うつ

• Reading: うつ
• Romaji: utsu
• Kanji breakdown: From 鬱 (depression, gloom) — one of the most complex kanji, almost always written in hiragana as うつ due to difficulty of the character
• Pronunciation: /u.tsu/

Meaning

Depression — feeling deeply down, low, or unable to function, used both clinically and casually.

うつ (written in hiragana, from the kanji 鬱) is widely used in everyday Japanese to discuss depression. It ranges from casual usage (「ちょっとうつっぽい」= feeling a bit depressed) to serious clinical contexts (うつ病 = depressive disorder). Japan has made significant progress in destigmatizing depression discussion, partly due to high-profile figures disclosing their experiences. However, casual overuse of うつ for minor sadness is sometimes criticized for trivializing a serious condition.

Examples

1. うつになりかけてるかも、最近全然眠れないし。 I might be on the verge of depression — I haven't been able to sleep at all lately.
2. 友達がうつだって打ち明けてきたんだけど、どう接したらいいかわからない。 My friend opened up about having depression, and I don't know how to act around them.
3. 軽いうつでも放置すると悪化するから、早めに病院行った方がいいよ。 Even mild depression can get worse if you leave it untreated, so you should see a doctor early.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, social media, healthcare, daily conversation

Tone: serious, empathetic

Do Say

• うつかもって思ったら、まず病院に相談してみて。 (If you think you might be depressed, try consulting a doctor first.)
• うつは誰でもなりうる病気だから、恥ずかしいことじゃないよ。 (Depression is an illness anyone can get — there's nothing to be ashamed of.)

Don't Say

• 「うつは気合いで治る」は絶対に言わない (Never say 'you can cure depression with willpower' — this is a harmful misconception that prevents people from seeking help)

Common Mistakes

• Using うつ too casually for minor sadness (「月曜日うつだわ」) when around someone with clinical depression — be mindful of trivializing the term

Origin & History

Simplified hiragana writing of 鬱 (utsu), an extremely complex kanji meaning 'gloomy/depressed.' The hiragana form became standard because the kanji is notoriously difficult to write (29 strokes). Clinical term うつ病 has been in medical use for decades.

Cultural Context

Era: Medical use for decades, casual use normalized from 2000s

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Japan's mental health awareness has grown significantly, with government campaigns to reduce stigma around うつ病.