悒
be depressed
Strokes10
Readings
On'yomi
- ユウ
Kun'yomi
- ふさ.ぐ
- うれ.える
Meaning
悒 centers on a heavy, inward emotional state: feeling depressed, gloomy, or weighed down by worry.
Most common words using 悒
- 悒々ゆうゆう
sad; melancholy
Study
Etymology
悒 combines the heart radical 忄 with 邑, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a confined or inward-turning feeling, fitting the depressed meaning.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart 忄 is trapped inside a walled town 邑, unable to get out. That heavy, confined feeling is depression.
Reading mnemonic
For ユウ, imagine a depressed person sighing 'you' in a low, drawn-out voice: 'yooou...' The sound 'you' cues ユウ while the heart stays trapped in the town.