adjective HSK 5
Traditional 鬱悶
depressed · gloomy · dejected · frustrated
Meaning
郁闷 describes a feeling of being depressed, stifled, or frustrated—a state where negative emotions are bottled up inside. It conveys a sense of emotional heaviness or oppression, often when someone feels unable to express their feelings or when things aren't going their way.
Usage
Commonly used in casual speech among friends to express mild to moderate frustration or disappointment. It's less clinical than 抑郁 (depression) and more about everyday annoyances or setbacks. Often appears in phrases like 感到郁闷 (feel depressed) or 心里郁闷 (feel gloomy inside).
Examples
- 01最近工作不顺利，我感到很郁闷。, .Work hasn't been going well lately, and I feel very depressed.
- 02他考试没考好，心里特别郁闷。, .He didn't do well on the exam and feels especially dejected.
Characters
Common collocations
- 感到郁闷to feel depressed
- 心里郁闷feel gloomy inside
- 很郁闷very depressed
- 郁闷的心情gloomy mood
Antonyms
Origin
郁 originally referred to dense vegetation or something pent-up, while 闷 means stuffy or confined. Together they create the image of emotions being trapped or stifled, unable to be released.