失望 (shī wàng) literally means 'to lose hope' — 失 (shī) means 'to lose' or 'to miss', and 望 (wàng) means 'hope', 'expectation', or 'look forward to'. Together, they express the emotional state of disappointment that arises when expectations are not met. It describes a feeling of letdown, often after waiting for or relying on something positive — like a delayed flight, a canceled plan, or unfulfilled promises.

This word is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to convey personal emotional reactions. While it can function as a verb (e.g., 我很失望), it also appears as a predicate adjective (e.g., 这结果真让人失望). It’s neutral in register — appropriate for everyday conversation, formal reports, or literature — but carries a mild-to-moderate emotional weight; stronger disappointment might use 绝望 (jué wàng, 'despair') or 极度失望 (jí dù shī wàng, 'extreme disappointment').