我觉得:
despite是介词,in spite of是副词,区别不大
然后去给你查了:(其中还有一些相关的词组 看看吧。。。 )
论语气,despite比in spite of谨严,但意思没有分别,都可译做“虽然”或“不顾”,
例如:
In spite of/Despite mounting public discontent, the government is determined to push the bill through。
(虽然公众不满愈来愈强烈,政府还是执意要通过议案。)
有时,我们会看到despite of mounting public discontent之类说法,但despite之后加of,一般被视为鄙俗甚至不正确,不宜仿效。
In spite of或despite之后必须用名词或动名词,不能接普通子句,
例如不可说:
Despite the public is getting increasingly discontented
只能说:
Despite the fact that the public is getting increasingly discontented
不过,in spite of/despite the fact that这句式虽然正确,却嫌累赘,最好用although一字取代,
例如:Although the public is getting increasingly discontented, the government is determined to push the bill through。
英文有in spite of/despite oneself这说法,意思是“不由自主”或“不禁”,
例如:
Her words were so satirical that I lost my temper in spite of myself。
她的话尖酸刻薄得令我忍不住发脾气。
留意spite这个字单独使用时,往往解作“恶意”,和in spite of不同,
例如:
She did it out of spite。
(她那样做是出于恶意的。)
就这些咯。