TODAY’S WORD | from Hiragana Times “New Expressions & Buzzwords”
メンブレ
me · n · bu · re
Say it in 4 beats: me-n-bu-re
メンタル mentaru = mental ＋ ブレイク bureiku = break
“feeling down” — said lightly
A bad test score, a long day, a message that stings — and suddenly you feel flat. Young people in Japan have one short word for that: メンブレ (menbure).
It comes from the English words “mental” and “break,” cut short the Japanese way. Watch out, though: in English, a “mental breakdown” is something very serious. メンブレ is much lighter — closer to “I’m feeling a bit down.” Learn this word, and you also learn how Japanese shortens long borrowed words.
Read and say メンブレ in 4 even beats, explain how it is built, and tell a friend in Japanese that you’re feeling a little down. Allow about 15–20 minutes.
How to read the Japanese on this page: small hiragana under each kanji show how to read it. Under each Japanese line you’ll find romaji (gray) and English.
Read & Say | メンブレ, sound by sound
メンブレ has 4 beats. In Japanese, each beat takes the same length of time.
- ン (n) is a full beat on its own. English speakers tend to say “men” as one quick syllable. In Japanese, hold the ン as long as メ (me). Count it on four fingers: me-n-bu-re, not men-bu-re.
- Before ブ (bu), ン sounds like “m”: your lips are already closing for the b. It sounds almost like “mem-bu-re.”
- メ (me) rhymes with “meh,” not “me”: say a short, clear “e,” as in “met.” And レ (re) is not “ray” — keep the vowel short and flat.
- ブ・レ (bu, re): the Japanese “u” is short, with relaxed, unrounded lips. The Japanese “r” is a light tap of the tongue — between English “r,” “l” and “d.”
- All katakana: メンブレ is written in katakana, the script Japanese uses for words borrowed from other languages, like メンタル (mentaru) and ブレイク (bureiku).
When do you feel menbure?
Think first: When did you last feel a little down? How would you tell a friend about it — and how would you say it at work? A note in any language is fine.
Read & Listen | menbure in Hiragana Times
Here is how the New Expressions & Buzzwords page explains メンブレ. Read the English first, then try the Japanese.
It is an abbreviated word combining “mental,” meaning the mind, and “break,” meaning to fall apart.
精神を意味する「メンタル」と、崩れるという意味の「ブレイク」を合わせて略した言葉です。
Seishin o imi suru “mentaru” to, kuzureru to iu imi no “bureiku” o awasete ryaku shita kotoba desu.
It describes a state of feeling down or being heartbroken.
気持ちが落ち込んだり、心が折れたりした状態を表します。
Kimochi ga ochikondari, kokoro ga oretari shita jōtai o arawashimasu.
It is used not only when reaching a limit, but also for a slight low mood.
限界を迎えた時だけでなく、ちょっとした落ち込みにも使います。
Genkai o mukaeta toki dake de naku, chotto shita ochikomi ni mo tsukaimasu.
The point is that on social media and elsewhere, it can be said lightly without becoming too serious.
SNSなどで、深刻になりすぎず軽く伝えられるのがポイントです。
SNS nado de, shinkoku ni narisugizu karuku tsutaerareru no ga pointo desu.
Listening point: The audio has both English and Japanese. In the Japanese, listen for メンブレ (menbure) and 落ち込み (ochikomi, “a low mood”).
The example sentences, conversation and quiz below were written by We Languages for learning. They are not quotes from the article.
Inside the Word | メン + ブレ
Japanese loves to shorten long katakana words borrowed from English. The most common recipe: keep the start of each word — usually 2 beats each — to make a new word of 4 beats. メンタル (mentaru) gives メン (men), ブレイク (bureiku) gives ブレ (bure), and together they make メンブレ.
You already know words made the same way. These two are everyday Japanese:
パーソナル・コンピューター → パソコン
pāsonaru konpyūtā → pasokon
personal computer → PC
リモート・コントロール → リモコン
rimōto kontorōru → rimokon
remote control → remote
パソコン (pa-so-ko-n) and リモコン (ri-mo-ko-n) are used by everyone. メンブレ follows the same pattern, but it is still casual slang of the younger generation.
Say it lightly | chotto menbure
Hiragana Times explains that メンブレ is also used for ちょっとした落ち込み (chotto shita ochikomi, a slight low mood), and that it can be said 軽く (karuku, lightly). So don’t translate it as “mental breakdown” — in English that means a serious crisis. Think “I’m feeling a bit down.”
Pattern: ちょっとメンブレ (chotto menbure) = “a bit down.” Add する (suru) to use it like a verb: メンブレする (menbure suru). Past: メンブレした (menbure shita).
今日はちょっとメンブレ。
Kyō wa chotto menbure.
I’m feeling a bit down today.
テストの結果を見て、メンブレした。
Tesuto no kekka o mite, menbure shita.
I felt down when I saw my test results.
Where to use it: on social media and with friends. At work or with someone older, it is the wrong register. Say 少し疲れています (sukoshi tsukarete imasu, “I’m a little tired”) instead.
Key Words | Words to talk about menbure
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| メンブレ | menbure | feeling down (slang) |
| 精神 | seishin | mind, spirit |
| 略す | ryakusu | to abbreviate |
| 落ち込む | ochikomu | to feel down |
| 心が折れる | kokoro ga oreru | to be heartbroken, to lose heart |
| 限界 | genkai | limit |
| 深刻 | shinkoku | serious |
| 軽く | karuku | lightly |
Mini Dialogue | Use menbure in a conversation
Here, B explains メンブレ to a friend. This is casual Japanese between friends.
A：どうしたの？元気ないね。
Dō shita no? Genki nai ne.
What’s wrong? You seem a bit low.
B：うん、ちょっとメンブレ。
Un, chotto menbure.
Yeah, I’m a bit down.
A：メンブレ？
Menbure?
Menbure?
B：メンタルブレイクの略。気持ちが落ち込んでるってこと。
Mentaru bureiku no ryaku. Kimochi ga ochikonderu tte koto.
It’s short for “mental break.” It means I’m feeling down.
A：そっか。甘いものでも食べに行こう！
Sokka. Amai mono demo tabe ni ikō!
I see. Let’s go get something sweet!
- 元気ないね (genki nai ne) = “you don’t look well.” Casual.
- 〜の略 (… no ryaku) = “short for …” Very handy for explaining any shortened word.
- 〜ってこと (tte koto) = “it means that …” Spoken Japanese.
Quiz | menbure check
Q1. How many beats does メンブレ have?
a) 4 (me-n-bu-re) b) 3 (men-bu-re) c) 5 (me-n-bu-re-i)
Answer
a) ン (n) is a full beat on its own. Hold it as long as the other beats.
Q2. メンブレ is short for which two words?
Answer
a) “Mental,” meaning the mind, and “break,” meaning to fall apart. The first 2 beats of each word make メンブレ.
Q3. What does メンブレ (menbure) express?
a) only a serious mental crisis b) feeling down — from a slight low mood to reaching your limit c) taking a short break from work
Answer
b) It describes feeling down or being heartbroken. It is used not only when reaching a limit, but also for a slight low mood — and it can be said lightly.
Q4. Where is メンブレ natural to use?
a) in a message to a friend or on social media b) in a meeting with a client
Answer
a) It is casual and light. At work, say 少し疲れています (sukoshi tsukarete imasu) instead.
Your Voice | A little menbure today?
Question: Have you felt メンブレ lately? Tell a friend — lightly.
最近、メンブレしたことはありますか。
Saikin, menbure shita koto wa arimasu ka.
- Say how you feel: 今日はちょっとメンブレ。 (Kyō wa chotto menbure.)
- Or say what happened: ［something］を見て、メンブレした。 (… o mite, menbure shita.)
- End on a brighter note with でも、明日は… (Demo, ashita wa …, “But tomorrow …”). Read it aloud first, then say it without looking.
今日はちょっとメンブレ。でも、明日はがんばる。
Kyō wa chotto menbure. Demo, ashita wa ganbaru.
I’m a bit down today. But I’ll do my best tomorrow.
Reflect: Can you say メンブレ in 4 even beats, holding the ン — and explain to a friend why it is lighter than an English “mental breakdown”?
Write your answer in the comments below — a We coach will reply.
Speak Your Language | Make メンブレ yours
Practice is not the goal. The goal is to make メンブレ your own word — and say what you really feel, in Japanese.
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