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Pessimism

“Pessimism”是名词,指对世界、未来或某事持消极、悲观的态度,预期坏结果而非好结果。可用于哲学思潮(philosophical pessimism 哲学悲观主义),也可描述个人性格倾向(a mood of pessimism 悲观情绪)。

  1. “A wave of pessimism spread through the market after the news.” (消息传出后,一股悲观情绪在市场蔓延。)
  2. “His pessimism made it hard for him to enjoy small successes.” (他的悲观让他难以享受小小的成功。)
  3. “The report balanced optimism about technology with realism and some pessimism about inequality.” (报告在看好技术的同时,也以现实主义态度谈及对不平等的担忧。)

由拉丁语 pessimus(最坏的)加后缀构成,与 “optimism”(乐观主义)中的 optimus(最好的)形成对照。19 世纪由哲学家引入现代英语,作为与乐观主义相对的概念。

“-ism” 表示主义、学说或倾向。词根 pessim- 来自 pessimus(最坏)。无前缀。

“Pessimism” 在哲学史上有深厚传统,如叔本华、加缪等常被与悲观主义关联。日常用法则较轻松,指“总往坏处想”的心态。经济学中 “pessimism about the economy” 是描述消费者信心的常用表达。

  • 固定搭配: “widespread pessimism” (普遍的悲观情绪), “deep pessimism” (深深的悲观), “pessimism about the future” (对未来的悲观)

与 optimism(乐观)相对:optimus 是最好的,pessimus 是最坏的——持最坏预期的主义,就是 pessimism。

“Despite the team’s early lead, a quiet pessimism lingered in the stands as fans remembered last season’s collapse.” (尽管球队早早领先,看台上仍弥漫着低调的悲观——球迷们还记得上赛季的崩盘。)