Japanese word

絶望

Pronunciation

Romajizetsubō

Meaning

  • noundespair

Example

将来に絶望を感じます。shō rai ni zetsu bō o kan ji ma su

I feel despair about the future.

Illustration for 絶望 (despair)

More examples

一時の絶望に負けないでください。ichi ji no zetsu bō ni ma ke na i de ku da sa i

Please do not give in to temporary despair.

Core concept

It marks the point where a person sees no remaining path toward a hoped-for outcome.

Common phrases

  • 絶望に陥るzetsu bō ni ochii ru

    fall into despair

  • 絶望から立ち直るzetsu bō ka ra ta chi nao ru

    recover from despair

  • 絶望を乗り越えるzetsu bō o no ri ko e ru

    overcome despair

Similar words

失望shitsubō: A feeling caused by a hoped-for result not occurring.
落胆rakutan: A loss of hope or confidence after a setback.
悲観hikan: A tendency to view a situation or future as likely to end badly.

Definition in Japanese

将来や事態の改善に望みがないと感じること。shō rai ya ji tai no kai zen ni nozo mi ga na i to kan ji ru ko to

Word origin

絶望 (zetsubō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 絶 (zetsu, "end or cut off") and 望 (bō, "hope or expectation"), linking the word to hope coming to an end.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 絶望 (zetsubō) usually presents a situation as having no hopeful outcome rather than expressing a brief moment of disappointment.

Opposites

Related words

  • 絶望的zetsubōtekihopelessna-adjective
  • 絶望感zetsubōkanfeeling of despairnoun
  • 絶望するzetsubōsurudespairverb

Word lists with this word