うつ
의미: 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.
예문
- うつになりかけてるかも、最近全然眠れないし。 感觉快要抑郁了,最近完全睡不着。Puede que esté a punto de caer en depresión, últimamente no puedo dormir nada.우울증에 걸릴 것 같아, 요즘 전혀 잠을 못 자.
- 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。 朋友向我坦白说得了抑郁症,但不知道该怎么和他相处。Un amigo me ha confesado que tiene depresión, pero no sé cómo tratarle.친구가 우울증이라고 털어놨는데, 어떻게 대해야 할지 모르겠어.
- 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。 即使是轻度抑郁放着不管也会恶化,所以最好早点去看医生。Aunque sea una depresión leve, si la dejas puede empeorar, así que mejor ir al médico cuanto antes.가벼운 우울증도 방치하면 악화되니까, 빨리 병원에 가는 게 좋아.
발음
/u.tsu/
사용 가이드
맥락: friends, social media, healthcare, daily conversation
어조: serious, empathetic
✓ 올바른 표현
- 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.)如果觉得自己可能抑郁了,先去医院咨询一下吧。(If you think you might be depressed, try consulting a doctor first.)Si crees que podrías tener depresión, prueba a consultar con un médico primero.우울증일 수도 있다는 생각이 들면, 일단 병원에 상담해 봐.
- 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.)抑郁症是任何人都可能得的病,没什么好羞耻的。(Depression is an illness anyone can get — there's nothing to be ashamed of.)La depresión es una enfermedad que le puede pasar a cualquiera, no hay nada de lo que avergonzarse.우울증은 누구나 걸릴 수 있는 병이니까, 부끄러운 게 아니야.
✗ 잘못된 표현
- 「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)绝对不要说'抑郁靠意志力就能治好'——这是一种有害的误解,会阻碍人们寻求帮助Nunca digas «la depresión se cura con fuerza de voluntad» — es una idea errónea y dañina que impide a la gente buscar ayuda.「우울증은 정신력으로 낫는다」는 절대 하지 마 — 도움을 구하는 것을 막는 해로운 오해다
흔한 실수
- 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
기원과 역사
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.
문화적 배경
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.
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