qualm

IPA/kwɑːm/
IPA/kwɑːm/

qualm — noun

  • qualmsingular
  • qualmsplural

1. a sense of unease about whether an action is morally right, sometimes strong eno

1.名詞B2
釋義

a sense of unease about whether an action is morally right, sometimes strong enough to make you hesitate or change your mind

例句

Renata had no qualms about telling her boss that the project timeline was unrealistic.

negative construction: have no qualms about [doing something]

The lawyer expressed serious qualms about the ethics of the deal and refused to sign.

collocation: express qualms about [something]

同義詞
  • scruple

    stronger moral or ethical hesitation; more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • misgiving

    focuses on worry about a future outcome rather than moral rightness

  • reservation

    usually plural; suggests specific objections or doubts about a plan

  • doubt

    broader and more general; does not carry the same sense of conscience or hesitation

反義詞

文法句型

have no qualms about [doing something]

have qualms about [something]

express qualms about [something]

用法筆記

Much more common in the plural form (qualms). The singular a qualm is used but less frequent. Often appears with no or any in negative or conditional sentences.

常見錯誤

❌I have a qualm to go there alone.
✅I have qualms about going there alone.
💡qualm is followed by 'about + gerund', not 'to + infinitive'.
❌He had a qualm on the decision.
✅He had qualms about the decision.
💡use 'about', not 'on', to introduce the source of doubt.