这些名词都有“绝望、沮丧”之意。
despair : 普通用词，指因灾难等因素而丧失希望和信心，陷入沮丧，绝望的境地。
- a mood/sense of despair
绝望的情绪／感觉 - They’re in (the depths of) despair over/about the money they’ve lost.
他们对找回丢失的钱已经不抱（任何）希望了。 - To her teacher’s despair, Nicole never does the work that she’s told to do.
妮科尔从不做作业，让她的老师感到非常失望。 - Their fourth year without rain drove many farmers to despair.
第四年仍然没有雨水，这让许多农民感到非常绝望。
desperation : 语气强烈，指因绝望而使人采取无所顾忌的疯狂行动。
- There was a note of desperation in his voice.
他的声音里透出破釜沉舟的决心。 - In desperation, they jumped out of the window to escape the fire.
情急之下，他们跳出窗户躲避大火。 - an act of desperation
破釜沉舟之举
depression : 侧重指因遭受重大失利或挫折而产生的低落情绪。
- There was a feeling of gloom and depression in the office when the news of the job cuts was announced.
裁员消息宣布时办公室里一片忧郁和沮丧的气氛。 - I was overwhelmed by feelings of depression.
我万念俱灰。 - I slid into a depression and became fascinated with death.
我陷入消沉，开始对死亡有种病态的迷恋。
disappointment : 多指愿望或期望的落空。
- Get tickets early to avoid disappointment.
早点预订以免扑空。 - To my (great) disappointment (= sadness), he decided to leave.
令我（非常）沮丧的是，他决定离开。 - Book early for the show to avoid disappointment.
欲看演出，从速订票，以免失望。 - To our great disappointment , it rained every day of the trip.
这次旅行天天下雨，让我们大失所望。 - He found it difficult to hide his disappointment when she didn’t arrive.
她没有来，他感到很难掩饰自己内心的沮丧。
#2023年7月1日 口语与词汇