depression

Compared meaning: a fall in economic activity (noun).

比较义项：经济衰退／低迷（名词）。

• depression 本词

  Refers to a prolonged, severe downturn affecting a whole economy or industry; formal, serious register, often used for historical or large-scale events.

  指影响整个经济或行业的、持续时间较长且严重的衰退；语气正式、严肃，常用于描述历史性或大规模的经济事件。

  The country fell into a deep depression that lasted almost a decade.

  这个国家陷入了一场持续近十年的严重经济衰退。

• slump

  Refers to a sudden, sharp drop in prices, sales, or activity, often shorter-term and narrower in scope; more casual and commonly used in business contexts.

  指价格、销售或活动突然大幅下滑，通常持续时间较短、范围较窄；语气较为口语化，常用于商业场景。

  The housing market went into a slump right after interest rates rose.

  利率上升后，房地产市场立即出现了暴跌。

Depression and slump both mean a drop in the economy, but severity differs. Depression means a long, severe downturn across a whole economy; formal and serious. Slump means a sudden, sharp fall in prices or sales, usually shorter; more casual. Not compared: depression meaning sadness.

两词都指经济或生意的下滑，但 depression 指范围更广、持续更久的严重衰退，语气更正式、更严重；slump 指相对突然、幅度大的下跌，语气更口语化。此处不比较 depression 的“沮丧、抑郁”这一心理感受义项。