抑鬱症
jik1 wat1 zing3
The English phrase "depression" is translated into Cantonese as 抑鬱症 (jik1 wat1 zing3).
抑鬱症 is the formal medical term for clinical depression.
Meaning: psychology: period of unhappiness (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 抑鬱症 is composed of 抑鬱 (depressed/melancholy) and 症 (illness/disease).
Which one should you use?
While 抑鬱症 refers to the clinical condition, 憂鬱症 refers specifically to depressive disorder. For a general feeling of being unhappy or low in mood, the colloquial expression 唔開心 is used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
抑鬱症 is a formal medical term. In informal situations, 唔開心 is a common colloquial way to describe feeling unhappy or low in mood.
How do you pronounce it?
jik1 wat1 zing3
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese medicine, the state of 抑鬱 is often linked to the 'liver' rather than the brain, as the liver is believed to govern the smooth flow of emotions.
- In Cantonese culture, emotional distress is often described as 'physical' pain, such as 心口悶 meaning 'chest tightness', rather than using the psychological term 抑鬱症.
- The character 鬱 is one of the most complex in traditional writing, often used in calligraphy to demonstrate a writer's ability to handle intricate strokes.
Examples in context
- 他患有憂鬱症已經多年了。He has been suffering from depressive disorder for many years.
- 佢最近壓力大得好辛苦。He has been under a lot of pressure lately, feeling really miserable.
- 佢最近患上咗抑鬱症。keoi5 zeoi3 gan6 waan6 seong5 zo2 jik1 jyut6 zing3.He has been suffering from depression lately.
- 抑鬱症係一種心理疾病。jik1 jyut6 zing3 hai6 jat1 zung2 san1 lei5 bing6 mat6.Depression is a type of mental illness.
- 你要小心面對抑鬱症。nei5 jiu3 siu2 sam2 min6 deoi3 jik1 jyut6 zing3.You need to be careful in dealing with depression.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about mental health.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit嘉欣，你最近點樣？gaa1 han1, nei5 zeoi3 gan6 dim2 joeng2?Ka Hin, how have you been lately?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我最近好似有抑鬱症咁。ngo5 zeoi3 gan6 hou2 ci5 jau5 jik1 juk1 zing3 gam2.I feel like I have depression lately.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit你應該去睇醫生。nei5 jing1 goi1 heoi3 tai2 ji1 sang1.You should go see a doctor.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan係，我聽日就去預約。hai6, ngo5 ting1 jat6 zau6 heoi3 jyu6 약.Yes, I will make an appointment tomorrow.
