How to say "pessimistic" in Japanese

• 悲観的ひかんてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe default adjective for "pessimistic": expecting things to turn out badly. Use it for a person's outlook, attitude, or view of the future, as in describing someone as pessimistic about their chances.
  あんな悲観的ひかんてきな経済学けいざいがく者しゃたちの言いうことなんか、全然ぜんぜん当あてにならないよ。↗

  Those gloom and doom economists aren't worth their salt.
• ペシミスティックCommon
  na-adjectiveThe katakana borrowing of "pessimistic", with the same sense as 悲観的. The two are largely interchangeable, and choosing between them is usually a matter of style rather than meaning.
• 陰性いんせいCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveChiefly means gloomy or negative as a personality trait, so it is seldom the word you want for "pessimistic" in the sense of expecting the worst; reach for 悲観的 instead.

Use 悲観的 for the ordinary sense of expecting bad outcomes; 「ペシミスティック」 is the loanword equivalent, largely interchangeable with it; 陰性 mainly means gloomy or negative in disposition and is rarely the right choice for "pessimistic".

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

• 悲観的ひかんてきpessimistic
• ペシミスティックpessimistic
• うつうつgloomy
• 厭世的えんせいてきsick of life
• 根暗ねくらdark-natured
• 陰性いんせいgloomy