Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
绝望 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
绝望juéwàngto despairHSK 6, v, rank #2785, Hard
绝望juéwàngto give up all hopeHSK 6, v, rank #2785, Hard
绝望juéwàngdesperateHSK 6, v, rank #2785, Hard
绝望juéwàngdesperationHSK 6, v, rank #2785, Hard
juéwàng(jue2wang4) T2
  1. 1to despair
  2. 2to give up all hope
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
绝望(絕望)juéwàng(jue2wang4)

绝望 (jue2 wang4) means to despair or to give up all hope. It is often used to describe a state of extreme hopelessness in difficult situations, conveying deep emotional distress. This term can be employed in both personal and broader contexts, such as in discussions about societal issues or personal struggles.

Frequency#2785DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and film, the theme of despair often appears in stories depicting struggles against fate or societal pressures, reflecting a cultural emphasis on resilience in the face of adversity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing on a cliff (绝) looking down into an endless abyss (望), feeling hopeless because there seems to be no way out. The character 绝 captures the idea of 'cutting off' hope, while 望 suggests longing or looking towards something unattainable.

Meanings of 绝望

juéwàng(jue2wang4)
1to despair
2to give up all hope
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 绝望

绝望Simplified
絕望Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2785Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 绝望

JasonAmy

Podcast: 绝望

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 绝望

Quick Contrast

绝望 (despair) vs 失望 (disappointment) — use 绝望 for extreme hopelessness, while 失望 indicates a sense of letdown without the same intensity.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person standing on a cliff (绝) looking down into an endless abyss (望), feeling hopeless because there seems to be no way out. The character 绝 captures the idea of 'cutting off' hope, while 望 suggests longing or looking towards something unattainable.

Usage Notes

When using 绝望, be aware that it has a strong emotional weight and is often more suitable for serious contexts rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 绝望的境地 (a state of despair) and 绝望的感受 (feelings of despair). Avoid using it in overly casual settings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 绝望 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emotions and psychological states. Students should focus on using it in complex sentences that express nuanced feelings or situations of hopelessness to enhance their fluency.

Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and film, the theme of despair often appears in stories depicting struggles against fate or societal pressures, reflecting a cultural emphasis on resilience in the face of adversity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 绝望 with similar terms, using it incorrectly in less severe contexts. For example, saying '我对考试很绝望' (I am very desperate about the exam) should be corrected to '我对考试很担心' (I am very worried about the exam) for a less intense feeling.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 绝望

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 绝望 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

绝juéto cut short
HSK 79 strokes纟
View full entry
望wàngfull moon
HSK 611 strokes月
View full entry

Write 绝望

绝
望

Practice writing 绝望 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 绝望

绝望 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

我要克服所有的软弱、____和恐惧。

I would overcome any weakness, any despair, any fear.

Example Sentences for 绝望 (5)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我要克服所有的软弱、绝望和恐惧。

wǒ yào kè fú suǒ yǒu de ruǎn ruò、 、 jué wàng hé kǒng。

I would overcome any weakness, any despair, any fear.
2
安东妮亚的眼睛无力而绝望地向他打着招呼.

ān dōng nī yà de yǎn jīng wú lì ér jué wàng dì xiàng tā dǎ zháo zhāo hū.

Antonia's eyes beckoned him faintly, hopelessly.
3
当他的精力耗尽时，他的绝望和担心也增加了。

dāng tā de jīng lì hào jìn shí， ， tā de jué wàng hé dān xīn yě zēng jiā。

As his energy drained away, his despair and worry grew.
4
琼对整件事情彻底绝望了。

qióng duì zhěng jiàn shì qíng chè dǐ jué wàng le。

Jean was thoroughly cheesed off by the whole affair.
5
“啊，我有时会感到绝望，”他假装悲伤地说。

“ “， ā ， wǒ yǒu shí huì gǎn dào，” jué wàng ，” tā jiǎ zhuāng bēi。

"Oh, I despair sometimes," he says in mock sorrow.

Cultural Notes for 绝望

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese literature and film, the theme of despair often appears in stories depicting struggles against fate or societal pressures, reflecting a cultural emphasis on resilience in the face of adversity.

Frequently Asked Questions about 绝望

While it primarily describes personal feelings of despair, it can also refer to societal or collective hopelessness.