Grammar and Pessimism

When we learn a new word, it can be helpful to ask the following question: What would the opposite of this word be?

當我們學習新單字時，詢問以下問題會很有幫助：這個單字的相反詞是什麼？

In our previous lesson, we explored optimism, a hopeful view about the present and future.

在我們之前的課程中，我們探討了樂觀主義，即對現在和未來抱持充滿希望的觀點。

Today we explore pessimism, not being hopeful about the present and future.

今天我們探討悲觀主義，即對現在和未來不抱希望。

In other words, optimism and pessimism are somewhat like opposite sides of a coin.

換句話說，樂觀主義和悲觀主義有點像硬幣的兩面。

Pessimism is a noun.

悲觀主義是一個名詞。

The online etymology dictionary tells us that the word dates to seventeen ninety four.

線上詞源字典告訴我們，這個單字始於一七九四年。

At the time, it meant the worst condition possible.

當時，它的意思是可能出現的最壞狀況。

The word came to English from French.

這個單字源自法語進入英語。

By eighteen fifteen, pessimism came to suggest the quality of making worse in thought the evils of life, or to look only on the dark side.

到了 1815 年，悲觀主義開始暗示在思想中使人生的苦難更加惡化，或僅關注黑暗的一面。

The online etymology dictionary also tells us that English speakers attempted to make a verb form from pessimism in the early eighteen sixties, but the word pessimize did not survive.

線上詞源字典也告訴我們，英語使用者曾嘗試在一八六○年代初期從悲觀主義衍生出動詞形式，但「pessimize」一詞並未流傳下來。

In modern times, we often use pessimism to talk about the general feeling or belief that bad things will happen.

在現代，我們常用悲觀主義來描述一種普遍的感受或信念，認為壞事將會發生。

From pessimism, we get the noun pessimist, a person who expects the worst or is likely to have bad views on life.

從悲觀主義，我們得到名詞「悲觀者」（pessimist），指預期最壞情況或對人生抱持負面看法的人。

From the noun pessimist, we add an istic ending to get the adjective pessimistic, and when we add an ally ending to the adjective pessimistic, we get the adverb pessimistically.

從名詞「悲觀者」，加上形容詞後綴-istic，得到形容詞「悲觀的」（pessimistic）；再在形容詞「悲觀的」後加上副詞後綴-ally，則得到副詞「悲觀地」（pessimistically）。

We have a group of words: two nouns, an adjective, and an adverb.

我們有一組單字：兩個名詞、一個形容詞和一個副詞。

How do English speakers use these words in everyday situations?

英語使用者如何在日常情境中使用這些單字？

Google's ngram viewer contains information from thousands of books.

Google 的 Ngram Viewer 包含來自數千本書籍的資訊。

We can do searches in databases for American English, English fiction, and so on.

我們可以在資料庫中搜尋美式英語、小說英語等。

What we find is that in general the most commonly used word before the noun pessimism is the short word of, so you are likely to read something like this.

我們發現，一般而言，在名詞「悲觀主義」之前最常使用的單字是短小的介系詞「of」，因此您可能會讀到類似這樣的句子。

I don't think so," he said in a voice full of pessimism, "or this, there are many causes for the high levels of pessimism in our society.

「我不這麼認為，」他以充滿悲觀的口吻說道，「或者這樣：我們社會中高水準的悲觀主義有許多成因。

The most common word that comes before the noun pessimist and the adjective pessimistic is the same, a. So you are likely to hear or read something like this: He is a pessimist, or he gave a pessimistic response.

出現在名詞「悲觀者」和形容詞「悲觀的」之前最常見的單字是相同的，即冠詞「a」。因此您可能會聽到或讀到類似這樣的句子：他是個悲觀者，或他給出了悲觀的回應。

There is another important point about the noun pessimist and the adjective pessimistic.

關於名詞「悲觀者」和形容詞「悲觀的」還有另一個重要重點。

Google Ngram Viewer suggests that pessimistic is more commonly used by English speakers.

Google Ngram Viewer 顯示，「悲觀的」（pessimistic）較常被英語使用者使用。

So, if you are unsure about which version to use, remember that the adjective, the word that ends in -ic, might be a better choice.

因此，如果您不確定該使用哪一種形式，請記住，形容詞（即以 -ic 結尾的單字）可能是更好的選擇。

And the most common word after pessimistic, it is about.

而「悲觀的」之後最常見的單字是「about」。

So you might describe yourself as follows: I am pessimistic about the future.

因此，您可能如此描述自己：我對未來感到悲觀。

We certainly hope that you are not too pessimistic.

我們當然希望您不要太悲觀。

And one final word about the adverb pessimistically.

最後再談談副詞「悲觀地」。

It is most commonly used after the verb said, so you might hear or read this: "I don't think so," he said pessimistically.

它最常用在動詞「said」之後，因此您可能會聽到或讀到：「我不這麼認為，」他悲觀地說道。

Now let's take some time to work with these ideas.

現在讓我們花些時間來練習這些概念。

Fill in the blank with the correct word, noun, adjective, or adverb.

用正確的名詞、形容詞或副詞填空。

They have a blank view of the world.

他們對世界抱持空泛的觀點。

The correct answer is this: They have a pessimistic view of the world.

正確答案是：他們對世界抱持悲觀的觀點。

How do we know that the adjective pessimistic is needed?

我們如何知道形容詞 pessimistic 是必要的？

The short word a gives us a clue, and we know that view is a noun.

短字 a 給了我們線索，而我們知道 view 是名詞。

In general, adjectives come before a noun and after the short word a. I'm John Russell.

一般來說，形容詞出現在名詞之前和短字 a 之後。我是 John Russell。