鬱々しい

• Reading: うつうつしい
• Romaji: utsuutsushii
• Kanji breakdown: 鬱々 (utsu-utsu) — reduplicated gloom, deep depression
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.tsɯ.ɯ.tsɯ.ɕiː/

Meaning

Gloomy; depressed; melancholy; dismal. Describes a deep, lingering state of low spirits or a persistently oppressive mood.

A literary i-adjective formed by reduplicating 鬱 (utsu — depression, gloom) and adding the adjectival suffix しい. More intense and formal than 憂鬱な; it conveys a settled, heavy despondency rather than a passing mood. Appears in literary prose and introspective writing, rarely in casual conversation.

Examples

1. 失業してから鬱々しい気分が続き、外に出る気力もなくなっていた。 Since losing my job, a gloomy mood has persisted and I have lost the will to even go outside.
2. 長雨と孤独が重なり、彼女の心はどこか鬱々しく沈んでいた。 With the prolonged rain and loneliness compounding each other, her heart sank into a quiet, melancholy depression.
3. 毎日同じことの繰り返しで気持ちが鬱々しくなり、転職を考え始めた。 Doing the same thing every day left me feeling dismal, and I began to think about changing jobs.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, introspective writing, psychology, poetry

Tone: melancholic

Origin & History

Formed by reduplicating the kanji 鬱 (utsu), meaning oppression or blocked vitality, then adding the adjectival suffix しい. Reduplication intensifies the depressive quality expressed by the base character.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical to Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated