frustration

frustration — noun

1. The upset or discouraged feeling that arises when you try hard but fail to achie

1.名詞B1
釋義

The upset or discouraged feeling that arises when you try hard but fail to achieve something you want, or an event that produces this feeling.

例句

Shanti cried tears of frustration after spending hours trying to fix her bicycle chain.

uncountable: in frustration / tears of frustration

The constant noise from the construction site was a source of frustration for the library staff.

collocation: source of frustration

同義詞
  • annoyance

    milder, shorter-lasting; frustration is deeper and goal-related

  • disappointment

    focuses on the letdown of unmet expectations rather than the blocking of effort

  • exasperation

    stronger, implies being almost out of patience

  • irritation

    repeated small problems building up, less intense than frustration

反義詞
  • satisfaction

    the feeling of success or achievement, the opposite of being blocked

  • fulfillment

    the sense of reaching one's goals and feeling complete

文法句型

frustration + at + noun/gerund

frustration + with + noun

a frustration (countable: a specific annoying event)

用法筆記

Can be either uncountable (the general feeling: 'She wept in frustration') or countable (a specific event: 'Missing the bus was just one more frustration in a bad day').

常見錯誤

❌I am frustration with the traffic.
✅I am frustrated with the traffic.
💡'frustration' is a noun; use the adjective 'frustrated' after forms of 'be'.
❌He has frustration about his job.
✅He feels frustrated about his job.' or 'He feels frustration about his job.
💡'feel frustration' is idiomatic; 'has frustration' sounds unnatural.

2. The situation in which a plan, process, or effort is blocked or prevented from s

2.名詞B2
釋義

The situation in which a plan, process, or effort is blocked or prevented from succeeding.

例句

The frustration of the research project by budget cuts hit the whole laboratory hard.

structure: the frustration of + noun + by + agent

Ryo's dream of becoming a pilot met frustration when his eyesight failed the exam.

collocation: met with frustration

同義詞
  • hindrance

    focuses on the obstacle itself rather than the condition of being blocked

  • obstruction

    more physical/mechanical; frustration is broader and can include systemic barriers

  • thwarting

    suggests deliberate opposition; frustration can also come from impersonal causes

  • setback

    a specific instance of delay rather than the ongoing condition

反義詞

文法句型

the frustration + of + noun phrase (plan/effort/attempt)

face/meet with frustration

用法筆記

Typically uncountable. Often followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase describing the blocked plan: 'the frustration of their efforts'.

常見錯誤

❌The frustration of the plan is. (as a complete sentence)
✅The frustration of the plan caused delays.
💡'frustration of' is a noun phrase that needs a verb to form a full sentence.
❌The frustration of him trying to start the car.
✅His frustration at trying to start the car.
💡For sense 1 (feeling), use 'frustration at' + gerund. For sense 2 (blocking), use 'the frustration of (plan).'