抑鬱
jik1 wat1
The Cantonese word for depressed is 抑鬱 (jik1 wat1).
抑鬱 is used to describe a state of being severely despondent and unhappy. To express a sense of melancholy or simply being downcast, a more formal alternative is 沮喪.
Meaning: severely despondent and unhappy (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
jik1 wat1
Did you know?
- The character 鬱 is one of the most complex commonly used characters in the language, consisting of 29 strokes. Its visual density is sometimes poetically linked to the 'heavy' or 'suffocating' feeling of depression.
- In traditional Chinese medicine concepts often referenced in Cantonese, 抑鬱 is closely linked to the 'liver' (肝) being unable to regulate the flow of 'qi'.
- The character 抑 means 'to suppress' and 鬱 means 'stagnant' or 'melancholy'. Together, they describe depression as an emotional blockage or a failure of energy to flow.
Examples in context
- 我有啲壓抑嘅感覺。I have a feeling of depression.
- 佢最近好抑鬱。keoi5 zeoi3 gan6 hou2 jik1 jyut6.He has been very depressed lately.
- 我唔想諗，因為我覺得好抑鬱。ngo5 m4 soeng2 nam2, jan1 wai6 ngo5 gok3 dak1 hou2 jik1 jyut6.I don't want to think about it because I feel very depressed.
- 佢因為失業而變得好抑鬱。keoi5 jan1 wai6 sat1 jip6 ji4 bin3 dak1 hou2 jik1 jyut6.He became very depressed because of unemployment.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a mutual acquaintance's mental health.
- 美玲 Mei Ling你知唔知佢最近好抑鬱？nei5 zi1 m4 zi1 keoi5 zeoi3 gan6 hou2 jik1 jyut6?Do you know he has been very depressed lately?
- 子健 Tsz Kin係呀，我睇佢好似好唔開心。hai6 aa3, ngo5 tai2 keoi5 hou2 ci5 hou2 m4 hoi1 sam1.Yes, I saw him and he looked very unhappy.
- 美玲 Mei Ling我好擔心佢嘅精神狀態。ngo5 hou2 daam1 sam1 keoi5 ge3 zing1 san4 zong6 taai3.I am very worried about his mental state.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我哋應該去探下佢。ngo5 dei6 jing1 goi1 heoi3 taam3 haa5 keoi5.We should go visit him.
