ブルーになる

• Reading: ブルーになる
• Romaji: burū ni naru
• Pronunciation: /bɯ.ɾɯː.ni.na.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To feel blue or get depressed — describes falling into a low or melancholy mood.

A wasei-eigo (Japanese-made English) expression that borrows the English association of 'blue' with sadness. ブルーになる is softer than clinical depression — it describes a temporary low mood, feeling down, or being in a funk. It is widely understood across generations and feels less heavy than 鬱 (utsu, depression). Often used to describe situational sadness like bad weather, a cancelled plan, or a disappointing result.

Examples

1. 月曜の朝はいつもブルーになるんだよね。 Monday mornings always make me feel blue.
2. 試験の結果を見てブルーになった。 I felt blue after seeing my exam results.
3. 雨の日が続くとブルーになりがちだよね。 When it keeps raining for days, you tend to feel blue, right?

Usage Guide

Context: friends, casual conversation, social media

Tone: melancholy, relatable, mild complaint

Do Say

• 連休明けの仕事、考えるだけでブルーになる。 (Just thinking about work after the long weekend makes me feel blue.)
• ちょっとブルーになってたけど、友達と話したら元気出た。 (I was feeling a bit blue, but talking with friends cheered me up.)

Don't Say

• 深刻なメンタルヘルスの話題で「ブルーになる」は軽すぎる (Using ブルーになる for serious mental health discussions sounds too light — use more appropriate terms)

Common Mistakes

• Using ブルーになる to describe clinical depression — it is a casual, light expression for temporary low moods, not a medical term

Origin & History

From the English expression 'feeling blue,' adapted into Japanese with なる (naru, 'to become'). Entered Japanese through Western cultural influence, likely via music and film, becoming established by the 1980s-1990s.

Cultural Context

Era: 1980s-1990s adoption from English

Generation: All ages (widely understood)

Social background: Universal casual

Regional notes: Used across Japan. A well-established loanword expression understood by all generations, though younger speakers may prefer newer slang like 病む.