抑郁症
yiyuzheng
In Chinese, depression is translated as 抑郁症 (yiyuzheng).
In a medical or psychological context, 抑郁症 is the standard term for the clinical disorder.
Meaning: psychology: period of unhappiness (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 抑郁症 is composed of 抑郁 (yìyù), meaning 'depressed/melancholy' and 症 (zhèng), meaning 'disease/syndrome'.
Which one should you use?
While 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng) refers specifically to the clinical diagnosis of depression, 抑郁 (yìyù) is the adjective used to describe the state of feeling depressed.
How do you pronounce it?
yiyuzheng
Did you know?
- The term 郁 (yù) can also mean 'dense' or 'luxuriant', as used to describe thick forests. In the context of emotion, it suggests a sense of being stifled or crowded by heavy, stagnant feelings.
- In China, people often describe the physical symptoms of 抑郁症 using the word 心累 (xīnlèi), which literally means 'heart tired'. This shifts the focus from a mental state to a physical exhaustion of the soul.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, the symptoms of 抑郁 (yìyù) are often linked to the stagnation of 'Qi', the vital life force. A blockage of this energy is thought to manifest as both physical and mental heaviness.
Examples in context
- 他正在接受抑郁症的治疗。He is undergoing treatment for depression.
- 最近我感觉沮丧而且没有动力。Lately, I've been feeling depressed and unmotivated.
- 她经历了一段时间的低落情绪，需要我们的支持。She went through a period of depression and needs our support.
- 他最近患上了抑郁症。Tā zuìjìn huàn shàng le yìyùzhèng.He has been suffering from depression lately.
- 抑郁症并不容易治疗。Yìyùzhèng bìng bù róngyì zhìliáo.Depression is not easy to treat.
- 我们要关注抑郁症患者。Wǒmen yào guānzhù yìyùzhèng huànzhě.We should pay attention to patients with depression.
Example conversation
Wei and Yuting are talking about a mutual friend's health.
- 伟 Wei你听说小明的情况了吗？nǐ tīng shuō xiǎo míng de qíng kuàng le maDid you hear about Xiao Ming's situation?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，医生说他是抑郁症。shì de, yī shēng shuō tā shì yì yù zhèngYes, the doctor said he has depression.
- 伟 Wei太糟糕了，他最近确实很消沉。tài zāo cuò le, tā zuì jìn què shí hěn xiāo chénThat's terrible, he has been very depressed lately.
- 雨婷 Yuting我们会一直支持他的。wǒ men huì yī zhí zhī chí tā deWe will always support him.
