Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the feeling of being depressed in Japanese, from clinical depression to everyday sadness and low mood.
To describe a medically significant state of depression, often long-lasting and requiring treatment.
The standard term for clinical depression. Used in medical and everyday contexts.
He was diagnosed with depression.
A more casual or abbreviated way to refer to depression, often used in compounds like 鬱状態 (depressive state). Can sound blunt.
Lately, I've been feeling kind of depressed.
To express a temporary low mood, sadness, or feeling down in daily life.
Literally 'mood sinks'. A very common way to say you feel depressed or down.
I'm feeling kind of down today.
Means gloom, melancholy, or depression. Often used for a heavy, lingering sadness.
The te-iru form of 落ち込む, describing the state of being depressed. Very common in conversation.
Literally 'spirit is heavy'. Expresses a feeling of being weighed down or reluctant, often about a specific situation.
Describes a dejected, dispirited state, often with a visible drooping posture. More about looking sad than clinical depression.
He's feeling depressed after being scolded.
To express a sense of emotional emptiness or void, often associated with depression.
To describe the loss of pleasure or interest in activities, a key symptom of depression.
Literally 'the feeling to do anything doesn't arise'. Very natural way to express lack of motivation.
I'm so depressed I can't bring myself to do anything.
Apathy or lethargy. Often used as a symptom of depression.
The English word 'depressed' is often used casually, but directly translating it as 憂鬱 or うつ病 in casual contexts can sound overly dramatic or clinical. Use 落ち込む or 気分が沈む for everyday low moods.
落ち込む is for temporary, reactive sadness (e.g., after a failure). 憂鬱 implies a deeper, more pervasive gloom, often without a clear cause, and is closer to clinical depression.
I've been feeling really depressed lately.
Casual, everyday expression.
雨の日は憂鬱になる。
Rainy days make me feel depressed.
She's depressed after a breakup.
明日の試験を思うと気が重い。
Thinking about tomorrow's exam makes me feel depressed.
Since my pet died, I feel empty inside.
無気力で一日中寝てしまう。
I'm so apathetic I end up sleeping all day.