1.
gloomy; dismal; melancholy; somber
Describes a dark, depressing atmosphere, mood, or personality. Conveys a heavy, oppressive feeling of gloom.
陰鬱な空が広がっていた。
A gloomy sky stretched out overhead.
彼は陰鬱な表情で黙っていた。
He was silent with a somber expression.
雨が続いて、部屋の中まで陰鬱な雰囲気に包まれた。
The rain continued, and even the room was enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere.
Describes a heavy, oppressive sense of gloom that goes beyond simple sadness. Often used for weather, atmospheres, facial expressions, and moods. The word suggests a persistent, weighing darkness rather than a momentary feeling.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 陰鬱な雰囲気: gloomy atmosphere
- 陰鬱な表情: somber expression
- 陰鬱な天気: dismal weather
- 陰鬱な気分: melancholy mood
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 憂鬱: depressed, melancholy — focuses more on personal emotional state; more commonly used in everyday speech
- 暗い: dark, gloomy — simpler and more general; used in both literal and figurative senses
- 陰気: gloomy, dreary — similar but slightly less literary; often used for personalities
REGISTER:
Literary and formal. Frequently appears in novels, especially in descriptions of settings and moods. Less common in casual conversation, where 憂鬱 or 暗い would be preferred.