Korean Dictionary
How to say "Depressed" in Korean
“Depressed” in Korean is 우울하다 (pronounced "Uulhada").
우울하다
Uulhada
Usage & Context
Can describe both clinical depression and a temporary low mood. Korean culture is becoming more open about mental health discussions using this term. Even rainy weather is often described as making people feel 우울해 (gloomy/down).
Example Sentence
요즘 날씨가 흐려서 기분이 우울해요.
The gloomy weather lately is making me feel depressed.
How to use 우울하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Depressed” is 우울하다, romanized as Uulhada.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 우울하다.
Pronunciation Guide
우 (u) sounds like 'oo' in 'moon'. 울 (ul) sounds like 'ool' in 'cool'. 하 (ha) is like 'ha' in 'haha'. 다 (da) is like 'da' in 'dad'. The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on '울'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
우울해요
Uulhaeyo
Used in polite, everyday conversations.
Casual (반말)
우울해
Uulhae
Used among close friends or family.
More Example Sentences
Someone talking about how weather affects their mood.
비 오는 날은 왠지 모르게 우울해져요.
On rainy days, I somehow feel depressed/gloomy.
A person feeling down due to work stress.
요즘 일이 잘 안 풀려서 좀 우울해요.
Things aren't going well at work lately, so I'm a bit depressed/down.
Discussing someone's mental health condition.
친구가 우울증 때문에 병원에 다니고 있어요.
My friend is going to the hospital because of depression.
Cultural Context
우울하다 can range from a temporary feeling of gloominess (like on a rainy day) to clinical depression. While mental health discussions were once taboo, there's a growing openness in Korea, especially among younger generations, to talk about feeling 우울하다. K-dramas and K-pop lyrics often explore themes of sadness and overcoming 우울함 (depression/gloominess), making the term more relatable and less stigmatized.
Editorial note
We review entries like 우울하다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
우울한 날
Gloomy day
우울증
Depression (the medical condition)
기분이 우울하다
To feel gloomy/depressed
Related Expressions
슬프다
Seulpeuda
To be sad
침울하다
Chimulhada
To be gloomy/somber
행복하다
Haengbokhada
To be happy
기분이 안 좋다
Gibuni an jota
To feel bad/not good
More Emotions Words
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