우울한
uulhan
The English word "depressed" can be expressed in Korean as 우울한 (uulhan).
우울한 is an adjective used to describe someone who is severely despondent and unhappy. While 우울한 describes the feeling or state of being, if you are referring to the clinical medical diagnosis of depression, the noun 우울증 is used instead.
Meaning: severely despondent and unhappy (adj)
Which one should you use?
If you want to express the feeling of being psychologically burdened or weighed down, you might use 의기소침하다. Additionally, if you wish to express sadness or depression more generally, you can use the phrase 기분이 좋지 않아, which literally means "feeling not good".
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form (the base form found in a dictionary) of this adjective is the verb-like 우울하다. In sentences, this is conjugated into different forms such as the polite conversational form 우울해요 or the informal form 우울해.
How do you pronounce it?
uulhan
Did you know?
- Korean has a concept called 한 (han), a collective feeling of deep sorrow and unresolved resentment that can manifest as a lifelong, cultural form of depression.
- The noun 우울증 (depression) is often colloquially referred to as the 'mind's cold' (마음의 감기) to reduce the social stigma associated with the diagnosis.
- In Korea, people often use the term 'Hwa-byung' to describe a specific type of depression caused by suppressed anger or resentment.
Examples in context
- 저는 요즘 조금 우울하다고 느껴져요.I have been feeling a bit depressed lately.
- 이번 주에 너무 우울해.I'm feeling so depressed this week.
- 기분이 우울해요.I feel depressed.
- 요즘 너무 우울한 기분이에요.yo-jeum neo-mu u-ul-han gi-bun-i-e-yo.I feel very depressed lately.
- 날씨 때문에 우울한 마음이 들어요.nal-ssi ttae-mu-ne u-ul-han ma-eum-i deu-reo-yo.The weather makes me feel depressed.
- 그녀는 우울한 표정으로 앉아 있었어요.geu-nyeo-neun u-ul-han pyo-jeong-eu-ro an-ja it-eot-seo-yo.She was sitting with a depressed expression.
Example conversation
Minjun notices Jieun looking sad at a cafe.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 왜 그렇게 우울한 표정이에요?Ji-eun ssi, wae geu-reoh-ge u-ul-han pyo-jeong-i-e-yo?Jieun, why do you have such a depressed expression?
- 지은 Ji-eun그냥 요즘 조금 우울한 편이에요.Geu-nyang yo-jeum jo-geum u-ul-han pyeon-i-e-yo.I'm just feeling a bit depressed lately.
- 민준 Min-jun무슨 고민이 있으면 말해 주세요.Mu-seun go-min-i it-seu-myeon mal-hae ju-se-yo.Please tell me if something is bothering you.
- 지은 Ji-eun고마워요, 민준 씨.Go-ma-wo-yo, Min-jun ssi.Thank you, Minjun.
