Entry
どんより
donyori
Describes a heavy, dark, and gloomy state, such as overcast skies, lifeless eyes, or a depressed mood.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
An onomatopoeic word that expresses a state of heaviness and lack of light or energy. It is most commonly used to describe thick, leaden clouds right before it rains, but it also applies to dull, glazed-over eyes and tense, depressing atmospheres.
- Overcast weather
- Lifeless eyes
- Gloomy atmosphere
Sense Map
Weather
Heavy, leaden, and overcast skies.
空がどんよりと曇る。
Eyes
Dull, glazed, or lifeless eyes.
どんよりした目つき。
Mood/Atmosphere
A heavy, gloomy, or depressing atmosphere.
どんよりした空気。
Usage Note
How to Use
どんよりする
Used as a verb to state that the weather or a person's mood has become gloomy.
どんよりした + noun
Modifies a noun, such as 'weather' (天気), 'eyes' (目), or 'atmosphere' (空気).
どんよりと + verb
Acts as an adverb modifying verbs like 'cloud over' (曇る) or 'sink' (沈む).
How to Use
Common Phrases
どんよりした空
overcast sky
空がどんよりする
sky becomes overcast
どんよりした目
dull, lifeless eyes
どんよりした空気
heavy atmosphere
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Negative | Suggests thick clouds and impending rain. |
| Expressions/Eyes | Negative | Implies extreme fatigue, illness, or loss of hope. |
| Atmosphere | Negative | Describes a tense, heavy, or uncomfortable mood. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぼんやり ぼんやり / similar | When someone is absent-minded, staring blankly, or when a shape/memory is fuzzy. | ぼんやり is about a lack of focus or clarity, while どんより is about heaviness, darkness, or a lack of life/energy. | ぼんやりと外を見る。 |
もやもや もやもや / similar | When feeling unresolved, frustrated, or mentally hazy/foggy. | もやもや describes a lack of mental clarity or lingering frustration, whereas どんより describes a heavy, dark depression or atmosphere. | 悩みでもやもやする。 |
すっきり すっきり / opposite | When skies clear up beautifully, or when you feel completely refreshed and unburdened. | This is the direct opposite of どんより; it means the heaviness or clouds have completely vanished. | 空がすっきり晴れる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using どんより to mean a room is completely dark at night.
Use 暗い (kurai) or 真っ暗 (makkura) for physical darkness. どんより is for cloudy, heavy, or gloomy states.
Confusing どんより (dull/lifeless) with ぼんやり (absent-minded).
Use ぼんやり for lacking focus or staring blankly. どんより implies a lack of life or energy in the eyes.
Examples
Examples
空がどんよりと曇っていて、今にも雨が降りそうだ。
そらが どんよりと くもっていて、いまにも あめが ふりそうだ。
The sky is heavily overcast, and it looks like it's going to rain at any moment.
VisualEmphasizes the heavy, dark clouds right before rain.
どんよりした天気の日は、外に出たくない。
どんよりした てんきの ひは、そとに でたくない。
I don't want to go outside on days with gloomy weather.
VisualUsed to describe the depressing feel of bad weather.
彼は寝不足でどんよりした目をしている。
かれは ねぶそくで どんよりした めを している。
He has dull, lifeless eyes from a lack of sleep.
VisualShows eyes lacking energy and brightness.
失敗して、気分がどんよりと沈んだ。
しっぱいして、きぶんが どんよりと しずんだ。
My mood sank heavily after failing.
FigurativeFigurative use for a heavy, depressed state of mind.
部屋の中にどんよりした空気が流れている。
へやの なかに どんよりした くうきが ながれている。
A heavy, gloomy atmosphere fills the room.
FigurativeDescribes a tense, uncomfortable, or depressing atmosphere.
Similar Words
もやもや
moyamoya
Describes a state of physical haziness or a cloudy, uncertain, and gloomy state of mind. Both relate to a lack of clarity, but もやもや is mental haziness or frustration, whereas どんより is a heavy gloom.
くさくさ
kusakusa
Describes a nagging sense of depression or gloominess caused by minor frustrations or worries.
ぼんやり
bonyari
This word describes something that lacks clarity and sharpness, either visually blurry and dim, or a state of spacing out and being absentminded. Both can apply to eyes/expressions, but ぼんやり is absent-minded while どんより is lifeless and heavy.
すっきり
sukkiri
Feeling refreshed, relieved, or appearing neat and clean without any lingering clutter. The direct opposite: indicates a clear sky or a completely refreshed, unburdened mood.
Questions
Can I use どんより to describe a dark room at night?
No, どんより implies a heavy, cloudy, or gloomy state rather than just a lack of light. For a dark room, use 暗い (kurai).
What is the difference between どんより and ぼんやり?
どんより means heavy, gloomy, or lifeless (like thick clouds or dull eyes). ぼんやり means vague, out of focus, or absent-minded.
Is どんより always negative?
Yes, it almost always carries a negative nuance, indicating a lack of sunlight, energy, or cheerfulness.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2009280
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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