How to say "melancholy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 憂さうさnounCovers melancholy as a personal gloom or weariness of spirit, the kind one wants to dispel; it names the feeling itself rather than a gloomy person or atmosphere.
- 憂鬱ゆううつnoun, na-adjectiveThe most direct equivalent for the feeling itself: melancholy as low spirits, dejection or depression, whether a passing mood or a heavier, lingering gloom.
- 哀感あいかんnounMelancholy tinged with sorrow or pathos; a wistful, poignant sadness. A formal or literary term, so it suits written or elevated descriptions rather than casual talk about feeling down.
- 陰気いんきna-adjective, nounMelancholy as an outward quality: a gloomy, cheerless person, disposition or atmosphere. It describes someone or something as gloomy rather than naming the feeling of melancholy itself.
- adverb (with と), suru verbA mimetic word evoking dampness; figuratively it describes a gloomy, depressing atmosphere or a brooding, oppressive mood. It is seldom the word for melancholy as a feeling itself.
Use 憂鬱 for the feeling of depression or low spirits, 「憂さ」 for a gloom you want to dispel, 哀感 for literary pathos, 陰気 for gloomy people or atmospheres, and 「じめじめ」 for a damp, depressing mood.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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