Entry
うつうつ
utsuutsu
うつうつ describes a heavy, gloomy emotional state caused by worry, or a state of thickly overgrown vegetation.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Primarily, it depicts a prolonged state of feeling weighed down, gloomy, or brooding due to anxiety (often written in kanji as 鬱々). It can also describe woods that are densely overgrown, or a state of dozing off.
- feeling gloomy
- overgrown vegetation
- dozing off
Sense Map
Gloomy Emotions
A heavy, gloomy, or brooding state of mind caused by anxiety.
気分がうつうつとする
Dense Vegetation
Plants or trees growing thickly and densely.
うつうつとした森
Dozing Off
A state of being half-asleep or hovering between sleep and wakefulness.
うつうつとしている
Usage Note
How to Use
うつうつとする
To feel gloomy or mentally weighed down.
うつうつとした
A gloomy noun like a mood or day, or a dense forest.
うつうつとして
How to Use
Common Phrases
気分がうつうつとする
mood becomes gloomy
うつうつとした日々
gloomy days
うつうつとした森
dense, overgrown woods
うつうつと過ごす
to spend time gloomily
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about rainy weather or exams. | Negative | Often used when external factors like bad weather drag one's mood down. |
| Describing nature. | Neutral | Used in literary contexts for very dense woods (often written as 鬱々). |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
もんもん もんもん / similar | When agonizing over an unresolved issue. | もんもん focuses on the anguish of finding a solution, while うつうつ is a passive, heavy gloom. | 答えが出ずにもんもんとする |
もやもや もやもや / similar | When feeling fuzzy, unsettled, or lacking clarity. | もやもや is a fuzzy, unsettled feeling, while うつうつ is a heavy, passive gloom. | 言いたいことが言えずもやもやする |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using うつうつ for sudden, sharp sadness like bursting into tears.
うつうつ is for a prolonged, stagnant state of being down or brooding.
Using うつうつ to describe a bright, open forest.
うつうつとした describes a forest that is thickly overgrown and often implicitly dark because of the dense foliage.
Examples
Examples
こんな雨の日は気分もうつうつとしてくる。
こんなあめのひはきぶんもうつうつとしてくる。
On rainy days like this, my mood becomes gloomy.
FigurativeDescribes how the mood sinks due to the rainy environment.
試験が心配でうつうつした日が続いている。
しけんがしんぱいでうつうつしたひがつづいている。
Worried about the exam, my gloomy days continue.
LiteralA typical usage expressing a state where the mood remains cloudy for a long time due to worries.
今はうつうつした曲よりハイテンポの曲が聴きたい気分だ。
いまはうつうつしたきょくよりハイテンポのきょくがききたいきぶんだ。
Right now, I'm in the mood to listen to up-tempo songs rather than gloomy ones.
FigurativeExpressing the dark and heavy impression received from things like music.
うつうつとした雑木林を抜けると、青い空が広がっていた。
うつうつとしたぞうきばやしをぬけると、あおいそらがひろがっていた。
Passing through the dense, overgrown thicket, a blue sky spread out before me.
VisualDescribing a forest so densely packed with plants that it feels dark. Often written in kanji as 鬱々.
夕方、寝床でうつうつとしている愛犬。
ゆうがた、ねどこでうつうつとしているあいけん。
In the evening, my beloved dog is dozing off in its bed.
LiteralDescribing a state of dozing, where it's unclear if one is awake or asleep.
Similar Words
もんもん
monmon
Describes a state of mental agony or brooding where one is unable to clear their mind due to deep worries. When agonizing over an unresolved issue. もんもん focuses on the anguish of finding a solution, while うつうつ is a passive, heavy gloom.
もやもや
moyamoya
Describes a state of physical haziness or a cloudy, uncertain, and gloomy state of mind. When feeling fuzzy, unsettled, or lacking clarity. もやもや is a fuzzy, unsettled feeling, while うつうつ is a heavy, passive gloom.
Questions
Does うつうつ mean ordinary sadness?
Not exactly. うつうつ fits a heavy, gloomy mood that lingers, not a brief moment of sadness.
Can うつうつ be used for sleeping?
Yes. Though not as common as うとうと, it can describe dozing or hovering between sleep and wakefulness.
Is this word used in casual conversation?
It is understood in conversation but often appears in writing, diaries, or when someone is deeply reflecting on their mental state.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 934924703
- Source
- Internal
- Source URL
- goiryoku.com/onomatopoeia/utuutu/
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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