絶望

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 絶望 (ぜつぼう) is an action and state noun for feeling that hope or possibility of resolution has been lost.
• Basic usage: 絶望せず試す connects continued attempts with refusing to lose hope, while 状況に絶望した reports a past moment of despair caused by a situation with no visible exit.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Negative linkage and cause
  • 絶望せず continues to another action without despairing, while in 状況に絶望する, に marks the situation causing despair. The second also does not imply permanent surrender.