characteristic

/ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-stik ˌka-rik-/ (ame, mw) · /ˌkær.ək.təˈrɪs.tɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌker.ək.təˈrɪs.tɪk/ (ame, ipa)

characteristic — noun

  • characteristicsingular
  • characteristicsplural

1. A quality or feature that naturally belongs to a particular person, thing, or gr

1.名詞B2
釋義

A quality or feature that naturally belongs to a particular person, thing, or group and helps make them recognizable for what they are.

例句

Theo's most noticeable characteristic is his endless curiosity about how machines work.

possessive + characteristic — describing a person's defining quality

One characteristic of Mediterranean architecture is the use of white walls and terracotta roof tiles.

同義詞
  • trait

    more personal or inherited, especially of personality

  • feature

    emphasizes a prominent or design-related aspect

  • attribute

    more abstract or assigned, common in technical contexts

  • quality

    broader, often with positive connotation

文法句型

characteristic + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of' to indicate who or what the quality belongs to. The noun is neutral — it does not carry a positive or negative judgment by itself.

常見錯誤

❌Honesty is one of her good characteristics.
✅Honesty is one of her good qualities.
💡'characteristic' is neutral and describes what defines something; use 'quality' for positive evaluation.
❌The characteristic of this car is fast.
✅A characteristic of this car is its speed.
💡'characteristic' should be followed by a noun phrase, not an adjective.

characteristic — adjective