How to say "depression" in Japanese

• うつCommon
  nounCovers both depression as a condition and low spirits; a common word for feeling depressed. It is normally written in kana alone rather than with kanji.
  留学中りゅうがくちゅうに鬱うつになったときはどうすれば？↗

  What should I do if I become depressed while studying abroad?
• うつ病うつびょうCommon
  nounDepression as an illness, the medical sense of the word. Use it when talking about the condition itself, as in a diagnosis, its symptoms or its treatment.
  彼かれは最近さいきん、うつ病びょうを患わずらい、仕事しごとに支障ししょうが出でている。↗

  He has been suffering from depression recently, which is interfering with his work.
• 憂鬱ゆううつJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, na-adjectiveA gloomy, melancholy state of mind — dejection and low spirits rather than a clinical diagnosis. Fits descriptions of feeling down or of a heavy, dispirited mood.
  雨あめが降ふると彼女かのじょは憂鬱ゆううつになる。↗

  When it rains, she feels blue.
• 低地ていちCommon
  no-adjectiveA geographic term for land that lies low: lowlands, low ground, bottom land. Its 'depression' is a terrain sense, so it never refers to the emotional or medical condition.
• 引っ込みひっこみCommon
  nounChiefly means retreat or withdrawal; its 'depression' sense is a physical hole, a recessed hollow. For feelings of depression this is seldom the word you want.

For the mental condition choose 「うつ」 or 「うつ病」, with 「うつ病」 the illness term; 憂鬱 suits a gloomy mood, while 低地 and 「引っ込み」 cover low-lying land and a hollow or withdrawal, not feelings.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• うつdepression
• うつ病うつびょうdepression
• 憂鬱ゆううつdepression
• 低地ていちdepression
• 引っ込みひっこみretreat
• 不景気ふけいきeconomic slump
• 低気圧ていきあつlow (atmospheric) pressure
• 意気消沈いきしょうちんlow spirits
• 凹みへこみhollow
• 不振ふしんdullness
• 陥没かんぼつcave-in
• 消沈しょうちんdepression
• 俯角ふかくdepression
• デプレッションdepression
• 気鬱症きうつしょうdepression
• 鬱結うっけつdepression
• 抑鬱よくうつdejection
• 沈鬱ちんうつmelancholy
• 陥入かんにゅうsubsidence
• 凹所おうしょconcavity
• 長期不況ちょうきふきょうprolonged recession
• 窪地くぼちhollow
• 不況ふきょう(economic) depression
• 降下こうかdescent
• つぼdepression
• 低迷ていめいremaining low (of sales, stock prices, etc.)
• たるみdullness
• もやくやdepression
• 落ち込みおちこみ(mental) depression