绝望

• Pinyin: jué wàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 绝 = 纟(silk) + 色, originally meaning to cut silk; 望 = 亡 (flee) + 月 (moon) + 王 (king), depicting looking into the distance

Meaning

Despair; hopelessness. To lose all hope or be in a state of utter hopelessness.

Describes the extreme emotional state when someone has lost all hope or believes a situation is beyond help. Can function as both an adjective describing feelings and a verb meaning to despair. Often used in literature, emotional discussions, or serious contexts.

Examples

1. 失业半年后，他开始感到绝望。 After being unemployed for half a year, he began to feel despair.
2. 在最绝望的时刻，她遇到了帮助她的人。 At her most desperate moment, she met someone who helped her.
3. 不要绝望，事情总会有转机的。 Don't despair; things will always turn around.

Usage Guide

Context: emotional, literary, serious

Tone: somber

Do Say

• 他的眼神中充满了绝望。(His eyes were full of despair.)
• 绝望中也要寻找希望。(Even in despair, seek hope.)

Don't Say

• 找不到停车位让我很绝望。(Don't use 绝望 for minor inconveniences — it's too dramatic; use 沮丧 or 烦躁)

Origin & History

绝 (jué, sever/cut off) + 望 (wàng, hope/expect). Together they mean 'to cut off hope' or 'hopelessness.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal