hardy

/ˈhɑːdi/ (bre, ipa) · [hˈɑrdi] /ˈhɑːrdi/ (ame, ipa) · [hˈɑrdi] /ˈhär-dē/ (ame, mw)

hardy — adjective

  • hardypositive
  • hardiercomparative
  • hardiestsuperlative

1. able to put up with severe cold, hard physical work, or difficult living conditi

1.形容詞B2
釋義

able to put up with severe cold, hard physical work, or difficult living conditions without getting weak or sick.

例句

The hardy mountain guides carried their gear up the icy slope without stopping to rest.

collocation: hardy + people working in tough conditions

Yael's grandmother is remarkably hardy — she still walks to the market at age eighty-eight.

同義詞
  • tough

    more general; can describe objects or people; less specific about enduring cold

  • resilient

    emphasises recovery after hardship rather than enduring it

  • robust

    focuses on strength and health; often used for systems or objects too

  • sturdy

    suggests physical strong build; more about structure than endurance

反義詞
  • delicate

    easily damaged or weakened by harsh conditions

  • frail

    weak and likely to become ill or injured

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns referring to people, animals, or groups that face physically demanding conditions. The comparative form is hardier and the superlative is hardiest.

常見錯誤

❌This metal table is very hardy.
✅This metal table is very strong / durable.
💡hardy describes living things or groups that endure hardship, not the toughness of objects.
❌She is a hard worker, very hardy.
✅She is a hard worker, very resilient.
💡'hard worker' means someone who works a lot; 'hardy' means someone who can endure tough conditions.

2. able to survive the cold months of winter when left outdoors without any extra p

2.形容詞B2
釋義

able to survive the cold months of winter when left outdoors without any extra protection or covering.

例句

These hardy roses bloom again every spring even after weeks of freezing temperatures.

collocation: hardy + plant names

Anjali planted only hardy shrubs on the north side because that area gets no winter sun.

同義詞
反義詞
  • tender

    cannot survive frost or cold weather; gardening term

  • half-hardy

    can survive mild cold but needs protection from hard frost

用法筆記

In gardening contexts, 'hardy' is often contrasted with 'half-hardy' (needs protection in cold weather) and 'tender' (cannot survive frost at all). Plants are classified by hardiness zones.

常見錯誤

❌The hardy cactus died because I forgot to water it.
✅The cactus died because I forgot to water it.
💡hardy relates to cold tolerance, not drought resistance; use 'drought-tolerant' for water issues.

3. brave and confident enough to take risks or do things that others find shocking

3.形容詞C1
釋義

brave and confident enough to take risks or do things that others find shocking or too bold.

例句

The young delegate made a hardy speech criticising her own party's long-standing policies.

collocation: hardy + speech / move / decision

Christopher's hardy decision to sail alone across the Atlantic amazed even his closest friends.

同義詞
  • bold

    broader; less formal; suggests confidence without the shock factor

  • daring

    emphasises willingness to take risks; more common in modern English

  • audacious

    similar formality level but can imply showing disrespect

  • fearless

    focuses on absence of fear rather than active risk-taking

反義詞
  • timid

    lacking confidence or courage

  • cautious

    avoiding risks or bold actions

用法筆記

This sense is less common in everyday speech and carries a formal or literary tone. It overlaps partly with 'bold' but suggests greater risk and a touch of audacity.

常見錯誤

❌He was hardy enough to ask for a pay rise.
✅He was bold enough to ask for a pay rise.
💡'hardy' in this sense has a formal or old-fashioned feel; 'bold' is more natural in modern workplace conversations.