Simone
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腊滑，不宜仿效。 In spite of或despite之后必轮睁腊须用名词或早瞎动名词（gerund），不能接普通子句（clause），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。）”
