Translation and Meaning of: 憂鬱 - yuuutsu

The Japanese word 「憂鬱」, read as "ゆううつ" (yuuutsu), is used to describe a state of emotional melancholy or depression. This term often evokes a feeling of sadness and discouragement that can be associated with deep emotional experiences or challenging situations. The word is composed of two kanji, 「憂」 and 「鬱」, each contributing its meaning to express this complex emotion.

Focusing on etymology, 「憂」 (yuu) means "care" or "sadness." This kanji is composed of the radical for "heart" （心） at the bottom, symbolizing an emotional state afflicted by worries. The second kanji, 「鬱」 (utsu), is more complex and refers to "depression" or a sense of "density," perhaps metaphorically comparing feelings to a dense and oppressive forest. This kanji is made up of several elements, including "forest" (林) and "sacrifice" （鬰）, which together may denote an emotional blockage.

The origin of the word dates back to ancient literary traditions of Japan and China, where in many classical works, deep feelings and states of introspection were often described using such characters. In the historical context, expressions of melancholy were frequently discussed in poetic and philosophical works, reflecting the cultural awareness of these intricate emotional states.

With these linguistic and cultural roots, 「憂鬱」 carries considerable weight in the Japanese language and is often used in both literary and everyday contexts to describe feelings that require introspection and understanding. The popularity of the term in expressing emotional complexity still resonates among writers and artists, who seek to convey the subtleties of the human condition.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 悲しみ (Kanashimi) - Tristeza
• 悲痛 (Hitō) - Deep pain or intense sadness
• 悲嘆 (Hitan) - Intense sorrow or grief for loss
• 悲哀 (Hiai) - Sadness or lamentation
• 悲慟 (Hidō) - Extreme sadness, usually due to death
• 悲観 (Hikan) - Pessimism or a negative outlook
• 悲愴 (Hisō) - Deep sadness, usually touching or moving
• 哀愁 (Aishū) - Melancholic feeling or nostalgia
• 哀悼 (Aidō) - Feelings of mourning or condolences
• 哀痛 (Aitō) - Grief pains, deep sadness
• 哀れ (Aware) - Compassion or pity
• 哀れむ (Awareru) - To feel pity or compassion for someone.
• 哀れみ (Awaremi) - Compassion or empathy for the suffering of others

憂鬱

Romaji: yuuutsu
Kana: ゆううつ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: depression; melancholy; discouragement; darkness

Meaning in English: depression;melancholy;dejection;gloom

Definition: Feeling dark and low on energy.

Example Sentences - (憂鬱) yuuutsu

See below some example sentences:

私は憂鬱な気分です。

Watashi wa yūutsu na kibun desu

I have a feeling of sadness/depression.

I feel depressed.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 憂鬱 (yuuutsu) - a noun that means "melancholy," "sadness"
• な (na) - particle that connects the previous noun to an adjective, in this case, "yuuutsu" to "kibun"
• 気分 (kibun) - noun that means "state of mind," "mood"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and formal way of expressing oneself in Japanese