casual
/ˈkæʒuəl/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈæʒəwəl] /ˈkæʒuəl/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈæʒəwəl] /ˈka-zhə-wəl ˈkazh-wəl, ˈka-zhəl/ (ame, mw)
casual — adjective
- casualpositive
- more casualcomparative
- most casualsuperlative
1. used for clothes, places, or social situations that feel comfortable and are not
used for clothes, places, or social situations that feel comfortable and are not formal enough to need special dress or strict manners.
Leo wore a casual shirt and clean sneakers to the office party.
casual shirt / casual clothes
The hotel restaurant stays casual, so guests can eat in sandals.
casual restaurant setting
Aoi packed casual clothes for the long train trip across Taiwan.
Our teacher chose a casual jacket instead of a dark suit.
The company keeps Fridays casual, and most staff wear jeans.
文法句型
casual + clothes/style/place
用法筆記
Often used before nouns such as clothes, look, style, and restaurant. It describes low formality, not messy or careless behavior.
常見錯誤
2. showing that you do not think something is very important, serious, or worth wor
showing that you do not think something is very important, serious, or worth worrying about.
Bilal was casual about the delay and kept reading his comic.
be casual about + problem
Mira gave a casual shrug when her brother complained again.
casual shrug
The coach sounded casual, but every player heard the warning.
Ritu tried to look casual while waiting for the interview call.
Joshua's casual tone hid how upset he really felt.
- unconcerned
more neutral and direct; states the lack of worry clearly
- nonchalant
more formal; often suggests cool self-control in public
- cool
informal; can sound more confident or stylish than 'casual'
文法句型
be casual about + [something]
用法筆記
Often appears in 'be casual about' or with nouns like tone, smile, or shrug. This sense is about how much importance someone seems to give, unlike sense 5, which criticizes weak attention to detail in an action.
常見錯誤
3. used for work or participation that is not regular or permanent, but happens onl
used for work or participation that is not regular or permanent, but happens only as needed or on separate occasions.
Mauricio picks up casual shifts at the stadium during school breaks.
casual shifts
The farm needs casual workers when the strawberry season begins.
casual workers
Dario started as a casual employee before getting a full-time job.
The hotel hires casual staff for busy wedding weekends.
Christopher does casual work at his uncle's shop each summer.
- temporary
the closest general word; it focuses on short duration
- occasional
works best when something happens from time to time
- part-time
more regular than 'casual'; often means fixed weekly hours
文法句型
casual + work/worker/staff/shift
用法筆記
Common with work words such as shift, worker, staff, and contract. It means temporary or not regular, not merely relaxed or friendly like sense 1.
常見錯誤
4. said, made, or happening without much planning or strong intention, often in a q
said, made, or happening without much planning or strong intention, often in a quick or accidental way.
Eshe made a casual comment about rent, and the room went quiet.
casual comment
A casual meeting at the bakery led to their business idea.
casual meeting by chance
The editor gave only a casual answer because he thought it was a joke.
The article began with a casual mention of the old fire.
Two tourists met through a casual chat while waiting for the ferry.
- offhand
very close in meaning for quick remarks or replies
- unplanned
focuses on the lack of preparation rather than the tone
- accidental
stronger when the event happens by chance without intention
- deliberate
done on purpose after thought or decision
- carefully planned
stresses clear preparation instead of chance
文法句型
casual + comment/answer/meeting/mention
用法筆記
Common with nouns such as comment, answer, meeting, and mention. It stresses a lack of planning or commitment; sense 2 instead describes an unconcerned attitude.
常見錯誤
5. done quickly and with too little attention to important details, so that the res
done quickly and with too little attention to important details, so that the result is shallow or incomplete.
The inspector gave the kitchen only a casual glance and missed the broken lock.
casual glance missing detail
A casual check of the figures left two large mistakes in the report.
casual check
The doctor warned that a casual reading could hide the infection.
Lakan made a casual sweep of the room and forgot his passport.
Our manager rejected the casual plan because it skipped the cost details.
- superficial
the closest general word; it stresses staying on the surface
- cursory
more formal; often used for quick checks or reviews
- hasty
emphasizes speed more than lack of depth
文法句型
casual + glance/check/review/reading
用法筆記
Usually modifies nouns like glance, check, review, and reading. It criticizes weak attention to detail, not a friendly or low-formality style as in sense 1.