絶望|ぜつぼうzetsubou[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectivedespair; hopelessness
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 絶望する（ぜつぼうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 絶望します（ぜつぼうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 絶望しない（ぜつぼうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 絶望しません（ぜつぼうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 絶望せず・絶望せぬ（ぜつぼうせず・ぜつぼうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 絶望した（ぜつぼうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 絶望しました（ぜつぼうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 絶望しなかった（ぜつぼうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 絶望しませんでした（ぜつぼうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 絶望して（ぜつぼうして） |
| Potential | 絶望できる（ぜつぼうできる） |
| Passive | 絶望される（ぜつぼうされる） |
| Causative | 絶望させる（ぜつぼうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 絶望させられる（ぜつぼうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 絶望すれば（ぜつぼうすれば） |
| tara | 絶望したら（ぜつぼうしたら） |
| Volitional | 絶望しよう（ぜつぼうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 絶望しましょう（ぜつぼうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 絶望しろ（ぜつぼうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym失望しつぼうNeutralDisappointment: expectations have fallen through, as in 「結果に失望する」. Milder than 絶望, which is having no hope at all.
- Synonym失意しついNeutralDejection over unfulfilled ambitions, as in 「失意のどん底」. Centers on the gloom of failure rather than having no hope at all.
- Synonym絶念ぜつねんWrittenWritten word for giving up a hope or plan, as in 「計画を絶念する」. Rare; in everyday speech use 「諦める」 instead.
- Related悲観ひかんNeutralPessimism: dwelling on the bad side of things, as in 「将来を悲観する」. About expecting the worst, not necessarily losing all hope.
- RelatedやけCasualColloquial: throwing self-restraint aside in despair, as in 「やけを起こす」 or 「やけ酒」. About reckless self-abandonment, not hopelessness itself.
- Related自暴自棄じぼうじきNeutralFour-character idiom for giving up on yourself, as in 「自暴自棄に陥る」. More formal than 「やけ」.
- Related捨て鉢すてばちNeutralReckless, anything-goes desperation, as in 「捨て鉢になる」. Describes the wild behavior; 絶望 is just the loss of hope.
- RelatedやけっぱちCasualColloquial, emphatic form of 「やけ」: acting wildly as if everything were lost. 絶望 centers on the loss of hope itself.
- Antonym希望きぼうNeutralHope, as in 「希望を持つ」. The direct opposite of 絶望, which is the total loss of it.
Use 「絶望」 for the complete loss of hope, as in 「絶望的な状況」 or 「人生に絶望する」. When expectations fall through, say 「失望」; when you expect the worst, 「悲観」; for giving up on yourself, 「やけ」 or 「自暴自棄」. The opposite is 「希望」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
