憂鬱・幽鬱・悒鬱|ゆううつyuuutsu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
憂鬱憂鬱 is the most common written form, consisting entirely of kanji. For beginners, this is the form to use when writing the word.
幽鬱幽鬱 is a rarely used kanji-only spelling. You may encounter it, but beginners should use 憂鬱 instead.
悒鬱悒鬱 is a rarely used kanji-only spelling. You may encounter it, but beginners should use 憂鬱 instead.
Definitions
- noun, na-adjectivedepression; melancholy; dejection; gloom; despondency
Conjugation
| Plain form | 憂鬱（ゆううつ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 憂鬱です（ゆううつです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 憂鬱ではない（ゆううつではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 憂鬱ではありません（ゆううつではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 憂鬱だった（ゆううつだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 憂鬱ではなかった（ゆううつではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 憂鬱で（ゆううつで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 憂鬱に（ゆううつに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 憂鬱なら（ゆううつなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym陰気いんきNeutralDescribes a gloomy person or atmosphere; 「憂鬱」 is about one's own mood.
- SynonymうっとうしいNeutralFor gloomy, oppressive weather or things that irritate; 「憂鬱」 is inner gloom.
- SynonymうつNeutralPersistent low mood, also the medical term, as in 「鬱になる」「鬱病」; 「憂鬱」 is more everyday.
- Synonym陰鬱いんうつWrittenWritten word for a gloomy atmosphere or a gloomy personality; 「憂鬱」 is about one's own low, listless mood.
- Synonym沈鬱ちんうつWrittenWritten word often describing a gloomy expression; less common and more literary than 「憂鬱」.
- SynonymメランコリーNeutralLoanword with a literary, artistic flavor for melancholy; 「憂鬱」 is the everyday word.
- Related意気消沈いきしょうちんWrittenFour-character word for losing heart and feeling dejected; 「憂鬱」 centers on a gloomy mood.
- Related湿っぽいしめっぽいNeutralMeans damp, or a gloomy, damp-feeling atmosphere; 「憂鬱」 is about personal mood.
- Related暗いくらいNeutralGeneral word for dark, or a dark mood; 「憂鬱」 zeroes in on feeling down and unmotivated.
- Related重苦しいおもくるしいNeutralDescribes a heavy, oppressive atmosphere; 「憂鬱」 is about one's own gloomy mood.
- Related重いおもいNeutralSays a mood or heart feels heavy; 「憂鬱」 is feeling gloomy and unmotivated.
- Related気鬱きうつWrittenRare written word for a depressed, heavy mood; 「憂鬱」 is far more common.
- Related陰気くさいいんきくさいNeutralDescribes a dreary, oppressive atmosphere; 「憂鬱」 is about one's own mood.
- Related暗鬱あんうつWrittenRare written word for dark gloom; 「憂鬱」 is more common.
- Related憂愁ゆうしゅうWrittenLiterary word blending sorrow and melancholy; 「憂鬱」 is the everyday choice.
- Related陰々滅々いんいんめつめつWrittenFour-character word for a bleak, depressing air; 「憂鬱」 is simpler.
- RelatedグルーミーNeutralRare loanword for gloomy; 「憂鬱」 is the usual word.
- RelatedやるせないWrittenWritten word for sorrow with no outlet, nothing to dispel it; 「憂鬱」 is about feeling listless.
- Related物寂しいものさびしいNeutralA vague loneliness or desolation, of places or moods, as in 「物寂しい気持ち」; 「憂鬱」 is a gloomy, listless feeling.
- Related辛気臭いしんきくさいCasualColloquial for dreary, tedious, irritating things or people; 「憂鬱」 is about your own mood.
- Related暗愁あんしゅうWrittenRare written word for sad, depressing thoughts; 「憂鬱」 is more common and everyday.
- Antonym明朗めいろうWrittenAntonym: bright and cheerful, the opposite of the gloomy, listless 「憂鬱」.
- Antonym快活かいかつNeutralAntonym: lively and cheerful, opposite to the downcast 「憂鬱」.
Use 「憂鬱」 for feeling gloomy and unmotivated, as in 「月曜日が憂鬱だ」. For a gloomy atmosphere or person, reach for 「陰鬱」 or 「陰気」; for dejection, 「意気消沈」; for oppressive, dreary weather, 「鬱陶しい」; for depression as a medical condition, 「鬱」. The antonym is 「明朗」, bright and cheerful.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
