downfall

Compared meaning: a complete failure or collapse (noun).

比较义项：毁灭、垮台（名词）。

• ruin

  Broader and more neutral: refers to the complete destruction of plans, prospects, buildings, or a person's fortunes, often caused by external events or one's own actions; very common, everyday word.

  含义更宽泛、更中性：指计划、前景、建筑物或个人财运等被彻底破坏，原因可以是外部事件，也可以是自身行为；是非常常见的日常用词。

  Heavy rain could easily ruin our plans for the outdoor picnic.

  大雨很可能彻底毁了我们户外野餐的计划。

• downfall 本词

  Narrower: almost always the sudden loss of power, status, or success of a specific person (often powerful or famous), typically caused by their own flaw, scandal, or mistake; carries a dramatic, almost moralistic tone.

  含义更窄：几乎总是指某个具体人物（通常有权势或有名望）突然失去权力、地位或成功，通常是由其自身的缺点、丑闻或错误造成的；带有一种戏剧性、近乎道德教训的语气。

  His constant lying eventually led to his downfall at work.

  他不断撒谎，最终导致他在工作上的垮台。

Ruin and downfall both describe complete failure or collapse. Ruin is broader: the destruction of plans, buildings, or a person's fortunes, from outside events or one's own actions. Downfall is narrower: the sudden loss of power of one powerful person, caused by their own mistake.

两词都指走向彻底的失败或崩溃，但 ruin 强调事物或前景被彻底破坏（可以是抽象计划，也可以是具体的人或事业），语气较中性、适用范围广；downfall 特指一个人（尤其是有权势、有名望者）从高位跌落，往往由自身错误或丑闻造成，带有一种因果报应或戏剧性转折的意味。