curious

/ˈkjʊəriəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkjʊriəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs ˈkyər-/ (ame, mw)

curious — adjective

  • curiouspositive
  • more curiouscomparative
  • most curioussuperlative

1. wanting to learn more about someone or something, often shown by asking question

1.形容詞A2
釋義

wanting to learn more about someone or something, often shown by asking questions or searching for information because the subject has caught your attention.

例句

Ingrid felt curious about the old chest in her grandmother's attic.

curious + about + noun phrase

The children grew curious when they noticed smoke behind the hill.

同義詞
  • inquisitive

    more formal; sometimes suggests asking too many detailed questions

  • interested

    broader and milder; does not imply active questioning

  • nosy

    informal and negative — prying into other people's private matters

  • eager to learn

    positive, suggests enthusiasm and willingness to study

反義詞

文法句型

curious + about + noun phrase

curious + to + infinitive

curious + wh-clause (why / how / what / whether)

用法筆記

Can be placed before a noun (a curious child) or after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', 'grow', 'become'. The pattern 'curious about + noun' is the most common; 'curious to + verb' is used when the curiosity leads to a specific action.

常見錯誤

❌I am curious about to meet your sister.
✅I am curious to meet your sister.
💡After 'curious', use 'about' before a noun phrase, but 'to' before a verb.
❌She is curious for the answer.
✅She is curious about the answer.
💡'Curious' takes 'about', not 'for', when referring to the target of curiosity.

2. not normal, and interesting or surprising for that reason — for instance, a curi

2.形容詞B1
釋義

not normal, and interesting or surprising for that reason — for instance, a curious taste in your drinking water, or a curious habit of always wearing two different socks.

例句

A curious thing happened on the bus — a man wore a full astronaut suit.

There was a curious smell in the kitchen, like burnt sugar mixed with roses.

curious + noun: curious smell

同義詞
  • strange

    most general; anything unfamiliar or surprising

  • odd

    suggests something is different from what is usual or expected

  • peculiar

    emphasises an unusual quality that is hard to explain

  • unusual

    milder than 'curious'; simply not common

反義詞
  • normal

    as expected; not unusual

  • ordinary

    common; not special or different

文法句型

a curious + noun (thing / way / case / fact / silence)

it is curious + that-clause

用法筆記

Unlike 'strange', which is neutral, 'curious' carries a hint that the unusual thing also makes you want to understand it. Not used in the pattern 'curious about' — that belongs exclusively to sense 1 (EAGER TO KNOW).

常見錯誤

❌The teacher gave me a curious look about my answer.' (ambiguous)
✅The teacher gave me a puzzled look.
💡'Curious' can mean either 'strange' or 'eager to know'; use a clearer word when the meaning is uncertain.