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.
Describing a person who is habitually melancholic, gloomy, or prone to sadness.
Describing a temporary state of feeling melancholic, sad, or wistful.
The most natural phrase for a melancholic mood. Literally 'gloomy feeling'.
今日は憂鬱な気分だ。
I'm feeling melancholic today.
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 gloomy, dismal, or cheerless. Often used for a person who is dark and somber.
彼女は陰気な人だ。
She is a melancholic person.
A loanword from English, used in literary or artistic contexts. Sounds sophisticated but less common in daily speech.
彼のメランコリックな表情が印象的だった。
His melancholic expression was striking.
Means sad, melancholy, or plaintive. Often used for a wistful, poignant sadness.
物悲しい気持ちになる。
I feel melancholic.
A noun meaning pathos, sorrow, or melancholy. Often used in literary or emotional contexts.
哀愁に浸る。
To be immersed in melancholy.
Describes a lonely, desolate, or melancholic atmosphere. Often used for autumn scenes or quiet places.
物寂しい秋の夕暮れ。
A melancholic autumn evening.
A phrase meaning 'filled with melancholy' or 'pervaded by pathos'. Used for scenes, music, etc.
哀愁漂うメロディー。
A melancholic melody.