Translation guide
Expressing a low mood, sadness, or lack of energy in Japanese. The most common and natural ways are 気分が落ち込む (kibun ga ochikomu) and 落ち込む (ochikomu).
気分が落ち込んでいる。
I feel down.
ちょっと落ち込んでいる。
I'm feeling a bit down.
To say you feel sad, depressed, or in low spirits.
A natural, common way to say 'I feel down' or 'I'm feeling depressed'. Literally 'my mood sinks'.
最近、気分が落ち込んでいる。
I've been feeling down lately.
Verb meaning 'to feel down/depressed'. Can be used alone or with 気分が. Very common.
試験に落ちて、落ち込んでいる。
I failed the exam and I'm feeling down.
Literally 'my feelings sink'. A bit more literary or poetic, but still used in conversation.
雨の日は気持ちが沈む。
On rainy days I feel down.
A noun/adjective meaning 'melancholy' or 'gloom'. Often used in the phrase 憂鬱な気分 (yūutsu na kibun). Slightly more formal/literary.
憂鬱な気分だ。
I'm in a gloomy mood.
Literally 'my spirit is heavy'. Used when you feel burdened or reluctant, often about something specific.
明日の会議のことを考えると気が重い。
Thinking about tomorrow's meeting makes me feel down.
A milder, more temporary sadness.
Onomatopoeic verb meaning to be dejected or downcast. Often used for a visible, mild sadness.
彼は一人でしょんぼりしていた。
He was feeling down all by himself.
Slang/casual verb meaning 'to feel down' or 'to be depressed'. Literally 'to be dented'. Very common among younger people.
彼女に振られて凹んだ。
I got dumped by my girlfriend and felt down.
Means 'I can't muster energy/cheerfulness'. Often used when you feel listless or down.
今日はなんだか元気が出ない。
I just feel down today for some reason.
Specifically when something didn't go as hoped.
To be disappointed, disheartened. Very common. Often used when expectations aren't met.
試合に負けてがっかりした。
I felt down after losing the match.
To be disappointed, disillusioned. More formal than がっかり.
彼の行動に失望した。
I was disappointed in his behavior.
落ち込む is the standard, neutral way to say 'feel down'. 凹む is slang and very casual, often used among friends. Avoid 凹む in formal situations.
仕事でミスして落ち込んだ。
I made a mistake at work and felt down.
テストの点が悪くて凹むわ〜。
I got a bad test score and I'm so down~.
Avoid directly translating 'feel down' as 下を感じる or similar. It doesn't make sense in Japanese. Use the expressions above.