郁闷

You use it as an adjective. You can say 我很郁闷 (I am depressed/gloomy). You can also use it to describe a situation. If a movie has a sad ending, you might call it 很郁闷. It often follows words like 很 (very) or 太 (too). It is a great way to vent your feelings quickly.

Use it when life throws you a curveball. Use it when you fail a test. Use it when you are stuck in traffic. It is perfect for texting friends about a bad day. It works well when you want sympathy. You can also use it to describe a heavy atmosphere in a room.

Do not use it in very formal documents. Avoid it when speaking to a high-level boss about serious clinical depression. It is a bit too casual for a medical diagnosis. Also, do not use it for extreme tragedies. It might sound too light for a major life disaster. Use more serious words like 痛苦 (painful) then.

This word exploded in popularity with the internet generation. Young people in China used it to express the pressures of modern life. It became a 'catch-all' for the frustrations of school and work. It reflects a shift toward expressing personal feelings more openly. It is now a staple of Mandarian daily life.

You might hear people say 闷死了 (bored/stifled to death). Some people use 心塞 (heart is stuffed) for a similar feeling. In slang, you might see emo used by Gen Z. But 郁闷 remains the classic, reliable choice for everyone. It is the 'old faithful' of Chinese emotional vocabulary.