kitsch

/kɪtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /kɪtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkich/ (ame, mw)

kitsch — noun

1. decorative objects, pictures, or design that look cheap, overly sentimental, or

1.名詞C2
釋義

decorative objects, pictures, or design that look cheap, overly sentimental, or in poor taste, but that some people enjoy precisely because they seem so silly or old-fashioned.

例句

Shanti's living room is full of kitsch from 1970s flea markets: pink flamingos and lava lamps.

uncountable noun: full of kitsch

The seaside museum displays mid-century kitsch like singing fish and glowing Elvis statues.

collocation: mid-century kitsch

同義詞
  • schmaltz

    overly sentimental, often used for music or films rather than objects

  • trash

    broader and more dismissive; not always about aesthetic taste

  • tat

    British informal; cheap useless objects, less tied to ironic enjoyment

反義詞
  • fine art

    work valued by critics for craft and originality rather than novelty

用法筆記

Subject is typically the object itself, not the maker: we say a lamp is kitsch rather than someone produced kitsch. Often takes evaluative modifiers (pure, classic, retro, mid-century) and verbs of collecting, displaying, or dismissing.

常見錯誤

❌She bought a kitsch yesterday.
✅She bought some kitsch yesterday.
💡kitsch is uncountable; do not use 'a kitsch'.
❌The painting is a real kitsch.
✅The painting is real kitsch.' or 'The painting is very kitschy.
💡drop the article, or use the adjective 'kitschy'.