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憂鬱になる

B1 verb #6,000 most common 9 min read

憂鬱になる

yuuutsu ni naru Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 憂鬱になる in 30 Seconds

Explanation 憂鬱になる in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to worry about writing the complex kanji for 'yuuutsu'. Instead, focus on the basic idea: feeling 'not happy' or 'a little down' because of simple things like rain. Think of it as a step up from 'sad' (kanashii). You might use it in very simple sentences like 'Ame desu. Yuuutsu desu' (It's rain. I'm gloomy). At this stage, learners should simply recognize that 'yuuutsu' is a word for a bad mood. It's helpful to associate it with the 'Monday morning' feeling. Even if you can't say the whole phrase 'yuuutsu ni naru' perfectly, just knowing the word 'yuuutsu' helps you understand when Japanese people are complaining about the weather or work. Focus on the sound 'yuu-u-tsu' and imagine someone sighing while saying it. This will help you remember the feeling behind the word. Don't worry about the grammar of 'ni naru' yet; just think of it as a label for a gloomy feeling.

At the A2 level, you can start using the full phrase 'yuuutsu ni naru' to describe changes in your mood. This is where the particle 'ni' and the verb 'naru' (to become) come into play. You can use it to talk about your daily routine and how certain things affect you. For example, 'Getsuyoubi wa yuuutsu ni narimasu' (I get gloomy on Mondays). You should be able to link this feeling to specific causes using simple grammar like '~kara' (because) or '~to' (when). You are also beginning to see the difference between 'yuuutsu' and 'kanashii' (sad). While 'kanashii' is for when something bad happens (like losing a toy), 'yuuutsu' is for when you just don't feel like doing anything. You might see this word in simple manga or hear it in anime. At this level, you should try to use the polite form 'yuuutsu ni narimasu' when talking to teachers or colleagues about why you might be a bit tired or unmotivated. It's a very 'adult' way to express a bad mood without being too childish.

At the B1 level, you should have a solid grasp of 'yuuutsu ni naru' and be able to use it in a variety of tenses and contexts. This is the level where you understand the nuance of 'melancholy'—it's not just being sad; it's a lingering, heavy feeling. You can use it to describe the atmosphere of the rainy season or the feeling of having too much homework. You should also be able to use the adjective form 'yuuutsu na' to describe things, such as 'yuuutsu na tenki' (gloomy weather). At B1, you start to encounter the word in more complex reading materials like short stories or news articles about mental health and work culture. You should understand that 'yuuutsu ni naru' is a common social expression in Japan, often used to bond over shared frustrations. You can also start practicing the potential or conditional forms, like 'yuuutsu ni narisou' (looks like I'm going to get gloomy). This level requires you to recognize the kanji (憂鬱), even if you can't write it yet, as it appears frequently in literature and digital media.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'yuuutsu ni naru' with precision and understand its place among its many synonyms. You can distinguish it from 'ochikomu' (to be depressed by a specific event) or 'ki ga meiru' (to have one's spirits worn down). You understand that 'yuuutsu' carries a certain weight and can be used to describe existential boredom or a deep-seated lack of motivation. You can use the phrase in more complex sentence structures, such as 'yuuutsu ni naru no mo muri wa nai' (it's no wonder you're feeling gloomy). You should also be aware of the cultural context, such as the 'May Sickness' (Gogatsu-byou) where students and new workers feel 'yuuutsu' after the initial excitement of April wears off. At this level, you can use the word to discuss social issues, literature, and films. You are comfortable seeing the kanji in formal texts and can use the word in both formal (masu-form) and informal (dictionary form) settings appropriately. You understand that while it's a common word, it can sound quite heavy if used too often, so you balance it with other expressions.

At the C1 level, you have a nuanced understanding of 'yuuutsu ni naru' as both a psychological state and a literary motif. You can discuss the etymology of the kanji (the 'sorrow' and the 'dense/clogged' spirits) and how it relates to the concept of 'mono no aware' or the beauty of transience in Japanese culture. You can use the phrase to analyze characters in novels by Soseki or Dazai, explaining how their 'yuuutsu' reflects the societal pressures of their time. Your usage is sophisticated; you might use causative forms like 'yuuutsu ni saseru' to describe how a piece of music or a gray landscape affects the observer. You also understand the subtle difference between 'yuuutsu' and clinical 'utsubyo' and can navigate conversations about mental health with sensitivity, using 'yuuutsu' to describe a mood while acknowledging the seriousness of the medical condition. You can write the kanji (or at least the 'yuu' part) and are familiar with various poetic and academic uses of the word. You can also recognize when the word is being used ironically or as hyperbole in modern slang.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like intuition for 'yuuutsu ni naru'. You understand its historical evolution from classical Japanese and its resonance in modern psychological discourse. You can use the word in high-level academic writing or professional speeches to describe a collective national mood or an abstract philosophical state. You are aware of the most obscure synonyms and can explain the rhythmic and tonal differences between 'yuuutsu ni naru' and 'fusaigikomu' or 'shunjuu o kanjiru'. You can appreciate and use the word in creative writing to evoke a specific, dense atmosphere. You are also fully aware of the social 'etiquette' of the word—when it's appropriate to share your 'yuuutsu' and when it's better to remain stoic. Your mastery of the kanji 憂鬱 is complete, and you might even know the variant forms or the history of how the character 鬱 became a symbol for the difficulty of the Japanese language itself. You can engage in deep discussions about the 'aesthetics of gloom' in Japanese cinema and literature, using this word as a cornerstone of your analysis.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

憂鬱になる in 30 Seconds

A common phrase for feeling gloomy or unmotivated.
Often used for 'Monday Blues' or rainy weather moods.
Stronger than 'sad', but usually less clinical than 'depressed'.
Uses the complex but iconic kanji 憂鬱 (yuuutsu).

The Japanese phrase 憂鬱になる (yuuutsu ni naru) is a profound expression that captures a specific shade of emotional heaviness. While often translated as 'to become depressed' or 'to become melancholy,' it is crucial for learners to distinguish it from clinical depression. In everyday Japanese, this phrase describes a state of mind where one feels gloomy, discouraged, or weighed down by circumstances, often temporary but deeply felt. It is the feeling you get when looking at a pile of unfinished work on a Sunday night, or when the rainy season seems like it will never end. The word yuuutsu itself is famous in Japan for having one of the most complex kanji characters (鬱 - 29 strokes!), which many native speakers struggle to write from memory. This visual complexity often mirrors the 'tangled' and 'dense' feeling of the emotion it describes.

Emotional Weight: Unlike simple sadness (kanashimi), yuuutsu implies a lack of energy and a sense of being trapped in a dark mood. It is a 'heavy' feeling rather than a 'sharp' pain.
Social Context: It is frequently used to describe the 'Monday Morning Blues' or the 'Sazae-san Syndrome' (the gloom felt on Sunday evenings when a popular anime ends, signaling the end of the weekend).

明日から仕事だと思うと、本当に憂鬱になる。(Ashita kara shigoto da to omou to, hontou ni yuuutsu ni naru.)
Thinking about work starting tomorrow really makes me feel gloomy.

In Japanese culture, expressing this feeling is often a way of seeking empathy from others who are likely in the same boat. It is a shared acknowledgment of the burdens of daily life. When you say you are feeling yuuutsu, you are often signaling that you are mentally exhausted or unmotivated due to external pressures like weather, exams, or repetitive tasks. It is less about a personal tragedy and more about the general 'drag' of existence at that moment. Culturally, the Japanese appreciate the nuance of seasons, and the 'Tsuyu' (rainy season) is the most common time people report feeling yuuutsu due to the constant gray skies and humidity.

雨の日が続くと、どうしても気分が憂鬱になりがちだ。(Ame no hi ga tsuzuku to, doushitemo kibun ga yuuutsu ni narigachi da.)
When rainy days continue, one tends to get gloomy no matter what.

Furthermore, the phrase is versatile. It can be used as a noun-adjective (yuuutsu na) or as a verb phrase (yuuutsu ni naru). When you 'become' yuuutsu, it suggests a shift in state—perhaps you were fine a moment ago, but a certain thought or event triggered the gloom. This transition is important in Japanese storytelling and daily conversation to explain one's current low energy levels without sounding overly dramatic or clinically ill. It is a relatable, human emotion that bridges the gap between 'unhappy' and 'depressed'.

Grammatically, 憂鬱になる (yuuutsu ni naru) follows the standard pattern of a Na-adjective (noun-like adjective) combined with the particle 'ni' and the verb 'naru' (to become). This structure is essential for expressing a change in emotional state. Because 'yuuutsu' functions as a state, 'naru' indicates the transition into that state. You can conjugate 'naru' into various forms to change the politeness, tense, or nuance of the sentence.

Past Tense: 憂鬱になった (yuuutsu ni natta) - 'I became gloomy.' Use this when reflecting on a past mood triggered by an event.
Negative Form: 憂鬱にならない (yuuutsu ni naranai) - 'I won't get gloomy.' Often used in self-encouragement or as a statement of resilience.

テストの結果を見て、憂鬱になった。(Tesuto no kekka o mite, yuuutsu ni natta.)
I became depressed after seeing my test results.

One of the most common ways to use this phrase is with conditional structures like '~to' (when/if) or '~tara' (if/after). For instance, 'Ame ga furu to yuuutsu ni naru' (When it rains, I get gloomy). This expresses a recurring cause-and-effect relationship between an external stimulus and your internal state. You can also use the causative form, 'yuuutsu ni saseru' (to make someone gloomy), to describe something that dampens the mood of others or yourself.

そんなに憂鬱にならないでください。(Sonna ni yuuutsu ni naranaide kudasai.)
Please don't get so depressed/gloomy.

In more advanced usage, you might see 'yuuutsu ni hitaru' (to wallow in melancholy) or 'yuuutsu o fukitobasu' (to blow away the gloom). These idiomatic uses show how 'yuuutsu' is treated as a tangible atmosphere or substance that can be entered or removed. When speaking to friends, the shortened form 'yuuutsu...' (just the noun) can be sighed to express your current state without needing the full verb, acting as a powerful exclamation of boredom and low spirits.

In Japan, 憂鬱になる (yuuutsu ni naru) is a staple of everyday conversation, literature, and media. It is not a 'dictionary-only' word; it is deeply embedded in the rhythm of Japanese life. You will hear it most frequently in contexts involving work, school, and weather. It captures the collective mood of a society that values hard work but also recognizes the mental toll of strict schedules and social expectations.

The 'Blue Monday' Phenomenon: On Sunday evenings, Japanese social media is flooded with posts about feeling 'yuuutsu' about the coming work week. This is a common bonding topic for 'salarymen' and students alike.
Weather Forecasts & Small Talk: During the 'Tsuyu' (rainy season), weather reporters might mention how the lack of sun can make people feel 'yuuutsu ni naru'. It's a socially acceptable way to talk about the weather's impact on mental health.

日曜日の夜は、いつも憂鬱になる。(Nichiyoubi no yoru wa, itsumo yuuutsu ni naru.)
I always get gloomy on Sunday nights.

You will also find this word in J-Pop lyrics and anime. Characters who are brooding, introverted, or facing existential crises often describe their world as 'yuuutsu'. For example, the famous light novel and anime series 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya' (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu) uses the word in its title to describe the main character's boredom with the ordinary world. This pop-culture connection has made the word very familiar to younger generations, who might use it more casually than older speakers.

満員電車に乗ることを考えると、憂鬱になる。(Man'in densha ni noru koto o kangaeru to, yuuutsu ni naru.)
Thinking about riding the crowded train makes me feel gloomy.

Finally, in literature, 'yuuutsu' is used to set a specific atmospheric tone. It conveys a sense of stillness and internal reflection. Authors like Natsume Soseki or Osamu Dazai often explored themes of 'yuuutsu' to describe the alienation of the individual in modernizing Japan. Understanding this word gives you a key to unlocking the emotional landscape of Japanese art and daily life, where the 'beauty of sadness' is often appreciated alongside the desire for happiness.

While 憂鬱になる (yuuutsu ni naru) is very useful, learners often make a few key mistakes in its application, nuance, and grammatical construction. The most common error is confusing it with clinical depression or using it in contexts where a simpler word for 'sad' would be more appropriate.

Mistake 1: Clinical vs. Casual: Using 'yuuutsu' to describe a serious medical condition. While related, the medical term for depression is 'utsubyo' (うつ病). 'Yuuutsu' is more about the mood or feeling.
Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Sad' (Kanashii): 'Kanashii' is the reaction to a loss or a specific sad event. 'Yuuutsu' is a heavy, lingering gloom. You wouldn't say you are 'yuuutsu' because your ice cream fell; that's just 'kanashii' or 'shokku' (shock).

❌ 彼はうつ病で、毎日憂鬱になっている。
✅ 彼はうつ病で、毎日苦しんでいる。(He is suffering from depression.)

Another mistake involves the grammar of 'naru'. Some learners try to use it like an I-adjective (e.g., *yuuutsu-ku naru), which is incorrect. Because 'yuuutsu' is a Na-adjective/Noun, it must take 'ni' before 'naru'. Additionally, learners often forget that 'yuuutsu' can sound quite heavy. If you are just a little bit 'down', words like 'ochikomu' or 'hekumu' (slang) are safer and more common for minor setbacks.

❌ テストに落ちて憂鬱になった。(Too heavy for a small quiz)
✅ テストに落ちて落ち込んだ。(I felt down/disappointed.)

Finally, be careful with the kanji. While it is impressive if you can write it, using the kanji in a casual text message might seem a bit 'try-hard' or overly formal. Many people stick to hiragana (ゆううつ) or even just the first character in certain contexts. However, in professional writing, the kanji is expected. Avoid mixing up 'yuuutsu' with 'taikutsu' (boredom). While yuuutsu can stem from boredom, 'taikutsu' is specifically about having nothing to do, whereas 'yuuutsu' is about the negative emotion itself.

Japanese has a rich vocabulary for expressing negative emotions. Depending on the intensity and the cause of your gloom, you might want to choose a different word than 憂鬱になる (yuuutsu ni naru). Understanding these nuances will make your Japanese sound much more natural and precise.

落ち込む (Ochikomu): This is the most common alternative. It means 'to feel down' or 'to be depressed' by a specific event. If you fail an exam or get dumped, you 'ochikomu'. It's more about the 'drop' in mood.
気が滅入る (Ki ga meiru): Very similar to yuuutsu, but often used for things that 'wear you down' over time, like bad weather or constant nagging. It literally means 'one's spirit is wearing away'.
気が重い (Ki ga omoi): Literally 'one's spirit is heavy'. This is used when you have something unpleasant to do in the future, like a difficult presentation. You feel 'heavy' about the task ahead.

プレゼンのことを考えると、気が重い。(Thinking about the presentation, my heart is heavy / I'm dreading it.)

For more casual settings, you might hear 'Blue ni naru' (ブルーになる), which is a direct loan from English 'to get the blues'. This is common among young people and feels less 'heavy' than 'yuuutsu'. On the more literary side, 'fusaigikomu' (ふさぎ込む) describes someone who has shut themselves away in their gloom, becoming uncommunicative. This is a more visual word for a depressed state.

最近、何をやっても気が滅入る。(Lately, no matter what I do, I feel worn down/gloomy.)

When you want to express a milder form of being 'bummed out', you can use 'shonbori suru', which often describes someone's physical appearance when they are sad (like a dog with its ears down). In contrast, 'yuuutsu' is an internal, psychological state. By choosing between these words, you can accurately convey whether you are just having a bad day (ochikomu), dreading a task (ki ga omoi), or feeling a deep, pervasive gloom (yuuutsu).

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji for 'utsu' (鬱) is so famous for its 29 strokes that it is often used as a benchmark for literacy. There is even a mnemonic song to remember how to write it! Despite its complexity, it is a very common word in modern psychological contexts.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /juː.uː.tsu ni na.ɾu/

US /juː.uː.tsu ni na.ɹu/

Japanese is pitch-accented, not stress-accented. The emphasis is on the pitch rise on the second syllable.

Rhymes With

Futsu (Ordinary) Kutsu (Shoes) Zutsu (Each) Mutsu (Six) Kutsuu (Pain) Shuuchuu (Concentration) Hachijuu (Eighty) Kyuujuu (Ninety)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'yuuutsu' as 'yutsu' (skipping the long vowel).
Pronouncing the 'r' in 'naru' like an English 'r' instead of a flap.
Misplacing the particle 'ni' or omitting it.
Stressing the 'tsu' too hard; it should be a light voiceless alveolar affricate.
Confusing the pitch accent of 'yuu' (sorrow) with other 'yuu' words.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 5/5

The kanji 憂鬱 is extremely complex and represents a high level of literacy.

Writing 5/5

Even native speakers often struggle to write 鬱 correctly without a reference.

Speaking 3/5

The pronunciation is straightforward, but the pitch accent needs care.

Listening 2/5

The word is distinct and easy to catch in conversation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

悲しい (Kanashii) なる (Naru) 気分 (Kibun) 雨 (Ame) 仕事 (Shigoto)

Learn Next

落ち込む (Ochikomu) 気が滅入る (Ki ga meiru) ストレス (Sutoresu) 解消する (Kaishou suru) 前向きな (Maemuki na)

Advanced

焦燥感 (Shousoukan - Impatience/Anxiety) 倦怠感 (Kentaikan - Fatigue/Lassitude) 虚無感 (Kyomukan - Sense of emptiness) 厭世的 (Enseiteki - Pessimistic/World-weary) 悒悒 (Yuuyu - Gloomy/Melancholy - Archaic)

Grammar to Know

Na-Adjective + になる

静かになる、綺麗になる、憂鬱になる

~と/〜たら (Conditional)

雨が降ると憂鬱になる。

~がち (Tendency)

休み明けは憂鬱になりがちだ。

~そう (Appearance)

彼は憂鬱そうな顔をしている。

Causative (させる)

この音楽は人を憂鬱にさせる。

Examples by Level

あめですね。ゆううつになります。

It's rain, isn't it? I'm getting gloomy.

Simple present tense with 'ni narimasu'.

テストはゆううつです。

Tests are gloomy (depressing).

Using 'yuuutsu' as a simple noun/adjective.

月曜日はゆううつになります。

I get gloomy on Mondays.

Time marker 'wa' used for recurring states.

しゅくだい、ゆううつだなあ。

Homework, so gloomy (sigh).

Casual ending 'danaa' expressing emotion.

ゆううつにならないでください。

Please don't be gloomy.

Negative request form 'naide kudasai'.

かぜをひいて、ゆううつになりました。

I caught a cold and became gloomy.

Te-form to show cause and effect.

あしたはゆううつな日です。

Tomorrow is a gloomy day.

Using 'yuuutsu na' as an adjective.

ゆううつですか？だいじょうぶ？

Are you gloomy? Are you okay?

Question form to check on someone's mood.

日曜日の夜になると、憂鬱になります。

When it becomes Sunday night, I get gloomy.

Conditional '~to' for natural consequence.

仕事がたくさんあって、少し憂鬱になった。

I had a lot of work, so I got a bit gloomy.

Past tense 'ni natta' for a specific event.

憂鬱にならないように、音楽を聴きます。

I listen to music so that I don't get gloomy.

'~ni naranai you ni' expressing purpose.

雨が続くと、気分が憂鬱になりがちです。

When rain continues, I tend to get gloomy.

'~gachi' meaning 'tending to'.

彼はいつも憂鬱そうな顔をしています。

He always has a gloomy-looking face.

'~sou na' for appearance.

憂鬱な気分を吹き飛ばしたいです。

I want to blow away my gloomy mood.

Using 'yuuutsu na' as an object.

冬は暗いので、憂鬱になりやすいです。

Because winter is dark, it's easy to get gloomy.

'~yasui' meaning 'easy to'.

友達が憂鬱になっていたので、電話しました。

My friend was feeling gloomy, so I called them.

Progressive past state 'ni natte ita'.

連休が終わると思うと、急に憂鬱になってきた。

Thinking about the long holiday ending, I suddenly started to feel gloomy.

'~te kita' showing a change starting to happen.

梅雨の時期は、洗濯物が乾かなくて憂鬱になる。

During the rainy season, I get gloomy because the laundry won't dry.

Specific cultural context of 'Tsuyu'.

将来のことを考えると、時々憂鬱になることがあります。

When I think about the future, I sometimes have moments where I get gloomy.

'~koto ga aru' for occasional occurrence.

憂鬱になるのは、あなたが頑張っている証拠ですよ。

Feeling gloomy is proof that you are working hard.

Nominalizing the phrase with 'no wa'.

そんなに憂鬱にならなくても大丈夫、なんとかなるよ。

You don't have to get that gloomy; it'll work out somehow.

Negative 'nakutemo' (don't have to).

満員電車での通勤は、誰でも憂鬱になるものだ。

Commuting on a crowded train is something that makes anyone gloomy.

'~mono da' expressing a general truth.

彼は失恋してから、ずっと憂鬱になっているようだ。

It seems he has been gloomy ever since his heartbreak.

'~te kara' (since) and '~you da' (it seems).

憂鬱な気持ちを日記に書くことで、少し楽になった。

By writing my gloomy feelings in a diary, I felt a bit better.

Using 'de' for means/method.

複雑な人間関係に疲れ果てて、憂鬱になる毎日だ。

Exhausted by complex human relationships, every day I feel gloomy.

Te-form to show exhaustion as a cause.

今の社会情勢をニュースで見ると、どうしても憂鬱になってしまう。

When I see the current state of society on the news, I inevitably end up feeling gloomy.

'~te shimau' expressing an involuntary result.

彼は憂鬱になりやすい性格だが、実はとても優しい。

He has a personality that is prone to getting gloomy, but he's actually very kind.

Using the phrase to describe a personality trait.

自分の無力さを痛感し、深い憂鬱に沈んでしまった。

Realizing my own powerlessness, I sank into a deep melancholy.

Metaphorical use of 'shizumu' (to sink).

これ以上、彼を憂鬱にさせるようなことは言わないでほしい。

I want you to not say anything more that would make him gloomy.

Causative form 'yuuutsu ni saseru'.

都会の喧騒から離れないと、心が憂鬱になっていく一方だ。

Unless I get away from the city's hustle and bustle, my heart will just keep getting gloomier.

'~ippou da' for a continuous trend.

憂鬱になる暇もないほど、仕事に追われている。

I'm so busy with work that I don't even have time to get gloomy.

'~hima mo nai' (no time to even...).

彼女の憂鬱そうな歌声が、聴く人の心に響いた。

Her gloomy-sounding singing voice resonated in the hearts of the listeners.

Adjectival use describing an abstract quality.

近代文学の主人公たちは、しばしば実存的な憂鬱に陥る。

Protagonists in modern literature often fall into existential melancholy.

Academic use with 'jitsuzon-teki' (existential).

終わりのない議論に、出席者全員が憂鬱になり始めていた。

Everyone present was beginning to feel gloomy due to the endless discussion.

Compound verb 'nari-hajimeru'.

その廃墟の静寂は、訪れる者を言いようのない憂鬱に誘う。

The silence of the ruins invites visitors into an indescribable melancholy.

Poetic use with 'sasou' (to invite/induce).

彼は、創作活動が停滞すると、決まって憂鬱に支配される。

Whenever his creative activities stall, he is invariably dominated by gloom.

Passive form 'shihai sareru' (to be dominated).

景気後退の兆しが、国民を憂鬱にさせているのは否定できない。

It cannot be denied that signs of economic recession are making the public gloomy.

Formal causative in a complex sentence.

憂鬱になることを恐れず、自分の内面と向き合うことが大切だ。

It is important to face your inner self without fearing the onset of melancholy.

Gerund 'naru koto' as a direct object.

この映画の結末は、観客をひどく憂鬱にさせるものだった。

The ending of this movie was something that left the audience feeling terribly gloomy.

Causative form used as a noun modifier.

都市の無機質な風景が、彼をいつしか憂鬱にさせていた。

The inorganic landscape of the city had, before he knew it, made him gloomy.

'Itsushika' (unnoticed/before one knows it).

世紀末の頽廃的な空気の中で、人々は一種の甘美な憂鬱に浸っていた。

In the decadent atmosphere of the fin-de-siècle, people were immersed in a kind of sweet melancholy.

High-level vocabulary like 'taihaiteki' (decadent) and 'hitaru' (immersed).

憂鬱になるという行為そのものが、彼の哲学の根幹をなしている。

The very act of becoming melancholy forms the core of his philosophy.

Abstract philosophical discussion.

その詩篇は、人生の不条理に対する深い憂鬱を謳い上げている。

That psalm sings out a deep melancholy toward the absurdity of life.

Literary verb 'utai-ageru'.

社会のシステムが高度化するほど、個人の魂は憂鬱に蝕まれていく。

The more sophisticated the social system becomes, the more the individual's soul is eroded by melancholy.

Proportional structure '~hodo' and passive 'mushibamareru' (eroded).

彼は、自身の憂鬱を昇華させることで、不朽の名作を生み出した。

By sublimating his own melancholy, he produced an immortal masterpiece.

'Shouka saseru' (to sublimate).

憂鬱になる心理的メカニズムを解明することは、現代科学の課題の一つだ。

Elucidating the psychological mechanism of becoming melancholy is one of the tasks of modern science.

Scientific/Academic register.

四季の移ろいに憂鬱を覚えるのは、日本人の繊細な感性の表れである。

Feeling melancholy at the changing of the seasons is an expression of the delicate Japanese sensibility.

'~o oboeru' (to feel/experience) in a cultural context.

彼は、憂鬱に支配された沈黙を破り、静かに語り始めた。

Breaking the silence dominated by melancholy, he began to speak quietly.

Participle construction modifying 'silence'.

Synonyms

落ち込む気が滅入るふさぎ込むブルーになる気が重い暗い気持ちになる沈む鬱々とする

Antonyms

晴れ晴れする元気になるワクワクする気分が晴れる

Common Collocations

憂鬱な気分

憂鬱な月曜日

憂鬱な雨

憂鬱そうな顔

深い憂鬱

憂鬱を吹き飛ばす

実存的な憂鬱

憂鬱になりがち

憂鬱にさせる

一抹の憂鬱

Common Phrases

憂鬱な毎日

— Describes a period of time where one feels consistently down. It suggests a lack of joy in life.

憂鬱な毎日から抜け出したい。

気分が憂鬱だ

— A direct statement of one's current gloomy mood. It's more formal than 'ochikonderu'.

今日はどうしても気分が憂鬱だ。

憂鬱の種

— The 'seed' or cause of one's gloom. Often used for recurring problems.

彼が私の憂鬱の種だ。

憂鬱な表情

— A gloomy expression on someone's face. Used in descriptions.

彼女は憂鬱な表情で黙っていた。

憂鬱を抱える

— To carry gloom within oneself, suggesting a hidden or long-term struggle.

誰でも心に憂鬱を抱えているものだ。

憂鬱を晴らす

— To clear away gloom, often through activity or talking to someone.

散歩をして憂鬱を晴らした。

憂鬱な午後

— Often used in literature to describe a slow, boring, or sad afternoon.

憂鬱な午後に一人で本を読んでいる。

憂鬱に浸る

— To immerse oneself in melancholy, sometimes even finding a strange comfort in it.

悲しい曲を聴いて憂鬱に浸る。

憂鬱な予感

— A gloomy premonition or feeling that something bad is going to happen.

憂鬱な予感が的中した。

憂鬱のどん底

— The 'rock bottom' of gloom. Used for extreme states of mental low.

失業して憂鬱のどん底にいる。

Often Confused With

憂鬱になる vs 退屈 (Taikutsu)

Taikutsu means 'bored'. While being bored can make you 'yuuutsu', yuuutsu is the negative feeling itself, not just the lack of interest.

憂鬱になる vs 悲しい (Kanashii)

Kanashii is for specific sadness/grief. Yuuutsu is a broader, heavier gloom or lack of motivation.

憂鬱になる vs 寂しい (Sabishii)

Sabishii is 'lonely'. You can be yuuutsu without being lonely (e.g., in a crowd on a train).

Idioms & Expressions

"五月病 (Gogatsu-byou)"

— Literally 'May Sickness'. It refers to the 'yuuutsu' felt by new students and workers in May after the initial April rush.

連休明けに五月病で憂鬱になる人が多い。

Common/Cultural

"サザエさん症候群 (Sazae-san Shoukougun)"

— The 'Sazae-san Syndrome'. Gloom felt on Sunday evenings when the anime Sazae-san airs, signaling the end of the weekend.

サザエさんのオープニングを聞くと憂鬱になる。

Casual/Modern

"気が塞ぐ (Ki ga fusagu)"

— To feel depressed or gloomy; literally 'one's spirit is blocked/plugged'.

何となく気が塞いで、外出する気になれない。

Literary

"暗雲が立ち込める (An'un ga tachikomeru)"

— Dark clouds gather. Used metaphorically for a situation becoming gloomy or ominous.

プロジェクトの将来に暗雲が立ち込め、憂鬱になった。

Formal

"溜息をつく (Tameiki o tsuku)"

— To sigh. Often the physical manifestation of being 'yuuutsu'.

彼は憂鬱そうに大きな溜息をついた。

Neutral

"顔が曇る (Kao ga kumoru)"

— One's face clouds over. To look suddenly gloomy or troubled.

その話を聞いた途端、彼女の顔が曇った。

Neutral

"重苦しい空気 (Omokurushii kuuki)"

— A heavy, oppressive atmosphere. Often creates a feeling of 'yuuutsu'.

会議室には重苦しい空気が漂っていた。

Neutral

"心に穴が空く (Kokoro ni ana ga aku)"

— To have a hole in one's heart. A feeling of emptiness that often accompanies deep gloom.

親友が遠くへ行ってしまい、心に穴が空いたようで憂鬱だ。

Poetic

"筆舌に尽くしがたい (Hitsuzetsu ni tsukushigatai)"

— Indescribable with pen or tongue. Often used to describe 'yuuutsu' that is beyond words.

その時の憂鬱は筆舌に尽くしがたいものだった。

Formal/Literary

"闇に落ちる (Yami ni ochiru)"

— To fall into darkness. A dramatic way to describe falling into a deep, gloomy state.

絶望のあまり、彼は心の闇に落ちてしまった。

Literary/Anime

Easily Confused

憂鬱になる vs うつ病 (Utsubyou)

Both use the character 鬱.

Utsubyou is a clinical medical diagnosis. Yuuutsu is an everyday emotional state. You can feel yuuutsu without having utsubyou.

彼はうつ病の治療を受けている。 / 私は月曜日が憂鬱だ。

憂鬱になる vs 落ち込む (Ochikomu)

Both mean 'depressed'.

Ochikomu is usually a reaction to a specific negative event (failing a test). Yuuutsu is more of a pervasive mood or atmosphere.

失恋して落ち込む。 / 梅雨の時期は憂鬱になる。

憂鬱になる vs 気が重い (Ki ga omoi)

Both describe a negative mental state.

Ki ga omoi is specifically the dread of a future task. Yuuutsu is a general feeling of gloom that may or may not have a specific future cause.

プレゼンがあるので気が重い。 / なんとなく憂鬱な気分だ。

憂鬱になる vs 気が滅入る (Ki ga meiru)

Very close synonyms.

Ki ga meiru often implies being worn down by external circumstances over time. Yuuutsu is the state of the gloom itself.

小言ばかり言われて気が滅入る。

憂鬱になる vs ふさぎ込む (Fusagikomu)

Both describe being down.

Fusagikomu describes the outward behavior of being silent and withdrawn. Yuuutsu is the internal feeling.

彼は一日中ふさぎ込んでいる。

Sentence Patterns

[Reason] + で、憂鬱になります。

雨で、憂鬱になります。

[Activity] + を考えると、憂鬱になる。

仕事を考えると、憂鬱になる。

[Time] + は憂鬱になりがちだ。

月曜日は憂鬱になりがちだ。

[Situation] + のせいで、憂鬱になってしまう。

ニュースのせいで、憂鬱になってしまう。

憂鬱になるのも無理はない。

これだけ忙しければ、憂鬱になるのも無理はない。

[Object] + を憂鬱にさせる。

その光景は、見る者を憂鬱にさせる。

憂鬱に支配される。

彼は深い憂鬱に支配されている。

憂鬱に浸る。

秋の夜長に、独り憂鬱に浸る。

Word Family

Nouns

憂鬱 (Yuuutsu) - Melancholy/Gloom

鬱病 (Utsubyou) - Depression (Medical)

憂い (Urei) - Sorrow/Grief

Verbs

憂鬱になる (Yuuutsu ni naru) - To become gloomy

憂う (Ureau) - To grieve/lament

鬱ぐ (Fusagu) - To feel depressed/blocked

Adjectives

憂鬱な (Yuuutsu na) - Gloomy/Melancholy

憂い顔の (Ureigao no) - Sorrowful-faced

鬱陶しい (Uttoushii) - Annoying/Gloomy (weather)

落ち込む (Ochikomu)

気が滅入る (Ki ga meiru)

溜息 (Tameiki)

孤独 (Kodoku)

不安 (Fuan)

How to Use It

frequency

High in daily life, especially in contexts of work stress and weather.

Common Mistakes

Using 'yuuutsu' for simple sadness. → かなしい (Kanashii)
If your favorite character dies, you are 'kanashii'. If the whole show is dark and depressing, it is 'yuuutsu'.
Saying 'yuuutsu-ku naru'. → ゆううつになる (Yuuutsu ni naru)
Learners often treat it as an I-adjective. It's a Na-adjective, so it needs 'ni'.
Using 'yuuutsu' for medical depression in a hospital. → うつ病 (Utsubyou)
Doctors use 'utsubyou'. 'Yuuutsu' is a mood, not a clinical diagnosis.
Mixing up 'yuuutsu' and 'taikutsu'. → たいくつ (Taikutsu)
'Taikutsu' is 'I have nothing to do'. 'Yuuutsu' is 'I feel heavy/gloomy'.
Writing the kanji 鬱 with the wrong stroke order. → Follow stroke order diagrams.
With 29 strokes, the wrong order makes the character look messy and illegible.

Tips

Don't forget the 'ni'

Since 'yuuutsu' is a Na-adjective, you must use 'ni' before 'naru'. Saying 'yuuutsu naru' is a common mistake for beginners.

The Sunday Night Blues

Mentioning you are 'yuuutsu' on Sunday night is a great way to build rapport with Japanese colleagues. They will likely agree!

Katakana Usage

In casual manga or texts, you might see it written as ユウウツ. This makes the word look a bit lighter and less 'heavy' than the kanji.

Melancholy vs. Sadness

Use 'yuuutsu' when the feeling is about a lack of energy or a heavy atmosphere, not just a sharp emotional pain.

The 29-Stroke Weight

Remember that the word for 'heavy mood' has one of the 'heaviest' (most complex) kanji in the language.

Sigh as you speak

Adding a small sigh before or after saying 'yuuutsu da...' perfectly conveys the native nuance of the word.

Pair with Weather

Practice using it during the rainy season (June/July). It's the most natural context to use the word with strangers.

Song Lyrics

Look for the word in J-Pop ballads. It's a favorite for expressing teenage angst or existential dread.

Empathy Marker

When someone says they are 'yuuutsu', respond with 'Wakarimasu' (I understand) to show empathy.

Causative Usage

Master 'yuuutsu ni saseru' (to make someone gloomy) to describe how movies, news, or situations affect people.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'Yuu' as 'You' and 'Utsu' as 'Oops-too'. 'You are oops-too' gloomy today. Or visualize the 29-stroke kanji 鬱 as a dense forest of feelings that you can't walk through.

Visual Association

Imagine a tiny rain cloud hovering only over your head while everyone else is in the sun. That personal, portable cloud is your 'yuuutsu'.

Word Web

Rainy Season Sunday Night Complex Kanji Heavy Heart Low Energy Sighing Monday Morning Melancholy

Challenge

Try to say 'yuuutsu ni naru' three times fast while pretending to be a gloomy anime character. Then, try to draw the kanji 鬱 from memory just once to feel its 'heaviness'!

Word Origin

The word is composed of two kanji: 憂 (yuu) and 鬱 (utsu). The character 憂 originally depicted a person walking with a heavy heart, signifying sorrow or anxiety. The character 鬱 is much more complex, historically representing dense vegetation or spirits that are 'clogged' and unable to flow freely.

Original meaning: The combination suggests a state where one's vital energy (ki) is congested or blocked by sorrow, leading to a heavy, dark mood.

Sino-Japanese (Kango) origin.

Cultural Context

While 'yuuutsu' is casual enough for weather, be careful when using it to describe someone else's serious mental health struggles. Use 'utsubyo' for medical contexts.

English speakers might use 'I'm depressed' casually, but 'yuuutsu ni naru' is slightly more formal and 'literary' than 'I'm bummed out'. It's closer to 'melancholy'.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) - Light novel/Anime. Natsume Soseki's novels often feature 'yuuutsu' protagonists. The 'Sazae-san Syndrome' is a widely discussed social phenomenon.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Work/Office

月曜日は憂鬱だ
残業続きで憂鬱になる
会議が憂鬱だ
上司の顔を見ると憂鬱になる

Weather

雨で憂鬱になる
梅雨は憂鬱だ
曇り空が憂鬱にさせる
天気が悪いと憂鬱になりがちだ

School/Exams

テストの前は憂鬱だ
宿題が多くて憂鬱になる
学校に行くのが憂鬱だ
成績が悪くて憂鬱になった

Health

体調が悪くて憂鬱だ
更年期で憂鬱になる
入院生活は憂鬱だ
朝起きると憂鬱な気分だ

Relationships

彼と喧嘩して憂鬱だ
親戚の集まりが憂鬱だ
一人でいると憂鬱になる
失恋して憂鬱な日々を送る

Conversation Starters

"最近、雨ばかりで憂鬱になりませんか？ (Lately, doesn't the constant rain make you gloomy?)"

"日曜日の夜って、どうしてこんなに憂鬱になるんでしょうね。 (I wonder why Sunday nights make us so gloomy.)"

"仕事で憂鬱になった時、どうやって気分転換していますか？ (When you get gloomy from work, how do you change your mood?)"

"「憂鬱」って漢字、書けますか？ (Can you write the kanji for 'yuuutsu'?)"

"五月病で憂鬱になっている新入社員が多いみたいですね。 (It seems many new employees are feeling gloomy due to May Sickness.)"

Journal Prompts

今日、憂鬱になった瞬間はありましたか？それはなぜですか？ (Was there a moment you felt gloomy today? Why?)

憂鬱な気分を吹き飛ばすための、あなただけの方法を書いてください。 (Write about your personal method for blowing away gloomy feelings.)

もし「憂鬱」が色だとしたら、どんな色だと思いますか？ (If 'yuuutsu' were a color, what color would it be?)

子供の頃、何に対して憂鬱になっていましたか？ (What did you used to feel gloomy about as a child?)

最近読んだ本や映画で、憂鬱な気持ちになったものはありますか？ (Is there a book or movie you recently saw that made you feel gloomy?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it is very common. However, the kanji is formal. In speech, it's perfectly natural among friends and colleagues to express a bad mood.

Yes, you can say 'Kare no kao o miru to yuuutsu ni naru' (Looking at his face makes me gloomy). It's a common way to express dislike.

It has 29 strokes. It involves a 'forest' (林) on top of a 'can' (缶) and 'spirit' (鬯) and 'hair' (彡). It's best to look up a stroke order diagram!

Yes, it is strictly for negative, gloomy, or melancholy feelings. You wouldn't use it for a 'good' type of sadness.

'Yuuutsu da' describes your current state ('I am gloomy'). 'Yuuutsu ni naru' describes the change ('I became gloomy').

Absolutely. 'Yuuutsu na tenki' (gloomy weather) is a very common expression in Japan.

It's better to say 'Genki nai ne' (You don't have energy) or 'Ochikonderu?' (Are you down?). Saying 'Yuuutsu sou' can sound a bit heavy or clinical.

Only if the boredom is making you feel miserable. If you just have nothing to do, use 'taikutsu'.

Yes, to describe the mood regarding a project or market trends. But don't tell your boss 'I'm yuuutsu' as a reason to skip work!

It's a slang term used in anime/manga for a 'depressing plot twist' where things go very wrong for the characters.