落ち込んでいます
ochikonde imasu
In Japanese, "I am depressed" can be expressed as 落ち込んでいます (ochikonde imasu).
This phrase is used to express that one feels sad or discouraged due to a specific situation. It describes a temporary emotional low rather than a clinical diagnosis of depression.
Which one should you use?
While 落ち込んでいます is used for feeling down or discouraged due to circumstances, it should not be used to refer to the clinical condition of depression, which is called うつ病 (utsubyō).
How do you pronounce it?
ochikonde imasu
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using these phrases if you are referring to the medical diagnosis of depression. In that case, use うつ病 (utsubyō) instead.
Did you know?
- While 落ち込んでいます describes a state, Japanese speakers often use the word 凹む (hekomu), which means 'to dent', as a slang way to say they are feeling discouraged.
- In a professional or formal Japanese setting, telling someone 落ち込んでいます can feel too direct. Instead, people might mention physical symptoms like 食欲がない (shokuyoku ga nai), meaning 'having no appetite', to signal they are struggling mentally.
- The verb in 落ち込んでいます literally means 'to fall into' or 'to drop into' something, like a hole or a pit.
Examples in context
- はい、実は憂鬱です。Yes, actually, I am feeling depressed.
- 最近仕事に疲れてきて、気分が沈んでいます。Lately, I've been tired from work, and I am feeling down.
- うん、ちょっと憂鬱な気分なんだ。Yeah, I'm feeling a little depressed.
- 家族の問題で頭がいっぱいで、気分が沈んでいるんだ。I'm filled with family problems, and I am feeling low.
- 試験に落ちて、落ち込んでいます。I failed the exam and am feeling depressed.
- 仕事のミスで落ち込んでいます。Shigoto no misu de ochikonde imasu.I am depressed because of a mistake at work.
- 最近、少し落ち込んでいます。Saikin, sukoshi ochikonde imasu.I have been feeling a bit depressed lately.
Example conversation
Misaki is talking to Ren about her bad day.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さん、実は少し落ち込んでいます。Ren-san, jitsu wa sukoshi ochikonde imasu.Ren, to be honest, I am a little depressed.
- 蓮 Renどうしたんですか、美咲さん？Dou shita n desu ka, Misaki-san?What happened, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misaki大切なものを失くしてしまったんです。Taisetsu na mono o nakushite shimatta n desu.I lost something very important.
- 蓮 Renそれは大変でしたね。Sore wa taihen deshita ne.That must have been tough.
