Translation guide
How to express 'gloomily' in Japanese, covering dark moods, weather, and pessimistic outlooks.
Describing someone's mood, expression, or action as gloomy or depressed.
Adverb form of 憂鬱 (gloom, melancholy), meaning 'looking depressed' or 'in a gloomy way'. Common for describing someone's demeanor.
彼は憂鬱そうに窓の外を見ていた。
He was looking out the window gloomily.
Adverb from 陰気 (gloomy, somber). Suggests a dark, cheerless atmosphere or mood. Can be used for both people and settings.
Describing gloomy weather, lighting, or atmosphere.
Onomatopoeic adverb for a dull, overcast sky or murky atmosphere. Often used for gloomy weather.
空はどんよりと曇っていた。
The sky was gloomily overcast.
Adverb from 薄暗い (dim, gloomy). Describes a place or light as dim and gloomy.
Expressing a gloomy outlook or prediction.
Adverb from 悲観的 (pessimistic). Means 'pessimistically' or 'gloomily' when talking about future expectations.
彼は将来を悲観的に語った。
He spoke gloomily about the future.
憂鬱そうに focuses on a person's depressed mood or expression, while 陰気に can also describe an atmosphere or personality as cheerless and somber. 陰気に is slightly more about the inherent gloominess of a situation or character.
彼は憂鬱そうにため息をついた。
He sighed gloomily (looking depressed).
部屋が陰気に感じられた。
The room felt gloomy.
彼女は陰気にうつむいた。
She hung her head gloomily.
Adverb from 暗い (dark). Often used for 'gloomily' in the sense of a dark mood or expression. Very common.
彼は暗くつぶやいた。
He muttered gloomily.
Phrase meaning 'with a depressed/downcast air'. 沈む means 'to sink' or 'to be depressed'. Natural for describing someone's gloomy appearance.
彼は沈んだ様子で席に着いた。
He sat down gloomily.
部屋は薄暗く、誰もいなかった。
The room was gloomily dim and empty.
Literary adverb meaning 'darkly' or 'gloomily', often used for prospects or atmosphere. Formal and somewhat rare.
先行きは暗澹としている。
The outlook is gloomily dark.