Pride and Prejudice — Emotion Vocabulary Correspondence Guide
English words for emotions used in the novel, their corresponding meanings, and intensity ratings.
Even the same emotion calls for a different word according to its intensity and coloring—the most difficult territory in translation.
1. Classification System for Emotion Vocabulary
Five Degrees of Intensity
- ⓟ Faint
- ① Mild
- ② Moderate
- ③ Strong
- ④ Intense
- ⑤ Extreme
Coloring (The Texture of the Emotion)
- 🌸 Warm
- ❄️ Cold
- 🔥 Passionate
- 🌧️ Melancholy
- ⚡ Furious
- 🌫️ Ambiguous
2. Liking and Love (By Intensity)
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Intensity |
Coloring |
Example from the Novel |
| acquaintance |
familiarity; knowing someone |
ⓟ |
🌫️ |
“her acquaintance”—merely knowing someone |
| liking |
goodwill, liking |
① |
🌸 |
“I give you leave to like him” |
| partiality |
preference, liking with a bias |
① |
🌸 |
“his partiality for Miss Bennet” |
| inclination |
attraction, a leaning of the heart |
① |
🌫️ |
“a slight, thin sort of inclination” |
| regard |
respect, warm feeling |
② |
🌸 |
“his sincere, if not equal, regard” |
| esteem |
respect, high valuation |
② |
🌸 |
“she respected, she esteemed” |
| affection |
fondness, tenderness |
② |
🌸 |
“tender affection” |
| fondness |
tenderness, affection |
② |
🌸 |
“fond of his sister’s society” |
| attachment |
deep feeling, emotional bond |
③ |
🌸 |
“stronger attachment than I had ever known” |
| admiration |
admiration, wonder |
③ |
🔥 |
“looked at with great admiration” |
| love |
love |
③–④ |
🔥 |
“how ardently I admire and love you” |
| passion |
passion, intense feeling |
④ |
🔥 |
“the utmost force of passion” |
| ardour |
fervor |
④ |
🔥 |
“spoken... with such ardour” (indirect) |
| adoration |
adoration, worship |
⑤ |
🔥 |
“the adoration of Mrs. Forster” |
Rendering Guide
[Mild Liking]
acquaintance: “familiarity” / “knowing someone”
liking: “liking” / “goodwill”
partiality: “preference—with a bias” / “favoritism”
inclination: “attraction” / “a leaning of the heart”
[Moderate Liking]
regard: “warm feeling” / “consideration” / “respect”
esteem: “respect” / “admiration”
affection: “affection” / “tenderness”
fondness: “tender feeling”
attachment: “deep attachment” / “emotional bond”
[Strong Love]
admiration: “admiration” / “wonder”
love: “love” / “romantic devotion”
passion: “passion” / “intense feeling”
ardour: “fervent feeling”
adoration: “adoration” / “devotion”
Evolution by Stage in the Novel (Darcy → Elizabeth)
Ch.6 admiration—her “fine eyes”
Ch.10 bewitched—an almost magical attraction
Ch.34 ardent love—“how ardently I admire and love you”
Ch.58 unchanged affections—a quiet depth
3. Negative Emotion—Anger and Hatred
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Intensity |
Coloring |
| dislike |
aversion, disinclination |
① |
❄️ |
| disapprobation |
disapproval |
① |
❄️ |
| displeasure |
displeasure, dissatisfaction |
② |
⚡ |
| vexation |
irritation, annoyance |
② |
⚡ |
| annoyance |
annoyance |
② |
⚡ |
| irritation |
being chafed or troubled |
② |
⚡ |
| resentment |
grievance, indignation |
③ |
⚡ |
| anger |
anger |
③ |
⚡ |
| indignation |
righteous anger |
③ |
⚡ |
| abhorrence |
abhorrence |
④ |
❄️ |
| detestation |
hatred |
④ |
⚡ |
| fury |
fury |
⑤ |
🔥 |
| wrath |
wrath, with a biblical coloring |
⑤ |
🔥 |
Rendering Guide
[Mild]
dislike: “dislike” / “aversion”
disapprobation: “disapproval” / “finding something objectionable”
[Moderate]
displeasure: “displeasure” / “being offended”
vexation: “irritation” / “annoyance”—avoid language that sounds too modern; “troubled” is safer
annoyance: “annoyance”
irritation: “irritation” / “being chafed”
[Strong]
resentment: “resentment” / “indignation” / “grievance”
anger: “anger” / “wrath”
indignation: “righteous anger”
abhorrence: “abhorrence” / “aversion”
[Intense]
detestation: “detestation” / “hatred”
fury: “fury” / “anger surging up”
wrath: “wrath”—used very rarely
Intensity of Anger Between Darcy and Elizabeth
Ch.5 dislike—mild
Ch.16 resentment—after Wickham’s account
Ch.33 indignation—after Fitzwilliam’s revelation
Ch.34 ardent rejection—intense refusal
Ch.36 shame—anger directed at herself
4. Sadness and Melancholy
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Intensity |
Coloring |
| uneasiness |
unease |
① |
🌧️ |
| anxiety |
anxiety, worry |
② |
🌧️ |
| concern |
concern |
② |
🌧️ |
| solicitude |
deep concern |
② |
🌸 |
| disappointment |
disappointment |
② |
🌧️ |
| dejection |
low spirits |
③ |
🌧️ |
| distress |
pain, distress |
③ |
🌧️ |
| grief |
grief, mourning |
③ |
🌧️ |
| sorrow |
sorrow |
③ |
🌧️ |
| misery |
misery, suffering |
④ |
🌧️ |
| despair |
despair |
⑤ |
🌧️ |
| anguish |
anguish |
⑤ |
🌧️ |
| wretchedness |
wretchedness |
⑤ |
🌧️ |
Rendering Guide
[Mild]
uneasiness: “unease” / “not being easy in one’s mind”
anxiety: “anxiety” / “worry”
concern: “concern” / “worry”
solicitude: “deep concern” / “attentive care”
[Moderate]
disappointment: “disappointment” / “discouragement”
dejection: “dejection” / “low spirits”
distress: “distress” / “suffering”
grief: “grief” / “sorrow”
sorrow: “sorrow” / “mourning”
[Strong]
misery: “misery” / “desolation”
despair: “despair”
anguish: “anguish” / “torment”
wretchedness: “wretchedness” / “desolation”
Examples from the Novel
- Jane (Chs.21–26): disappointment → distress → grief, though she reveals none of it outwardly
- Elizabeth (Ch.36): astonishment → shame → distress
- Elizabeth (Ch.46): wretched after the news of the elopement
5. Surprise and Shock
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Intensity |
Coloring |
| wonder |
puzzled wonder |
① |
🌫️ |
| surprise |
surprise |
② |
🌫️ |
| astonishment |
great surprise |
③ |
🌫️ |
| amazement |
amazement, wonder |
③ |
🌫️ |
| shock |
shock |
④ |
⚡ |
| horror |
horror, dread |
⑤ |
⚡ |
| stupefaction |
stunned bewilderment |
⑤ |
🌫️ |
Rendering Guide
wonder: “wonder” / “puzzlement”
surprise: “surprise” / “the unexpected”
astonishment: “great surprise” / “consternation”
amazement: “amazement” / “wonder”
shock: “shock”—slightly modern, but usable
horror: “horror” / “dread”
stupefaction: “stupefaction” / “being stunned senseless”
Frequency in the Novel
- “astonishment”—frequent; the standard word for surprise
- “horror”—the truth about Wickham in Ch.36; the elopement in Ch.46
- “wonder”—the visit to Pemberley
6. Embarrassment and Shame
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Intensity |
Coloring |
| embarrassment |
embarrassment, awkwardness |
② |
🌫️ |
| discomposure |
loss of composure |
② |
🌫️ |
| mortification |
humiliation, deep shame |
③ |
⚡ |
| shame |
shame |
③ |
🌧️ |
| humiliation |
humiliation |
④ |
⚡ |
| disgrace |
dishonor, public shame |
④ |
⚡ |
| degradation |
abasement, humiliation |
⑤ |
⚡ |
Rendering Guide
embarrassment: “embarrassment” / “awkwardness”
discomposure: “disturbance of mind” / “loss of composure”
mortification: “mortification” / “deep shame” / “burning embarrassment”
shame: “shame” / “embarrassment”
humiliation: “humiliation” / “abasement”
disgrace: “disgrace” / “dishonor”
degradation: “degradation” / “abasement”
Key Examples from the Novel
- Ch.5: “mortified mine” (Elizabeth’s pride)—humiliation
- Ch.18: the family’s disgrace at the ball
- Ch.34: “degradation” (Darcy)—his sense that proposing is an abasement of himself
- Ch.36: “shame” (Elizabeth)—after recognizing herself
7. Pleasure and Satisfaction
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Intensity |
Coloring |
| satisfaction |
satisfaction |
② |
🌸 |
| gratification |
gratification |
② |
🌸 |
| pleasure |
pleasure |
② |
🌸 |
| delight |
delight, pleasure |
③ |
🌸 |
| joy |
joy |
③ |
🌸 |
| rapture |
rapture |
④ |
🔥 |
| transport |
intense joy |
④ |
🔥 |
| ecstasy |
ecstasy |
⑤ |
🔥 |
| felicity |
happiness, felicity |
⑤ |
🌸 |
Rendering Guide
satisfaction: “satisfaction” / “contentment”
gratification: “gratification” / “pleased satisfaction”
pleasure: “pleasure” / “enjoyment”
delight: “delight” / “pleasure”
joy: “joy” / “gladness”
rapture: “rapture” / “exultation”
transport: “transport” / “rapture”
ecstasy: “ecstasy” / “rapture”
felicity: “felicity” / “happiness”
Examples from the Novel
- Ch.49, Mrs. Bennet rejoicing at the marriage news: “rapture” / “transport”
- Ch.59, Darcy after his engagement to Elizabeth: the expression “felicity”
- Ch.46, Elizabeth just before the news of the elopement: “ecstasy” at escaping Collins
8. Fear and Anxiety
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Intensity |
Coloring |
| apprehension |
anxiety, concern—or perception |
② |
🌧️ |
| alarm |
alarm, alertness |
② |
⚡ |
| fear |
fear |
③ |
🌧️ |
| dread |
fearful anticipation |
③ |
🌧️ |
| terror |
terror |
④ |
⚡ |
| horror |
horror |
⑤ |
⚡ |
Rendering Guide
apprehension: “concern” / “anxiety,” or “perception” depending on context
alarm: “alarm” / “alertness”
fear: “fear” / “fright”
dread: “dread” / “fear”
terror: “terror” / “a shudder of fear”
horror: “horror” / “dread”
9. Vocabulary of Thought and Judgment
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Coloring |
| opinion |
opinion |
🌫️ |
| judgement |
judgment |
🌫️ |
| conviction |
conviction |
🌫️ |
| persuasion |
being persuaded; belief |
🌫️ |
| discernment |
insight, discrimination |
🌫️ |
| prejudice |
prejudice |
❄️ |
| prepossession |
preconception |
🌫️ |
| partiality |
bias, favoritism |
🌸 |
| understanding |
understanding, good sense |
🌫️ |
| comprehension |
comprehension |
🌫️ |
Rendering Guide
opinion: “opinion” / “thought”
judgement: “judgment” / “discrimination”
conviction: “conviction” / “belief”
persuasion: “belief” / “conviction” (also the act of persuading)
discernment: “discernment” / “discrimination”—central to Ch.36
prejudice: “prejudice”—the title word
prepossession: “preconception”
partiality: “bias” / “favoritism”
understanding: “understanding” / “good sense”
comprehension: “comprehension”
Central Uses in the Novel
- “discernment” (Ch.36): the quality in which Elizabeth took pride
- “prejudice” (Ch.36): applied to herself
- “judgement” (throughout): central to the evaluation of character
10. Vocabulary of Social Emotion and Conduct
| English |
Meaning/Nuance |
Coloring |
| propriety |
fitness, correct conduct |
🌫️ |
| decorum |
decorum, formality |
🌫️ |
| dignity |
dignity, stateliness |
🌫️ |
| gravity |
seriousness |
🌫️ |
| levity |
frivolity |
❄️ |
| vivacity |
vivacity, animation |
🌸 |
| liveliness |
liveliness |
🌸 |
| modesty |
modesty |
🌸 |
| arrogance |
arrogance |
❄️ |
| insolence |
rudeness, impudence |
❄️ |
| impertinence |
impertinence |
❄️ |
| forwardness |
presumption, assertiveness |
❄️ |
| reserve |
restraint, taciturnity |
🌫️ |
| familiarity |
intimacy without formality |
🌫️ |
| civility |
civility |
🌫️ |
| politeness |
politeness |
🌸 |
| courtesy |
courtesy |
🌸 |
| gallantry |
gentlemanly attentiveness |
🌸 |
| complaisance |
willingness to oblige |
🌸 |
Rendering Guide
propriety: “propriety” / “correct conduct”
decorum: “decorum” / “social form”
dignity: “dignity” / “stateliness”
gravity: “gravity” / “solemnity”
levity: “levity” / “frivolity”
vivacity: “vivacity” / “animation”
liveliness: “liveliness”
modesty: “modesty”
arrogance: “arrogance”
insolence: “insolence” / “impudence”
impertinence: “impertinence” / “impudence”
forwardness: “forward behavior” / “assertiveness”
reserve: “reserve” / “taciturnity” / “caution”
familiarity: “familiarity” / “ease without ceremony”
civility: “civility” / “courteousness”
politeness: “politeness”
courtesy: “courtesy” / “politeness”
gallantry: “gallantry” / “gentlemanly attentiveness”
complaisance: “complaisance” / “willingness to oblige”
11. Frequency of Emotion Vocabulary by Character
Elizabeth (Vivacity + Wit)
[Frequently Used Words]
- delight, amusement, vexation
- mortification, in matters of pride
- “lively, playful disposition”
[Translation Tone]
- Animated + lightly satirical
- “interesting,” “amusing,” “vexing”
Darcy (Restraint + Intensity)
[Frequently Used Words]
- regard, esteem, ardour
- shame, mortification
- “in vain have I struggled”
[Translation Tone]
- Restrained + emotionally deep
- “regard,” “admiration,” “shame”
Mrs. Bennet (Violent Surface Emotion)
[Frequently Used Words]
- joy, rapture, transport
- vexation, distress
- nerves
[Translation Tone]
- Passionate but shallow
- “rapture,” “vexation,” “distress”
Mr. Bennet (Cynical Detachment)
[Frequently Used Words]
- amusement, especially at the folly of others
- Almost no direct expression of emotion
[Translation Tone]
- Wit held at a distance
- “I find it amusing” / “How interesting”
Jane (Restrained Tenderness)
[Frequently Used Words]
- regard, esteem, attachment
- Emotion kept under restraint
[Translation Tone]
- Tender but formal
- “regard,” “to hold someone in one’s heart”
Lydia (No Restraint)
[Frequently Used Words]
- joy, rapture, ecstasy
- All at the surface
[Translation Tone]
- Excitable without lapsing into vulgarity
- “Rapture!” / “Indeed!”
Lady Catherine (Anger + Domination)
[Frequently Used Words]
- displeasure, indignation
- arrogance, condescension
[Translation Tone]
- Authoritative anger
- “displeasure,” “wrath”
Collins (Excessive Formality)
[Frequently Used Words]
- gratification, satisfaction
- humility, civility—only outwardly
[Translation Tone]
- Excessively formal diction
- “gratification,” “deeply obliged”
12. Tracking Emotional Intensity in Key Scenes
Ch.34: The Proposal
[Darcy]
1. agitation—entering
2. ardent admiration—the proposal
3. astonishment—being refused
4. anger—“pale with anger”
5. mortification—“ashamed of what my own have been”
[Elizabeth]
1. astonishment—the proposal
2. compassion—for a moment
3. resentment—on hearing how he frames it
4. anger—the vehement rejection
5. agitation—crying for half an hour afterward
Ch.36: The Moment of Recognition
1. astonishment, apprehension, horror—while reading the letter
2. shame—self-recognition
3. humiliation—self-reproach
4. wretchedness—her own misery
5. resolution—“till this moment, I never knew myself”
Ch.46: News of the Elopement
[Elizabeth]
1. anguish
2. wretchedness
3. self-reproach
4. realization of love—at the cruelest possible moment
[Darcy]
1. astonishment
2. concern—deep solicitude
3. resolve—left unspoken
Ch.58: The Second Proposal
[Both]
1. embarrassment
2. relief
3. gratitude
4. happiness
5. felicity
13. Preserving Subtle Distinctions in Translation
“regard” vs. “esteem” vs. “affection” vs. “love”
[Darcy in the Novel]
Ch.34: “ardently admire and love”—love, strong
Ch.46: “real, though unavailing concern”—deep concern during a family crisis
Ch.58: “affections and wishes are unchanged”—unchanged affection
[Elizabeth in the Novel]
Ch.44: “She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him”
→ respect, esteem, gratitude—the stage immediately before love
Ch.46: “could have loved him”
→ the first use of “love”
Ch.58: accepts his love
Differences in Rendering
Source: “regard” → “warm feeling” / “consideration” (neutral)
Source: “esteem” → “respect” / “admiration”
Source: “affection” → “affection” / “tenderness”
Source: “love” → “love” / “romantic devotion”
Source: “passion” → “passion”
Source: “ardour” → “fervent feeling”
Rendering all of them simply as “love” destroys the subtle progression.
14. Emotion-Vocabulary Consistency Checklist
The Same English Word Should Receive the Same Core Rendering Throughout
| English |
Standard Rendering |
| love |
love |
| affection |
affection |
| regard |
warm regard |
| esteem |
respect |
| admiration |
admiration |
| attachment |
deep attachment |
| partiality |
partiality |
| inclination |
attraction |
| shame |
shame |
| mortification |
mortification |
| disgrace |
disgrace |
| vexation |
vexation / trouble |
| distress |
distress / suffering |
| anguish |
anguish |
| anxiety |
anxiety |
| solicitude |
deep concern |
| satisfaction |
satisfaction |
| pleasure |
pleasure |
| delight |
delight |
| rapture |
rapture |
| felicity |
felicity / happiness |
| astonishment |
astonishment / great surprise |
| amazement |
amazement |
| wonder |
wonder |
| surprise |
surprise |
| dislike |
dislike |
| resentment |
resentment / indignation |
| anger |
anger / wrath |
| indignation |
righteous anger |
| abhorrence |
abhorrence |
| pride |
pride—the title word |
| prejudice |
prejudice—the title word |
| vanity |
vanity |
| dignity |
dignity |
| modesty |
modesty |
| reserve |
reserve |
| civility |
civility |
| propriety |
propriety |
15. Golden Rules of Translation
1. Preserve the Progression
- The progression “regard → esteem → affection → love” must remain a progression in translation.
2. Distinguish Each Character’s Diction
- Darcy’s “ardent” ≠ Collins’s “ardent.”
- Even the same word must suit the character’s level of refinement.
3. Keep Intensity Consistent
- Do not reduce “rapture” to “pleasure”—use “rapture.”
- Do not reduce “fury” to “being upset”—use “fury.”
4. Preserve Emotional Coloring
- Keep warm words warm.
- Keep cold words cold.
- “esteem” = warm respect; “respect” = neutral regard—render them differently.
5. Maintain Period Refinement
- “love” may be rendered as “devotion” or “romantic affection.”
- “pleased” may be rendered as “gratified” or “well contented.”