dystopian
Meaning: Relating to or denoting an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice; the opposite of utopian.
Dystopian describes fictional or real-world scenarios marked by oppression, environmental disaster, totalitarian control, or social breakdown. It is extremely common in literary and cultural criticism, and increasingly in journalism describing bleak social or technological trends. British authors have made major contributions to the genre (Orwell, Huxley, Atwood). It collocates with 'fiction,' 'novel,' 'future,' 'vision,' 'society,' and 'landscape.'
Examples
- George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four remains the most influential dystopian novel in the English language. 乔治·奥威尔的《一九八四》至今仍是英语文学中最具影响力的反乌托邦小说。1984 de George Orwell sigue siendo la novela distópica más influyente en lengua inglesa.ジョージ・オーウェルの『一九八四年』は、英語圏で最も影響力のあるディストピア小説であり続けています。조지 오웰의 『1984』는 영어권에서 가장 영향력 있는 디스토피아 소설로 남아 있다.
- The abandoned industrial district had a distinctly dystopian atmosphere, all crumbling concrete and rusting machinery. 这片废弃的工业区有一种明显的反乌托邦气氛,到处是崩塌的混凝土和生锈的机器。El distrito industrial abandonado tenía una atmósfera claramente distópica, con hormigón desmoronándose y maquinaria oxidada por doquier.廃墟となった工業地帯は、崩れかけたコンクリートと錆びた機械で、明らかにディストピア的な雰囲気を漂わせていました。버려진 공업 지구는 무너져 가는 콘크리트와 녹슨 기계로 뚜렷한 디스토피아적 분위기를 풍겼다.
- Some commentators warned that unchecked surveillance technology could lead to a dystopian future. 一些评论人士警告说,不受约束的监控技术可能导致一个反乌托邦式的未来。Algunos comentaristas advirtieron de que la tecnología de vigilancia sin control podría conducir a un futuro distópico.一部の評論家は、野放しの監視技術がディストピア的な未来につながりかねないと警告しました。일부 논평가들은 무분별한 감시 기술이 디스토피아적 미래로 이어질 수 있다고 경고했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, media, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From dys- (bad, difficult, from Greek) and utopia (Thomas More's imagined perfect society). The term 'dystopia' was coined in the late 18th century by British philosopher John Stuart Mill as the opposite of utopia.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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