Translation guide
The English verb 'mope' describes a state of being listless, gloomy, or self-pityingly inactive. Japanese expresses this through verbs and phrases that convey sulking, brooding, or moping around.
Describing someone who is moving slowly, looking sad, and lacking energy because they are unhappy.
Means to hang around idly or aimlessly. When used in a gloomy context, it implies moping around without purpose.
彼は一日中部屋でぶらぶらしていた。
He was moping around his room all day.
Describes someone who is indecisive, hesitant, and wallowing in self-pity or gloom. Often used for moping over a problem.
Describing someone who is visibly unhappy, often in a childish or passive-aggressive way, and refuses to engage.
Both describe brooding, but うじうじ emphasizes hesitation and wallowing in indecision, while くよくよ focuses on worrying and dwelling on past events. うじうじ is more about inaction; くよくよ is more about mental anguish.
彼は告白するかどうかうじうじしている。
He's moping about whether to confess or not.
彼女は自分のミスをくよくよ考えている。
She's moping over her mistake.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'mope'. Avoid direct translations like モープする. Instead, use the context-appropriate phrases above.
Stop moping around forever and take action.
Means to worry or brood over something, often in a mopey, self-pitying way. Commonly used for moping about past events.
失敗をくよくよしても仕方がない。
There's no point moping over your failure.
Literally 'to sink into gloom'. Describes someone who is deeply depressed and withdrawn, often staying in their room and moping.
彼女は失恋してからずっとふさぎ込んでいる。
She's been moping ever since her breakup.
To sulk or pout, often in a childish manner. Implies being moody and uncooperative because things didn't go your way.
子供がおもちゃを買ってもらえなくてすねている。
The child is moping because he didn't get the toy.
To be in a huff or sulk defiantly. Stronger than すねる, often used for teenagers or adults acting grumpy and unresponsive.
彼は注意されてふてくされた。
He moped after being scolded.
To become moody or sullen. A general phrase for when someone's mood turns bad and they show it.
彼女は急に不機嫌になって、何も話さなくなった。
She suddenly started moping and stopped talking.