降参する vs 諦める​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


What's the difference between 降参する and 諦める?

Both seems to have the meaning of "to give up", for example:

  * [ぜったい降参しない。](http://goo.gl/hpuHs)( _I will never give up._ )

  * ぜったい諦めない。( _I will never give up._ )

What's the difference in their nuances / meaning?




I think the difference between 降参する and 諦める is the difference between "to
surrender" and "to give up".

Giving up is more an emotional state of not having any hope left. Surrendering
means that you "put down your arms", officially, but that doesn't necessarily
mean you have given up hope.

In that sense, 降参する makes more sense in a formal context of two parties
against one another, whereas 諦める can be used in all sorts of situations. E.g.

> お金持ちになるのを諦めた。  
>  I've given up trying to get rich.
>
> おまえは完全に包囲されている。降参しろ。  
>  You have no way out! Surrender! (from SpaceALC)

One does not imply the other. You can surrender as a strategic move, without
having given up. You can have given up (hope for life), and choose not to
surrender until you die.




I think the difference between 降参する and 諦める is the difference between "to
surrender" and "to give up".

Giving up is more an emotional state of not having any hope left. Surrendering
means that you "put down your arms", officially, but that doesn't necessarily
mean you have given up hope.

In that sense, 降参する makes more sense in a formal context of two parties
against one another, whereas 諦める can be used in all sorts of situations. E.g.

> お金持ちになるのを諦めた。  
>  I've given up trying to get rich.
>
> おまえは完全に包囲されている。降参しろ。  
>  You have no way out! Surrender! (from SpaceALC)

One does not imply the other. You can surrender as a strategic move, without
having given up. You can have given up (hope for life), and choose not to
surrender until you die.

