Chinese Conversation · Level 68
90 words
Chinese word
绝望
Pronunciation
Pinyinjué wàng
Meaning
- verblose hope
Example
她听到消息后就绝望了。tā tīng dào xiāo xī hòu jiù jué wàng le
After she heard the news, she lost hope.
More examples
听到结果后，他对未来绝望了。tīng dào jié guǒ hòu tā duì wèi lái jué wàng le
After hearing the result, he despaired over the future.
Core concept
A once-open future becomes a sealed horizon, with hope replaced by the feeling that no turn is possible.
Common phrases
对未来绝望duì wèi lái jué wàng
despair over the future
对生活绝望duì shēng huó jué wàng
despair over life
对工作绝望duì gōng zuò jué wàng
despair over work
Similar words
失望shī wàng: Feel let down when a hoped-for result does not happen.
泄气xiè qì: Become discouraged and lose the drive to continue after a setback.
Definition in Chinese
对某事或前景完全丧失希望，认为没有任何转机或可能，情绪上陷入深沉的无力与悲观。duì mǒu shì huò qián jǐng wán quán sàng shī xī wàng rèn wéi méi yǒu rèn hé zhuǎn jī huò kě néng qíng xù shàng xiàn rù shēn chén de wú lì yǔ bēi guān
Word origin
The word is formed from 绝 (jué, "cut off") + 望 (wàng, "hope"), so its structure pictures hope being cut off from the future.
Usage tips
- In conversation, this word suits serious personal or collective crises, while using it for a small setback can sound more dramatic than intended.