Chinese word

抑郁

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì yù

Meaning

  • adjectivedepressed

Example

最近我总是感到抑郁。zuì jìn wǒ zǒng shì gǎn dào yì yù

I've been feeling depressed lately.

Illustration for 抑郁 (depressed)

More examples

最近他看起来很抑郁，很少参加社交活动。zuì jìn tā kàn qǐ lái hěn yì yù hén shǎo cān jiā shè jiāo huó dòng

Recently, he looks depressed and rarely takes part in social activities.

Core concept

A mind weighed down so that feelings, energy, and interest cannot move freely.

Common phrases

  • 显得抑郁xiǎn de yì yù

    appear depressed

  • 越来越抑郁yuè lái yuè yì yù

    increasingly depressed

Similar words

郁闷yù mèn: Feeling inwardly heavy and stifled, with no sense of emotional relief.
沮丧jǔ sàng: Losing spirit and confidence after hopes are disappointed.
难过nán guò: Feeling sad and emotionally hurt by a painful situation.
悲伤bēi shāng: Feeling deep sorrow and heartache.

Definition in Chinese

指情绪长期或短期地低落、心情沉重，常伴随对事物兴趣减少、精力下降的心理状态。zhǐ qíng xù cháng qī huò duǎn qī dì dī luò xīn qíng chén zhòng cháng bàn suí duì shì wù xìng qù jián shǎo jīng lì xià jiàng de xīn lǐ zhuàng tài

Word origin

抑 (yì, "restrain") + 郁 (yù, "confined or stagnant") forms a compound for an inward state in which emotion seems blocked and heavy.

Usage tips

  • The word can sound casual in conversation, yet its health-related use is also serious, so context shows whether it means a passing low mood or a continuing condition.

Other meanings

  • depressiveadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 抑郁情绪yì yù qíng xùdepressed moodnoun
  • 抑郁症状yì yù zhèng zhuàngdepressive symptomsnoun

Word lists with this word