち込む (ochikomu) focuses on the acute feeling of being down, often due to a specific event. 憂鬱 can be used for weather or situations; 落ち込む is more personal and temporary.
depressing weather vs. feeling depressed after failing an exam
The English word 'depressing' is often used casually ('This weather is so depressing'), but directly translating it as 憂鬱な or 陰鬱な can sound overly dramatic in Japanese. Use 気が滅入る or 暗い for casual contexts.
The news about the war is depressing.
I find his constant complaining depressing.
明日の会議を考えると気が重い。
Thinking about tomorrow's meeting makes me feel depressed.
Depressive symptoms are appearing.