choppy

/ˈtʃɒpi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtʃɑːpi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈchä-pē/ (ame, mw)

choppy — adjective

  • choppypositive
  • choppiercomparative
  • choppiestsuperlative

1. covered with many short, rough waves that keep the surface restless

1.形容詞B2
釋義

covered with many short, rough waves that keep the surface restless

例句

By noon, the bay had turned choppy, and the ferry slowed near the pier.

choppy water affecting boat travel

Wind from the north made the lake choppy during Mia's rowing lesson.

make + water + choppy

同義詞
  • rough

    broader term for unpleasant sea conditions, not only short waves

  • wavy

    more neutral and less strongly suggests difficult conditions

  • rippled

    usually milder, with smaller surface movement

反義詞
  • calm

    with little or no wave movement

  • smooth

    surface looks flat and undisturbed

  • glassy

    especially for water that is very still and shiny

用法筆記

Usually describes water surfaces such as seas, rivers, lakes, or bays. It suggests many short waves rather than one huge storm wave.

常見錯誤

❌The beach was choppy and soft under our feet.
✅The sea was choppy, and the sand was soft under our feet.
💡'choppy' describes the moving water, not the sand on the beach.

2. changing sharply and unpredictably, with short good periods mixed with bad ones

2.形容詞C1
釋義

changing sharply and unpredictably, with short good periods mixed with bad ones

例句

After the tax news, tech shares stayed choppy for the rest of the week.

choppy market movement

Ticket sales were choppy, so the theater cut two weekday shows.

同義詞
  • volatile

    more formal and especially common in finance

  • unstable

    broader term for a situation that does not stay steady

  • erratic

    emphasizes irregular changes that are hard to predict

反義詞
  • steady

    continuing at a fairly even level

  • stable

    not changing sharply

  • smooth

    progressing without sharp disruptions

用法筆記

Common with markets, sales, talks, or business periods. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about unstable progress over time, not a signal or image stopping and restarting.

常見錯誤

❌The stock market was choppy because the internet kept breaking.
✅The stock market was choppy because prices kept jumping up and down.
💡here 'choppy' describes unstable movement in results or prices, not a technical connection problem.

3. breaking off or freezing again and again instead of continuing smoothly

3.形容詞B2
釋義

breaking off or freezing again and again instead of continuing smoothly

例句

Our call turned choppy when the train entered the tunnel under the hill.

choppy call = broken connection

The livestream looked choppy on Leo's old phone during the concert.

同義詞
  • jerky

    focuses on movement that jumps instead of flowing smoothly

  • broken

    more general term for sound or video that cuts out

  • patchy

    often used for weak or unreliable signal coverage

反義詞
  • smooth

    continuing without jumps or freezes

  • clear

    especially for audio or picture quality

  • stable

    connection or playback stays even

用法筆記

Often used for audio, video, calls, or online connections. It suggests repeated brief breaks rather than one complete failure.

常見錯誤

❌The screen was choppy because the movie was boring.
✅The screen looked choppy because the video kept freezing.
💡this sense is about broken movement or connection quality, not whether the content is interesting.

4. cut into uneven lengths to create a broken, layered look

4.形容詞C1
釋義

cut into uneven lengths to create a broken, layered look

例句

The stylist gave Hana a choppy bob that framed her jaw.

choppy + hairstyle noun

A choppy fringe made the haircut look playful instead of formal.

同義詞
  • layered

    broader and often softer; not always as sharply uneven

  • jagged

    stronger and rougher, sometimes suggesting a poor finish

  • textured

    salon term for hair shaped to add movement and separation

反義詞
  • even

    cut to the same length throughout

  • sleek

    smooth and neat rather than broken into pieces

  • blunt

    cut straight across with a clean line

用法筆記

Used mainly in hair and beauty contexts. The unevenness is usually intentional and stylistic, not simply a bad haircut.

常見錯誤

❌Her hair was choppy because it was wet from the rain.
✅Her hair looked choppy because it had been cut into uneven layers.
💡this sense describes the way the hair is cut, not how it feels after getting wet.

5. made of short parts that jump too quickly from one point to another, so it feels

5.形容詞C1
釋義

made of short parts that jump too quickly from one point to another, so it feels disconnected

例句

The article felt choppy because every paragraph ended after two short sentences.

choppy writing style

Jisoo's presentation sounded choppy when she skipped between unrelated slides.

同義詞
  • disjointed

    formal term for parts that do not connect smoothly

  • fragmented

    emphasizes that the whole feels broken into separate pieces

  • abrupt

    focuses on sudden transitions from one point to another

反義詞
  • fluent

    ideas or speech move forward easily and naturally

  • coherent

    all parts connect clearly in meaning

  • smooth

    transitions do not feel sudden or broken

用法筆記

Used for writing, speaking, or editing that does not flow smoothly from one idea to the next. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about style or organization, not a technical signal problem.

常見錯誤

❌Her essay was choppy because the printer stopped twice.
✅Her essay was choppy because the ideas jumped around and did not connect well.
💡this sense judges the style of the writing itself, not a machine problem while printing.