How to say "depress" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 押し下げるおしさげるichidan verb, transitive verbThe physical sense: to push, press, or force something down, as with a button, lever, or pedal. A common word, and the natural choice whenever depress means pressing something downward in a literal, physical way.
- 凹ますへこますgodan verb, transitive verbDepress as in denting: pressing a surface in so it becomes concave, and figuratively to deflate or humiliate someone. A less common word; figuratively it is closer to humiliating a person than to saddening them.
- 凹ませるへこませるichidan verbThe same senses as 凹ます — denting or indenting a surface, or figuratively deflating and humiliating someone — and largely interchangeable with it. A less common word, so neither of the pair is a frequent choice.
- godan verb, transitive verbThe emotional sense of depress: to dampen someone's enthusiasm, discourage, dishearten, or dispirit them — a blow to morale rather than the medical condition of depression. Usually written in kana alone; a less common word.
Use 「押し下げる」 for the physical sense of pressing something down, 「凹ます」 or 「凹ませる」 for denting a surface or deflating a person, and 「くじく」 for dampening enthusiasm or disheartening someone.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
