yìyù: 抑郁 - Depression, Depressed, Gloomy

• Keywords: yiyu, yiyu meaning, 抑郁, Chinese for depression, how to say depressed in Chinese, mental health in China, Chinese culture and depression, 抑郁症, yiyu vs nanguo, melancholy in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese term 抑郁 (yìyù), which means “depression” or “depressed.” This page explores its meaning, from the clinical diagnosis of 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng) to its use for describing a deep, heavy sense of gloom. Discover the cultural context of mental health in China, understand how to use 抑郁 (yìyù) correctly in conversation, and see how it differs from simply feeling sad (难过, nánguò). This is an essential guide for anyone interested in modern Chinese society and mental well-being.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yìyù
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be depressed; the state of depression, gloom, or melancholy.
• In a Nutshell: 抑郁 (yìyù) isn't just about having a bad day. It describes a persistent, heavy feeling of being weighed down emotionally. Think of it as a dark cloud that follows you, draining your energy and joy. While it can describe a deep, melancholic mood, it is most commonly and seriously used as the root word for clinical depression (抑郁症, yìyùzhèng). It's a much stronger and more severe term than simply being “sad” (难过, nánguò).

• 抑 (yì): This character means “to press down,” “to restrain,” or “to curb.” The left side is the hand radical (扌), suggesting an action of pressing. The right side (卩) depicts a person kneeling or being subdued. Together, they create a powerful image of being physically and emotionally held down.
• 郁 (yù): This character means “gloomy,” “melancholy,” or “dense.” It's a complex character that evokes a feeling of being trapped. You can see a container-like radical on the right (阝) and a dense, thick growth on the left, like being stuck in a thick, dark forest. It implies a sense of stagnation and pent-up emotion.

When combined, 抑郁 (yìyù) paints a vivid picture: a dense, heavy gloom (郁) that is constantly pressing down (抑) on a person's spirit, leading to a state of depression.

The concept of 抑郁 (yìyù) is at the heart of a major cultural shift in modern China regarding mental health. Historically, discussing mental and emotional struggles was often stigmatized. In a collectivist culture that values endurance, resilience, and not burdening one's family or community, admitting to feelings of 抑郁 could be seen as a sign of personal weakness or a cause of “losing face” (丢面子, diū miànzi). As a result, emotional distress was often “somatized”—expressed through physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or stomach problems, which were more socially acceptable to discuss with a doctor. This contrasts with the modern Western approach, where open discussion about mental health, therapy, and self-care is increasingly encouraged as a sign of self-awareness and strength. However, this is rapidly changing in China. With urbanization, intense academic and professional pressure (压力, yālì), and greater global awareness, 抑郁 is now a widely discussed topic, especially among younger generations. Celebrities openly share their struggles, and social media is filled with conversations about mental well-being (心理健康, xīnlǐ jiànkāng). While family support remains paramount, seeking professional therapy is no longer as taboo as it once was. Understanding 抑郁 is key to understanding the challenges and transformations of contemporary Chinese society.

The way 抑郁 (yìyù) is used depends heavily on the context and formality.

• Clinical and Formal Context: This is the most common and serious usage. A doctor would diagnose a patient with 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng), the formal term for Major Depressive Disorder. In news reports, academic articles, and serious discussions about health, 抑郁 refers to the clinical condition.
• Serious Personal Conversation: If someone tells you, “我最近很抑郁” (Wǒ zuìjìn hěn yìyù - “I've been very depressed lately”), they are likely indicating a serious, prolonged period of low mood, not just a fleeting sadness. It should be taken seriously.
• Informal and Social Media Usage: Among younger people online, 抑郁 is sometimes used hyperbolically to describe intense stress or burnout, similar to how an English speaker might say “This work is so depressing.” For example, someone might post, “天天加班，快抑郁了” (Tiāntiān jiābān, kuài yìyù le - “Working overtime every day, I'm about to get depressed”). This is a newer, more informal usage that lessens the clinical severity of the term in that specific context.

• Example 1:
  • 医生诊断他患有严重的抑郁症。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng zhěnduàn tā huàn yǒu yánzhòng de yìyùzhèng.
  • English: The doctor diagnosed him with severe depression.
  • Analysis: This shows the formal, clinical use of the term. Note the addition of 症 (zhèng), which means “illness” or “disorder,” to create the specific medical term.
• Example 2:
  • 失去工作后，他感到非常抑郁和无助。
  • Pinyin: Shīqù gōngzuò hòu, tā gǎndào fēicháng yìyù hé wúzhù.
  • English: After losing his job, he felt extremely depressed and helpless.
  • Analysis: Here, 抑郁 is used as an adjective to describe a deep emotional state caused by a major life event. It implies more than just sadness.
• Example 3:
  • 如果你感到抑郁，应该跟朋友或者家人谈谈。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ gǎndào yìyù, yīnggāi gēn péngyǒu huòzhě jiārén tántan.
  • English: If you are feeling depressed, you should talk with friends or family.
  • Analysis: This is a common piece of advice, using 抑郁 in the general sense of feeling depressed. It's a supportive and empathetic sentence.
• Example 4:
  • 这部电影的气氛很抑郁，看得我心情很沉重。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de qìfēn hěn yìyù, kàn de wǒ xīnqíng hěn chénzhòng.
  • English: The atmosphere of this movie is very gloomy; it made me feel very heavy-hearted.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates that 抑郁 can describe not just a person's feeling, but also the mood or atmosphere of a place, book, or film.
• Example 5:
  • 长期的压力是导致抑郁的主要原因之一。
  • Pinyin: Chángqī de yālì shì dǎozhì yìyù de zhǔyào yuányīn zhī yī.
  • English: Long-term stress is one of the main causes of depression.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 抑郁 is used as a noun representing the condition of depression in a general, factual statement.
• Example 6:
  • 她努力摆脱抑郁情绪，积极面对生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā nǔlì bǎituō yìyù qíngxù, jījí miànduì shēnghuó.
  • English: She worked hard to shake off her depressive mood and face life with positivity.
  • Analysis: This example uses the phrase 抑郁情绪 (yìyù qíngxù), which means “depressive feelings/mood.” It's a slightly softer way to talk about the emotional state.
• Example 7:
  • 别一天到晚说自己抑郁了，你只是有点不开心而已。
  • Pinyin: Bié yī tiān dào wǎn shuō zìjǐ yìyù le, nǐ zhǐshì yǒudiǎn bù kāixīn éryǐ.
  • English: Don't say you're “depressed” all day long, you're just a little unhappy.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the distinction between true 抑郁 and everyday unhappiness. It serves as a correction, pointing out the overuse of the term.
• Example 8:
  • 我感觉整个世界都是灰色的，这大概就是抑郁吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gǎnjué zhěnggè shìjiè dōu shì huīsè de, zhè dàgài jiùshì yìyù ba.
  • English: I feel like the whole world is gray; I guess this is what depression is.
  • Analysis: This is a very personal and descriptive sentence, capturing the subjective feeling of 抑郁. The final “吧 (ba)” adds a sense of resigned contemplation.
• Example 9:
  • 考完试，我感觉整个人都抑郁了。
  • Pinyin: Kǎo wán shì, wǒ gǎnjué zhěnggè rén dōu yìyù le.
  • English: After finishing the exams, I feel completely burnt out and depressed.
  • Analysis: This is an example of the modern, slightly hyperbolic usage common among students and young professionals to express extreme exhaustion and mental fatigue, not necessarily clinical depression.
• Example 10:
  • 社会应该给予抑郁症患者更多的理解和支持。
  • Pinyin: Shèhuì yīnggāi jǐyǔ yìyùzhèng huànzhě gèng duō de lǐjiě hé zhīchí.
  • English: Society should give patients with depression more understanding and support.
  • Analysis: This sentence advocates for social change and uses the full, formal term 抑郁症患者 (yìyùzhèng huànzhě), meaning “patients with depression.”

• Mistake 1: Using 抑郁 (yìyù) for everyday sadness.

This is the most common error for learners. If you failed a test or had a bad day, the correct word is 难过 (nánguò) or 不开心 (bù kāixīn). 抑郁 implies a much deeper, more persistent, and serious condition.

• Incorrect: 我没买到那件衣服，好抑郁啊！(Wǒ méi mǎidào nà jiàn yīfu, hǎo yìyù a! - I didn't buy that dress, so depressed!)
• Correct: 我没买到那件衣服，好难过啊！(Wǒ méi mǎidào nà jiàn yīfu, hǎo nánguò a! - I didn't buy that dress, so sad!)
• False Friend: “Depressed”

In English, it's common to say “I'm so depressed it's raining” or “This meeting is depressing.” This casual use of “depressed” does not translate well to 抑郁. Using 抑郁 in Chinese carries more clinical weight and seriousness. For a “depressing” atmosphere, you might use 压抑 (yāyì) or 沉闷 (chénmèn).

• Mistake 2: Confusing 抑郁 (yìyù) and 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng).
  • *抑郁 (yìyù) can be the feeling/adjective (“I feel depressed”) or the general concept (the topic of “depression”). 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng) is specifically the medical diagnosis, the illness itself. The character 症 (zhèng) means “syndrome” or “illness.” While related, they are not always interchangeable. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * 抑郁症 (yìyùzhèng) - The specific medical term for the illness of Depression (Major Depressive Disorder). * 难过 (nánguò) - The most common word for “sad,” typically temporary and linked to a specific cause. It is much less severe than 抑郁. * 悲伤 (bēishāng) - A more formal or literary word for “sorrowful” or “grieved.” Deeper than 难过, but less clinical than 抑郁. * 情绪低落 (qíngxù dīluò) - Literally “emotions are low.” A common, slightly formal way to say someone is “in low spirits” or “feeling down.” * 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) - “Anxiety” or “anxious.” Often discussed alongside 抑郁 as they can be co-occurring conditions (anxiety and depression). * 压力 (yālì) - “Pressure” or “stress.” Seen as a major contributor to feelings of 抑郁 in modern life. The character 压 (yā) means “to press,” similar to 抑 (yì). * 压抑 (yāyì) - “Repressed,” “constraining,” or “oppressive.” Describes a feeling of being held back or an atmosphere that is stifling. It shares the character 抑 and the theme of being pressed down. * 心理健康 (xīnlǐ jiànkāng) - “Mental health.” The broader field and concept to which 抑郁** belongs.