In older English, abysmal belonged with abyss — a hole so deep you cannot see the bottom. Today, when people say abysmal they almost never mean “deep”. They mean very, very bad: an abysmal film, abysmal service, abysmal weather, an abysmal exam result.

In older English在較早的英文裡 abysmal belonged with abyss「abysmal」跟「abyss」是一夥的 a hole so deep you cannot see the bottom意思是深到看不見底的洞。Today今天 when people say abysmal大家說abysmal的時候 they almost never mean “deep”幾乎不會是在講「深」。They mean他們指的是 very, very bad非常非常糟 : an abysmal film, abysmal service, abysmal weather, an abysmal exam result糟透的電影、糟透的服務、糟透的天氣、糟透的考試成績。

It is stronger than bad and a bit more colourful; you can put it in a review or a complaint without sounding like slang, but it is not a gentle word. Though actually, the old “bottomless” feeling still sits underneath, which is why the word sounds so total — not a small fault, a drop into the pit.

It is stronger than bad它比bad更強烈 and而且 a bit more colourful用詞更生動一點 you can put it in a review or a complaint你可以用在評論或抱怨裡 without sounding like slang不會顯得像俚語 but但 it is not a gentle word它也不是個溫和的字。Though actually不過 the old “bottomless” feeling still sits underneath那種「深不見底」的老感覺其實還在底下 which is why這就是為什麼 the word sounds so total這個字聽起來這麼徹底 not a small fault, a drop into the pit不是小毛病，而是掉進深淵。

Use it when you really mean terrible, not when something is only a bit disappointing. Fairly common in speech and writing; a little dramatic.

Use it你該用它 when you really mean terrible是在你真心覺得糟透了的時候 not when something is only a bit disappointing而不是只是有點失望的時候。Fairly common常見度算高 in speech and writing口語和書面都會用 a little dramatic但有點戲劇化。