Meaning
忧郁 describes a state of deep sadness, gloominess, or melancholy. It can refer to both a temporary mood of dejection and a more serious clinical condition (depression). The term conveys a sense of emotional heaviness and persistent low spirits.
Usage
忧郁 is commonly used in both literary and everyday contexts to describe someone's mood or temperament. It can describe a person (忧郁的人), an atmosphere (忧郁的气氛), or even artistic styles (忧郁的音乐). In medical contexts, it may refer to clinical depression, though 抑郁症 is more specific for the medical diagnosis.
Examples
- 01他最近看起来很忧郁，总是一个人坐在角落里。, .He looks very melancholy recently, always sitting alone in the corner.
- 02这首歌的旋律带着一种淡淡的忧郁。.The melody of this song carries a faint melancholy.
Characters
Common collocations
- 忧郁症depression (illness)
- 忧郁的眼神melancholy eyes
- 心情忧郁feel depressed/melancholy
- 忧郁的气质melancholic temperament
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to emotional states. 忧 (worry) combines the heart radical with a phonetic component, while 郁 originally meant dense vegetation or something pent-up, extended to mean suppressed emotions.