genial

/ˈdʒiːniəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒiːniəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjēn-yəl ˈjē-nē-əl/ (ame, mw)

genial — adjective

  • genialpositive
  • more genialcomparative
  • most genialsuperlative

1. A genial person has a warm, cheerful nature that makes other people feel comfort

1.形容詞B2
釋義

A genial person has a warm, cheerful nature that makes other people feel comfortable and welcome in their company.

例句

The genial old librarian always had a kind word for every child who walked in.

genial + person (collocation: genial + occupation role)

Dr. Okafor's genial smile helped calm his nervous patients before their check-ups.

genial + smile (common noun collocation)

同義詞
  • warm

    more informal and common; can describe both a person and their specific action or welcome

  • cordial

    more formal, often describes polite friendliness in professional or formal settings

  • affable

    similar in formality and meaning, emphasises approachability and ease in conversation

反義詞
  • cold

    opposite in terms of emotional warmth; describes distant, unfriendly behaviour

  • grumpy

    informal opposite; describes someone who is easily annoyed and doesn't hide it

用法筆記

More formal than friendly. Describes a person's overall disposition or habitual manner, not a single momentary action.

常見錯誤

❌The hotel staff was genial to me.
✅The hotel staff was friendly to me.
💡genial is not typically used with a prepositional object ('to someone'); it describes a general quality.

2. Genial conditions, such as weather or an environment, are pleasantly mild and fa

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Genial conditions, such as weather or an environment, are pleasantly mild and favorable to life, growth, or comfort.

例句

The genial climate along the Mediterranean coast attracts tourists all year round.

genial + climate (common collocation for weather)

These ferns grow best in the genial conditions of a shaded, humid greenhouse.

同義詞
  • mild

    more common; emphasises lack of extremes rather than active pleasantness

  • temperate

    more formal and technical; describes climate that avoids both extreme heat and cold

  • pleasant

    general and widely used; less specific to weather conditions than genial

反義詞
  • harsh

    describes weather that is extreme and uncomfortable (bitter cold, scorching heat)

  • severe

    more intense than harsh; suggests dangerous or damaging weather

用法筆記

Used primarily with nouns related to weather, climate, and environment. Not used to describe food or drinks being pleasantly warm — use 'mild' or 'temperate' instead.