inner

/ˈɪnə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪnər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈi-nər/ (ame, mw)

inner — adjective

  • innerpositive
  • innerrercomparative
  • innerrestsuperlative

1. located in the part of something that is closest to its centre, or on the inside

1.形容詞B1
釋義

located in the part of something that is closest to its centre, or on the inside of something rather than on its outer surface

例句

Camila removed the outer wrapping and found a small note in the inner layer.

inner layer — the part of something that is closest to the centre

The inner courtyard of the hotel was filled with flowering plants.

同義詞
  • internal

    broader in meaning; can refer to the inside of any system or container, not just layered objects

  • interior

    often used for rooms or spaces inside a building or vehicle; less about layering

  • innermost

    emphasises being at the very centre, furthest from the outside

反義詞
  • outer

    the direct opposite; on the outside surface or further from the centre

  • external

    relating to the outside of something, often used for surfaces or influences

用法筆記

Frequently paired with 'outer' in contrastive sentences that describe layers or concentric parts of an object.

常見錯誤

❌The box had a inner layer of paper.
✅The box had an inner layer of paper.
💡'inner' begins with a vowel sound, so it takes 'an' rather than 'a'.

2. relating to thoughts, feelings, or wishes that you keep to yourself and do not e

2.形容詞B1
釋義

relating to thoughts, feelings, or wishes that you keep to yourself and do not express to other people

例句

Élise kept her inner thoughts to herself during the tense meeting.

inner thoughts — private ideas that one does not share

Yoga helped Jin find a sense of inner peace after a stressful year.

inner peace — a calm, quiet mental state

同義詞
  • private

    more general; can refer to any matter not shared, not necessarily deep or personal

  • inward

    suggests a direction of attention towards oneself; less common as a before-noun adjective

  • innermost

    stronger and more intense; implies the deepest, most secret part of one's mind

  • unspoken

    focuses on the fact that feelings are not expressed verbally, not on their depth

反義詞
  • outward

    relating to how one appears or behaves in public, often in contrast to what one truly feels

  • expressed

    feelings or thoughts that have been communicated to others

用法筆記

Distinguish from 'private', which can describe anything not shared with others. 'Inner' specifically suggests depth of feeling — thoughts or emotions that define a person's core identity. Common in fixed phrases: 'inner peace', 'inner self', 'inner strength'.

常見錯誤

❌His inner feelings were visible on his smiling face.
✅His inner feelings were hidden behind a calm expression.
💡'inner feelings' are by definition not shown to others; using them with 'visible' creates a contradiction.