절망하다
To lose all hope and feel like things will never get better.
Explanation at your level:
This is a hard word. It means you have no hope. You feel very sad. You think nothing good will happen. Use it when you are very unhappy.
When you 절망하다, you stop believing that things will get better. It is a very sad feeling. People use this word when they are in a bad situation and they don't know what to do next.
절망하다 describes the state of losing all hope. It is often used to describe deep emotional pain. For example, if someone loses their job and feels they will never find another one, they might 절망하다. It is more intense than just being disappointed.
In B2 level writing, 절망하다 is used to describe characters or people in extreme distress. It implies a total abandonment of expectations for a positive future. It is a common term in literature and formal storytelling to highlight a turning point in a narrative.
At the C1 level, you can use 절망하다 to discuss psychological states or social conditions. It is frequently paired with abstract nouns like 미래 (future) or 현실 (reality). It captures the existential dread that can accompany significant failure or loss in a sophisticated, academic, or literary context.
At the C2 level, 절망하다 is understood through its etymological roots and its nuanced usage in classical literature. It represents the ultimate negation of human aspiration. It is a powerful word that conveys not just sadness, but a philosophical resignation to a negative fate. Mastery involves knowing when to use it to evoke deep empathy or to describe the gravity of a historical or personal tragedy.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to lose all hope.
- Stronger than disappointment.
- Often used with '에 빠지다'.
- Important to use in appropriate contexts.
When you 절망하다, you are essentially saying that your hope has vanished. It is not just being sad; it is the feeling that there is absolutely no light at the end of the tunnel. Think of it as the opposite of optimism.
In daily life, we use this word when someone faces a disaster or a situation that seems impossible to fix. It is a very heavy word, so we don't use it for minor inconveniences like missing a bus. It is reserved for deep, life-changing moments of struggle.
The word 절망하다 is a Sino-Korean word. It is composed of the Hanja 절 (絶), meaning 'to cut off' or 'to end', and 망 (望), meaning 'hope' or 'expectation'.
Literally, it means 'to cut off hope'. Historically, this term has been used in literature and philosophy to describe the human condition during times of war, famine, or personal tragedy. It reflects the ancient understanding that hope is a bridge, and when that bridge is cut, the person is left in a state of 절망.
You will often see this word used in literary contexts or serious news reports. Common collocations include 절망에 빠지다 (to fall into despair) or 절망적인 상황 (a desperate situation).
Because it carries such a heavy emotional weight, be careful using it in casual conversation. If you use it to describe a small problem, it might sound overly dramatic! Use it when the situation is truly dire.
1. 절망의 늪에 빠지다: To fall into a swamp of despair (meaning to be stuck in deep hopelessness).
2. 희망을 버리다: To give up hope (a precursor to despair).
3. 막다른 골목에 다다르다: To reach a dead end (often leading to despair).
4. 하늘이 무너지는 듯하다: To feel like the sky is falling (a common way to describe the feeling right before total despair).
5. 빛이 보이지 않다: To see no light (a metaphor for losing hope).
As a verb, 절망하다 follows the standard -하다 verb conjugation pattern. You can use it as 절망했다 (past tense) or 절망하고 있다 (present continuous).
Pronunciation-wise, ensure the 'l' sound in jeol is crisp. The stress is generally even, but native speakers often emphasize the 망 syllable to convey the weight of the emotion. It rhymes loosely with other -하다 verbs like 실망하다 (to be disappointed).
Fun Fact
The character 絶 is also used in words like 'absolute' (절대), implying something that is completely cut off from anything else.
Pronunciation Guide
N/A
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Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'l' sound
- Failing to aspirate the 'h' in 'hada'
- Stressing the wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Advanced
Intermediate
Intermediate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
-하다 Verb
공부하다, 절망하다
Particle 에
절망에 빠지다
Adjective form -적
절망적
Examples by Level
나는 절망한다.
I despair.
Simple sentence.
그는 절망했다.
우리는 절망하지 않는다.
절망하지 마세요.
상황이 절망적이다.
절망이 느껴진다.
그녀는 절망했다.
왜 절망하나요?
절망적인 하루였다.
실패 후 그는 절망했다.
미래가 절망적으로 보인다.
절망에 빠지기 쉽다.
그는 절망을 딛고 일어섰다.
절망적인 목소리로 말했다.
절망은 끝이 아니다.
절망하지 말고 도전하라.
그 소식에 모두가 절망했다.
그는 자신의 처지를 비관하며 절망했다.
어떤 상황에서도 절망해서는 안 된다.
그녀의 눈에는 절망이 가득했다.
절망적인 현실을 직시해야 한다.
그는 깊은 절망의 늪에 빠졌다.
절망은 인간을 나약하게 만든다.
희망이 없는 곳에서 절망이 싹튼다.
그는 절망을 희망으로 바꾸었다.
그는 경제적 파탄으로 인해 절망했다.
현실의 벽 앞에서 그는 절망하지 않을 수 없었다.
그녀는 절망적인 상황을 극복할 방법을 찾았다.
절망은 때때로 새로운 시작의 계기가 된다.
그의 절망은 깊고도 어두웠다.
절망적인 고립 속에서 그는 혼자였다.
사회적 불평등은 많은 이들을 절망하게 한다.
그는 절망의 끝에서 빛을 보았다.
그의 절망은 실존적인 고뇌에서 비롯되었다.
절망은 인간 정신의 가장 어두운 심연이다.
그는 절망을 통해 자신의 한계를 깨달았다.
역사는 절망적인 순간들로 점철되어 있다.
절망의 굴레에서 벗어나기란 쉽지 않다.
그녀의 글에는 절망과 희망이 공존한다.
절망은 때로 가장 강력한 동기부여가 된다.
그는 절망을 예술로 승화시켰다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"절망의 늪"
a deep state of despair
그는 절망의 늪에서 허우적거렸다.
literary"희망을 잃다"
to lose hope
절대 희망을 잃지 마라.
neutral"하늘이 무너지다"
to feel like the end of the world
하늘이 무너지는 것 같은 절망감을 느꼈다.
casual"막다른 골목"
a dead end
인생의 막다른 골목에 다다랐다.
neutral"빛을 잃다"
to lose brightness/hope
그의 눈은 빛을 잃었다.
literaryEasily Confused
Both involve negative feelings.
실망 is disappointment; 절망 is hopelessness.
시험을 망쳐서 실망했다 vs. 미래가 없어서 절망했다.
Both are negative states.
좌절 is about failure/blocking; 절망 is about hope.
계획이 좌절되었다 vs. 삶에 절망했다.
Both imply negative outlooks.
비관 is a pessimistic attitude; 절망 is a state of feeling.
세상을 비관하다 vs. 상황에 절망하다.
Both imply loss of spirit.
낙담 is discouragement; 절망 is total despair.
결과에 낙담하다 vs. 인생에 절망하다.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 에 + 절망하다
그는 현실에 절망했다.
Subject + 는 + 절망적인 + Noun
그것은 절망적인 상황이다.
절망을 + Verb
절망을 극복했다.
Subject + 가 + 절망에 + 빠지다
그녀가 절망에 빠졌다.
절망하지 + 말고 + Verb
절망하지 말고 도전해라.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
절망하다 is much stronger than disappointment.
절망하다 implies loss of hope, not just sadness.
좌절하다 is more about failing/being blocked.
절망하다 is too intense for daily struggles.
Use '에' with the state of despair.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a broken bridge representing lost hope.
Context
Use it only for big life events.
Drama usage
Listen for it in sad movie scenes.
Particle
Always use '에' with despair.
Clear L
Make sure the 'l' is distinct.
Don't over-dramatize
Save it for real crises.
Hanja
It comes from 'cutting' hope.
Opposites
Learn it with 희망.
Formal tone
Good for essays.
Rhythm
Practice the 4-syllable flow.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of cutting (절) a rope that holds your hope (망).
Visual Association
A person standing at the edge of a cliff looking into a dark, empty abyss.
Word Web
Challenge
Write one sentence about a time you felt hopeless, then one about how you overcame it.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: To cut off (絶) hope (望)
Cultural Context
It is a heavy word; use with empathy.
The concept of despair is universal, but in English, 'despair' is often used in literary or highly emotional contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 프로젝트 실패로 절망했다
- 절망적인 실적
- 절망하지 않고 다시 시작한다
In school
- 시험 성적에 절망했다
- 공부가 절망적이다
- 절망적인 상황을 이겨내다
In daily life
- 절망적인 하루였다
- 희망을 잃고 절망에 빠지다
- 절망 속에서 빛을 찾다
In literature
- 깊은 절망의 늪
- 절망적인 운명
- 절망을 노래하다
Conversation Starters
"What do you do when you feel 절망하다?"
"Can you describe a time you felt 절망적인?"
"How do you help a friend who is feeling 절망하다?"
"Is it possible to overcome a 절망적인 situation?"
"What gives you hope when you are feeling 절망하다?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a difficult time and how you felt.
Describe the difference between disappointment and despair.
What is the most 절망적인 moment you have seen in a movie?
How do you stay positive when things look 절망적?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsOnly if the situation is very serious.
실망하다 is disappointment; 절망하다 is total loss of hope.
No, it would sound too dramatic.
It is a verb, but '절망' is the noun.
희망하다 (to hope).
Yes, when reporting tragedies.
Yes, it means 'hopeless'.
Yes, it describes a negative state of mind.
Test Yourself
나는 ___.
절망한다 fits the emotional context.
What does 절망하다 mean?
It means to lose hope.
절망하다 is a synonym for 행복하다.
They are opposites.
Word
Meaning
Pairing opposites.
Correct structure: Subject + Adverb + Noun + Verb.
Score: /5
Summary
절망하다 means to lose all hope, so use it only for the most serious situations in your life.
- Means to lose all hope.
- Stronger than disappointment.
- Often used with '에 빠지다'.
- Important to use in appropriate contexts.
Memory Palace
Visualize a broken bridge representing lost hope.
Context
Use it only for big life events.
Drama usage
Listen for it in sad movie scenes.
Particle
Always use '에' with despair.
Example
모든 희망을 잃고 절망했다.
Related Content
More emotions words
받아들이다
A2To accept, to embrace, to take in.
아파하다
A2To feel pain or sorrow.
감탄스럽다
A2To be admirable or wonderful; to inspire awe.
감탄
A2Admiration or marvel; a feeling of wonder.
감탄하다
A2To admire or to marvel; to express wonder.
기특하다
B1Admirable for a good deed or thought; commendable.
충고
B1Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action; advice.
애정
B1Affection; a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.
애틋하다
B2To be tender, fond, or wistful.
살갑다
B2To be warm, friendly, affectionate.
