discouraging
discouraging — 形容詞
1. causing a person to lose hope, confidence, or the will to continue with an effor
令人沮喪
使人失去信心或希望
causing a person to lose hope, confidence, or the will to continue with an effort or goal
The doctor called Amara's slow recovery discouraging but urged her to keep trying.
醫生說 Amara 恢復緩慢的情況令人沮喪，但鼓勵她繼續努力。
verb + obj + discouraging (find / call / think)
Sofia found the constant criticism from her supervisor deeply discouraging after months of hard work.
Sofia 發現主管持續不斷的批評，在辛苦工作數月後，讓她感到非常沮喪。
The election results were discouraging for the environmental group after their long campaign.
選舉結果對環保團體來說令人沮喪，因為他們已經努力宣傳了很長一段時間。
Three failed experiments left the research team in a discouraging position, but they refused to quit.
三次實驗失敗讓研究團隊處於令人沮喪的境地，但他們拒絕放棄。
- disheartening
very similar in meaning; slightly more emotional and often used about personal setbacks
- demoralizing
stronger than discouraging; suggests a deeper loss of spirit and confidence in oneself or a group
- dispiriting
more formal and literary; focuses on loss of energy and enthusiasm rather than confidence
- encouraging
the direct opposite; giving hope, confidence, or support
- heartening
slightly more formal than encouraging; restoring cheer or hope
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs like 'find' or 'call' (find something discouraging, call something discouraging) and with 'be' (the news was discouraging). The adjective discouraging describes the cause of the feeling; use discouraged to describe the person who experiences the feeling.
常見錯誤
discouraging — 動詞
1. to make someone feel less confident or hopeful about something, causing them to
使氣餒
打擊信心或勇氣
to make someone feel less confident or hopeful about something, causing them to want to stop trying
The coach's harsh comments discouraged Ananya from trying out for the basketball team again.
教練嚴厲的評論使 Ananya 氣餒，她不再爭取加入籃球隊。
discourage + [person] + from + doing
High tuition fees discouraged Oliver from applying to his first-choice university.
高昂的學費讓 Oliver 氣餒，放棄申請他的第一志願大學。
Nothing could discourage Kwame once he made up his mind to become a pilot.
一旦 Kwame 下定決心要成為飛行員，就沒有任何事情能使他氣餒。
The constant noise from the street discouraged the librarian from working near the open window.
街上持續不斷的噪音使圖書館員氣餒，無法在開著的窗戶旁邊工作。
- dishearten
more emotional and literary; suggests a blow to one's spirit or courage
- demoralize
stronger; suggests a deeper, more lasting loss of confidence, often in a group context
- dampen
milder; reduces enthusiasm without completely removing hope
文法句型
discourage + noun phrase
discourage someone from doing something
用法筆記
Often takes the pattern 'discourage someone from doing something.' The person or thing that causes the loss of confidence is the subject. This sense is about emotional impact—different from sense 2 (showing disapproval to prevent an activity) and sense 3 (talking someone out of a decision).
常見錯誤
2. to try to prevent an activity or type of behaviour by expressing disapproval or
阻止；不鼓勵
透過反對來抑制
to try to prevent an activity or type of behaviour by expressing disapproval or creating obstacles
The school discourages any form of bullying among students.
該校不鼓勵任何形式的霸凌行為。
discourage + [abstract behaviour / activity]
Many governments now discourage smoking by raising taxes on cigarettes.
許多國家現在透過提高香菸稅來抑制吸菸。
The teacher discouraged copying by separating students during the examination.
老師透過在考試時將學生分開坐來防止作弊。
The company's new policy discourages the use of personal devices during working hours.
公司的新政策不鼓勵在上班時間使用個人裝置。
文法句型
discourage + noun phrase (activity / behaviour)
用法筆記
Subject is typically an authority figure or institution (school, government, employer, policy). The direct object is an activity or behaviour, not a person. This sense focuses on rules, policies, or deterrents rather than emotional impact—distinguish from verb sense 1 where the object is a person whose confidence is affected.
常見錯誤
3. to try to persuade someone not to do something, especially by explaining the ris
勸阻
說服某人不要做某事
to try to persuade someone not to do something, especially by explaining the risks, problems, or reasons against it
The travel agent discouraged Nadia from visiting the region during the rainy season.
旅行社人員勸阻 Nadia 在雨季期間前往那個地區。
discourage + [person] + from + -ing (giving reasons)
Diego tried to discourage his younger brother from dropping out of university.
Diego 試圖勸阻他的弟弟不要從大學休學。
The doctor strongly discouraged the patient from taking the medication on an empty stomach.
醫生強烈勸阻病人空腹服用該藥物。
Emma's parents discouraged her from taking a job in a city where crime rates are high.
Emma 的父母勸阻她到犯罪率高的城市工作。
- dissuade
very close in meaning but slightly more formal; focuses on changing someone's mind through reasoning
- talk out of
more informal; to persuade someone not to do something by discussing it with them
- put off
informal; to make someone decide not to do something or delay it
文法句型
discourage someone from doing something
用法筆記
Typically takes the pattern 'discourage someone from doing something.' The person doing the discouraging gives reasons or advice—this is persuasion, not a rule or ban. Unlike sense 2, the object is always a person. Unlike sense 1, the focus is on stopping a planned action rather than affecting someone's general confidence.