物憂(ものう)い

ものうい
i-adjective
languid; listless; weary; melancholic
formalemotion
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present物憂(ものう)い物憂(ものう)くない
Past物憂(ものう)かった物憂(ものう)くなかった
て form物憂(ものう)くて物憂(ものう)くなくて
Adverbial物憂(ものう)く—
Conditional ば物憂(ものう)ければ物憂(ものう)くなければ
Conditional たら物憂(ものう)かったら物憂(ものう)くなかったら
1. languid; listless; weary; melancholic
Feeling or appearing tired, lacking energy or motivation; having a dreamy, melancholic quality.
She was looking out the window with a languid expression.
The languid afternoon hours pass by.
On rainy days, I somehow feel listless.

Forms

  • 物(もの) (vague, general) + 憂(う)い (gloomy)
  • 物憂(ものう)げ: looking languid; 物憂(ものう)げに: languidly

Usage

物憂(ものう)い is literary and poetic. It suggests a dreamy, melancholic listlessness, often with a certain aesthetic appeal (like ennui).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 怠(だる)い: tired, sluggish (physical, and everyday)
  • 憂鬱(ゆううつ): depressed, gloomy (heavier and more negative)