鬱(うつ)

うつ

noun, na-adjective

depression; melancholy

1. depression; depressive state

A state of persistent low mood and lack of motivation. In medical contexts, refers to clinical depression (鬱病(うつびょう)). In everyday speech, describes feeling down or depressed.

最近(さいきん)、鬱(うつ)っぽい。

I've been feeling kind of depressed lately.

友人(ゆうじん)が鬱(うつ)と診断(しんだん)された。

My friend was diagnosed with depression.

長時間(ちょうじかん)労働(ろうどう)やストレスが原因(げんいん)で鬱(うつ)になる人(ひと)が増(ふ)えており、社会問題(しゃかいもんだい)になっている。

More people are developing depression due to long working hours and stress, making it a social issue.

2. gloom; stuffiness; oppressive feeling

A heavy, stifling atmosphere or feeling. Used in literary and formal contexts to describe an oppressive mood or environment.

雨(あめ)の日(ひ)が続(つづ)いて鬱(うつ)な気分(きぶん)だ。

The consecutive rainy days are making me feel gloomy.

部屋(へや)に閉(と)じこもっていると鬱(うつ)になる。

Staying cooped up in my room makes me feel stifled.

梅雨(つゆ)の時期(じき)は鬱(うつ)とした天気(てんき)が続(つづ)き、気持(きも)ちも沈(しず)みがちだ。

During the rainy season, the gloomy weather persists and one's mood tends to sink.

Often written in hiragana (うつ) or katakana (ウツ) because the kanji 鬱(うつ) has 29 strokes and is one of the most complex characters in common use.

SENSE 1 (depression):
The medical/clinical meaning. 鬱病(うつびょう) is the full term for clinical depression. In casual speech, 鬱(うつ) alone often implies clinical depression.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (depression):

鬱(うつ)になる (become depressed; develop depression)
鬱病(うつびょう) (depression, clinical)
鬱(うつ)っぽい (feeling depressed, kind of down)
鬱(うつ)状態(じょうたい) (depressive state)

SENSE 2 (gloom):
Describes a heavy, oppressive atmosphere or mood.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (gloom):

鬱(うつ)な気分(きぶん) (gloomy mood)
鬱(うつ)とした天気(てんき) (dreary weather)
鬱々(うつうつ)とする (feel increasingly gloomy)

Usage

The slang internet expression 鬱(うつ)だ死(し)のう is a dramatic (often humorous) way to say "I'm so depressed." Not used in serious contexts.

general

Added 2026.3.3 18:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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