Translation guide
The English word 'gloomy' covers dark, dim environments, sad or depressed moods, and pessimistic outlooks. Japanese uses different words for each nuance.
gloomy weather
Common phrase for overcast, gloomy weather.
Describing a physical space or weather that is dark, shadowy, or overcast.
General word for 'dark' or 'dim'. Used for rooms, streets, or overcast skies.
This room is gloomy, isn't it.
The sky is gloomy today.
Dimly lit, dusky. Emphasizes a lack of light, often with a slightly eerie nuance.
Dreary, cheerless atmosphere. Often for weather or surroundings that feel oppressive.
The gloomy weather continues.
Describing a person's emotional state of sadness or depression.
Melancholy, depressed. The most direct equivalent for a gloomy mood. Often used for a lingering sadness.
He seems gloomy lately.
Rainy days make me feel gloomy.
Can also describe a gloomy personality or mood, meaning 'dark' in a metaphorical sense.
Using 暗い for a person can sound blunt. 憂鬱な is softer for temporary moods.
Downcast, depressed. Literally 'sunken', used for a visibly gloomy expression or mood.
You look gloomy.
Gloomy and cheerless personality or atmosphere. Can sound old-fashioned or literary.
He is a gloomy man.
Describing a situation, forecast, or prospect that is discouraging or without hope.
Used metaphorically for a bleak future or prospect.
The future looks gloomy.
Pessimistic. Focuses on a negative outlook or expectation.
Fixed phrase meaning 'the outlook is gloomy/dark'.
Dismal, bleak. Stronger and more literary than 暗い.
I can only see a gloomy future.
暗い is the most versatile, covering physical darkness, gloomy personality, and bleak prospects. 憂鬱な specifically refers to a depressed, melancholic mood. 陰気な describes a cheerless atmosphere or personality and can sound dated or literary.
In casual conversation, Japanese speakers often use more specific words like 落ち込んでいる (feeling down) or どんよりした (dull, overcast) instead of a single 'gloomy' equivalent.
The gloomy hallway was scary.
彼は性格が暗い。
He has a gloomy personality.
He has a gloomy view.
The economic outlook is gloomy.