Provided are a display substrate and a display apparatus. The display substrate includes a base substrate, and an auxiliary cathode structure located on a side of the base substrate, the auxiliary cathode structure including a first conductive layer, an intermediate support layer, and a second conductive layer. In an implementation, a side of the intermediate support layer close to the first conductive layer includes any one or more of first protrusions and first grooves, and a side of the first conductive layer close to the intermediate support layer includes any one or more of second grooves engaged with the first protrusions and second protrusions engaged with the first grooves which are correspondingly disposed.