失望

• Pinyin: shī wàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 失 = hand dropping something — to lose; 望 = 亡 (gone) + 月 (moon) + 王 (king) — to gaze with hope

Meaning

Disappointed; to lose hope. The feeling when expectations are not met.

Functions as both an adjective (感到失望 — to feel disappointed) and a verb (对...失望 — to be disappointed in). Often paired with 对 to indicate what one is disappointed in. Opposite: 希望 (hope) or 满意 (satisfied).

Examples

1. 考试成绩出来了，他感到很失望。 When the exam results came out, he felt very disappointed.
2. 我对这次旅行有点失望。 I am a bit disappointed with this trip.
3. 别让父母对你失望。 Don't let your parents be disappointed in you.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, evaluation, everyday

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 这个结果让我很失望。(This result really disappointed me.)
• 她对男朋友非常失望。(She is very disappointed in her boyfriend.)

Don't Say

• 我失望了这个电影 without 对 (失望 needs the preposition 对 to mark the object — say 我对这个电影很失望)

Origin & History

Compound of 失 (to lose) and 望 (to hope, look forward to) — to lose hope, hence disappointed.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal