precious

/ˈpreʃəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpreʃəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpre-shəs/ (ame, mw) · /ˈpreʃ.əs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpreʃ.əs/ (ame, ipa)

precious — adjective

  • preciouspositive
  • more preciouscomparative
  • most precioussuperlative

1. worth a lot, often because few exist, they cost much, or they matter deeply

1.形容詞B2
釋義

worth a lot, often because few exist, they cost much, or they matter deeply

例句

The museum keeps precious coins in a locked glass case.

precious + valuable object

The jeweler weighed the precious gold chain before naming a price.

precious gold chain

同義詞
  • valuable

    the broad everyday word for something worth a lot

  • costly

    stresses high price more than personal importance

  • prized

    often adds the idea that people protect it carefully

反義詞

文法句型

precious coins

precious ring

be precious

用法筆記

Common with jewelry, metals, stones, documents, and other things whose worth comes from rarity, price, or importance. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names high value itself, not the need to avoid waste.

常見錯誤

❌This plastic cup is precious because it is cheap.
✅This plastic cup is useful, but it is not precious.
💡Precious in this sense suggests high value, not low price.

2. so useful or limited that you should spend it carefully, not carelessly

2.形容詞B2
釋義

so useful or limited that you should spend it carefully, not carelessly

例句

We have only ten minutes, so let's not waste precious time.

precious time

The hospital needs precious space for patients with serious injuries.

precious space

同義詞
  • valuable

    can also describe something worth protecting, but it is less focused on waste

  • limited

    states that only a small amount is available

  • scarce

    stresses shortage, often in formal or written contexts

反義詞
  • plentiful

    suggests there is enough and careful use is less urgent

  • wasted

    describes something already used badly or without care

文法句型

precious time

precious space

precious fuel

用法筆記

Usually used for time, space, fuel, energy, money, and other limited resources. Distinguish from sense 1: something can be precious here even if it is not rare or expensive.

常見錯誤

❌My phone battery is precious because it is made of gold.
✅My phone battery is precious because I should not waste it on games.
💡This sense is about limited useful resources, not price or material.

3. loved so much that it has special meaning in your life

3.形容詞B2
釋義

loved so much that it has special meaning in your life

例句

This old photo is precious to Maya because it shows her father.

precious to somebody

The song became precious to us after our wedding in Tainan.

become precious to somebody

同義詞
  • cherished

    stresses warm feeling and long-term care

  • dear

    a simple word for someone or something you love

  • beloved

    stronger and often more emotional or literary

反義詞

文法句型

precious to somebody

be precious to somebody

precious memory

用法筆記

Often follows to when you name the person who feels the affection. Distinguish from sense 1: here the value comes from love or memory, not from money or rarity.

常見錯誤

❌This ring is precious to me because it cost fifty dollars.
✅This ring is precious to me because my mother gave it to me.
💡Precious to someone usually points to personal feeling, not price alone.

4. too careful, sweet, or elegant in a way that feels false instead of relaxed

4.形容詞C1
釋義

too careful, sweet, or elegant in a way that feels false instead of relaxed

例句

His precious voice made the simple joke sound like a school speech.

critical use about manner of speaking

At dinner, Clara's precious manners annoyed everyone at the table.

precious manners

同義詞
  • affected

    the closest formal word for behavior that feels put on

  • mannered

    often used for speech or movement that seems unnatural

  • overdone

    less exact, but it suggests too much style or effort

反義詞
  • natural

    showing an easy, genuine manner

  • relaxed

    suggests ease rather than stiff performance

文法句型

precious manners

precious tone

be precious

用法筆記

Usually critical and often applied to speech, manners, smiles, or style. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 4 attacks the person's artificial behavior, while sense 5 mocks something another person cares about.

常見錯誤

❌Her precious handwriting helped the class read the notes.
✅Her neat handwriting helped the class read the notes.
💡Precious here is negative and suggests affected style, not simple neatness.

5. said before a noun to mock how important another person thinks it is

5.形容詞C1
釋義

said before a noun to mock how important another person thinks it is

例句

Put your precious phone away and help me carry these boxes.

sarcastic precious + noun

Max refuses to share his precious parking space with anyone.

mocking attitude before noun

同義詞
  • important

    the neutral literal meaning that the speaker is mocking here

  • special

    usually positive, but tone can also make it sound mocking

  • fancy

    informal and often mocking when someone thinks something is better than it is

反義詞
  • ordinary

    the speaker treats the thing as nothing special

  • minor

    suggests it should not matter much

文法句型

your precious phone

his precious car

their precious plans

用法筆記

Only before a noun, and the tone is annoyed, mocking, or bitter. Distinguish from senses 1 and 3: those are sincere positive meanings, but this sense is sarcastic.

常見錯誤

❌My precious son won a prize.
✅My dear son won a prize.
💡Precious before a noun often sounds sarcastic unless you are joking on purpose.

precious — adverb