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Japanese Versatility List

Low moods

Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 42 of 71Feelings and empathy

Lets you say you are down, torn or unmotivated.

Mix-ups ochikonderu (feeling down) and nayanderu (torn, worrying over something) get swapped.

ochikonderu

polite ochikonde imasu

I'm feeling down

Says you're low after a setback; asked as 'ochikonderu?' to check on someone.

From ochikomu (to sink, get depressed); 'ochikomanaide' is 'don't be down'.

casual

shiken ochite, chotto ochikonderu.

I failed the exam, so I'm a bit down.

試験落ちて、ちょっと落ち込んでる。

polite

shigoto de shippai shite, ochikonde imasu.

I messed up at work, and I'm feeling down.

仕事で失敗して、落ち込んでいます。

Written 落ち込んでる · おちこんでる · 落ち込んでいますWho you say it and hear itHeard 205× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

yaruki ga denai

polite yaruki ga demasen

I can't get motivated

Complains you can't get started on work, study or chores.

Yaruki = the drive to do something; 'yaruki aru ne' praises someone keen. Ga is often dropped: 'yaruki denai'.

casual

ame da shi, nanka yaruki ga denai.

It's raining, and I just can't get motivated.

雨だし、なんかやる気が出ない。

polite

getsuyoubi wa nakanaka yaruki ga demasen ne.

It's hard to get motivated on Mondays.

月曜日はなかなかやる気が出ませんね。

Written やる気が出ない · やるきがでない · やる気が出ませんWho you say itHeard 1× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

nayanderu

polite nayande imasu

I'm torn; something's weighing on me

Says you're stuck on a decision or worried about a problem; 'nani nayanderu no?' asks what's bothering someone.

Covers small choices (which dessert) and real worries; nayami is 'a worry'.

casual

tenshoku suru ka dou ka, zutto nayanderu.

I keep going back and forth on whether to change jobs.

転職するかどうか、ずっと悩んでる。

polite

dore ni suru ka nayande imasu.

I can't decide which one to pick.

どれにするか悩んでいます。

Written 悩んでる · なやんでる · 悩んでいますWho you say it and hear itHeard 102× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

sonna kibun ja nai

polite sonna kibun ja nai desu

I'm not in the mood

Turns down an activity because of how you feel right now, not because you're busy.

Flip it for a craving: 'raamen no kibun' is 'I'm in the mood for ramen'.

casual

gomen, kyou wa sonna kibun ja nai.

Sorry, I'm not in the mood today.

ごめん、今日はそんな気分じゃない。

polite

sumimasen, ima wa chotto sonna kibun ja nai desu.

Sorry, I'm not really in the mood right now.

すみません、今はちょっとそんな気分じゃないです。

Written そんな気分じゃない · そんなきぶんじゃない · そんな気分じゃないですWho you say itHeard 96× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles