Translation guide
Describes a person, mood, or atmosphere that is deeply, often quietly, sad or gloomy. In Japanese, this is expressed through adjectives, nouns, and descriptive phrases that convey a pensive, wistful, or depressed state.
He has a melancholic personality.
Means gloomy, dismal, or cheerless. Often used for a person who is dark and somber.
She is a melancholic person.
A loanword from English, used in literary or artistic contexts. Sounds sophisticated but less common in daily speech.
His melancholic expression was striking.
Describing a temporary state of feeling melancholic, sad, or wistful.
Describing a place, weather, or situation that evokes a melancholic feeling.
憂鬱 (yūutsu) is more about internal sadness or depression, while 陰気 (inki) often describes an outward gloominess or a dark personality. 憂鬱 can be temporary, but 陰気 is more of a fixed trait.
Avoid directly translating 'melancholic' as メランコリック in everyday conversation; it sounds overly literary. Use 憂鬱な or 物悲しい for natural Japanese.
Means sad, melancholy, or plaintive. Often used for a wistful, poignant sadness.
I feel melancholic.
哀愁に浸る。
To be immersed in melancholy.