Meaning

Primary

Despair

Alternative

Hopelessness

Word Type

noun, の adjective, verbal noun

Explanation

When hope has died out, you have no more hope, only despair.

Reading

ぜつぼう
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 絶望に追いやる

    to drive someone to despair

    絶望におちいる

    to fall into despair

    絶望に打ちひしがれる

    to be overwhelmed by despair

Context Sentences

私は絶望的に歌が下手です。

I am a hopelessly bad singer.

先生にそう言われたとき、絶望感でいっぱいになりました。

When my teacher told me that, I was filled with despair.

今、彼氏にフラレて、絶望のどん底にいる。

Now, having been dumped by my boyfriend, I’m in the depths of despair.

相手チームに15点差で負けているので、かなり絶望的な状況です。

The other team is fifteen goals ahead of us, so we are in a pretty hopeless situation.

Kanji Composition