tenderness

/ˈtendənəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtendərnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈten-dər-nəs/ (ame, mw)

tenderness — noun

1. a warm, caring attitude that makes a person want to treat someone gently and sho

1.名詞B2
釋義

a warm, caring attitude that makes a person want to treat someone gently and show affection

例句

Adaeze remembered her grandmother's tenderness whenever she was sick as a child.

collocation: tenderness toward someone (implied by context)

There was such tenderness in his voice that the children calmed down immediately.

同義詞
  • affection

    broader; can describe fondness without the gentle-care nuance

  • warmth

    often used for emotional closeness rather than gentle treatment

  • gentleness

    focuses on soft, careful behaviour more than emotional feeling

  • kindness

    emphasises helpful actions rather than the emotional quality

反義詞
  • harshness

    the quality of being rough or unkind

  • cruelty

    deliberate causing of pain or suffering

文法句型

tenderness + toward + noun phrase

tenderness + for + noun phrase

tenderness + in + possessive + voice/eyes

用法筆記

Uncountable — does not take a plural form. Often paired with 'toward' or 'for' to indicate the target of the tender feeling. The adjective 'tender' is more common in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌I felt tenderness to her.
✅I felt tenderness toward her.
💡use 'toward' (not 'to') to indicate the person receiving the gentle feeling.
❌He has many tendernesses for his daughter.
✅He has great tenderness for his daughter.
💡'tenderness' is uncountable; do not add -es.

2. an uncomfortable, sore feeling in a specific area of your body that hurts when y

2.名詞B2
釋義

an uncomfortable, sore feeling in a specific area of your body that hurts when you press or move that spot

例句

The tenderness in Theo's shoulder made it hard to lift his arm above his head.

pattern: tenderness in [body part]

After the long run, Sayaka noticed some tenderness around her left knee.

collocation: some tenderness / a bit of tenderness

同義詞
  • soreness

    nearly interchangeable; slightly more common in everyday speech

  • sensitivity

    can describe reactions to touch, temperature, or chemicals; broader range

  • painfulness

    stronger and more clinical; implies a higher level of pain

反義詞
  • numbness

    lack of sensation, often after injury or cold

文法句型

area / point of tenderness + in + body part

some / slight / a bit of tenderness + in + body part

tenderness + around + body part

用法筆記

Uncountable — you cannot say 'tendernesses'. Typically refers to a localised sore spot rather than general body pain. Common in medical check-up notes and physiotherapy contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I have a tenderness in my leg.
✅I have some tenderness in my leg.
💡'tenderness' is uncountable; use 'some' or 'a bit of' rather than 'a'.
❌The tenderness on my skin is gone.
✅The tenderness in my skin is gone.
💡use 'in' (not 'on') to describe the location of the soreness.

3. the quality of cooked meat or vegetables being soft and easy to break apart or c

3.名詞B1
釋義

the quality of cooked meat or vegetables being soft and easy to break apart or chew when you eat them

例句

The slow-cooked beef had a tenderness that made it easy to cut with a fork.

pattern: have / show a tenderness that...

Mert checked the tenderness of the potatoes by poking them with a fork before serving.

collocation: check / test for tenderness

同義詞
  • softness

    broader; can describe any soft texture, not specifically well-cooked food

  • succulence

    adds the idea of juiciness; a rarer, more formal word

反義詞
  • toughness

    the quality of being difficult to cut or chew, often of overcooked or low-quality meat

文法句型

tenderness + of + noun phrase

test / check + for + tenderness

tenderness + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Almost always describes a positive quality in cooked food. In everyday conversation, people usually use the adjective 'tender' ('This steak is so tender') rather than the noun form.

常見錯誤

❌This steak has a lot of tenderness.
✅This steak is very tender.
💡the adjective 'tender' is more natural in daily speech; the noun is more common in written reviews and recipes.

4. a plant's lack of ability to survive low temperatures without damage to its leav

4.名詞C1
釋義

a plant's lack of ability to survive low temperatures without damage to its leaves, stems, or roots

例句

The tenderness of these ferns means they must be brought indoors before the first frost.

pattern: tenderness of [plant] + means / requires / explains

Check each flower's tenderness to cold in the included gardening guide before you plant.

collocation: tenderness to cold

同義詞
  • fragility

    broader; can describe plants but also objects and emotions

  • delicacy

    suggests fine structure rather than weather sensitivity specifically

反義詞
  • hardiness

    a plant's ability to survive cold temperatures; the direct opposite in gardening

文法句型

tenderness + to + cold / frost

tenderness + of + plant type

用法筆記

Primarily used in gardening books, nursery catalogues, and horticultural guides. The opposite quality is called 'hardiness'. In garden-centre labels, plants are often marked as 'tender' rather than described with the noun.

常見錯誤

❌This plant has a tenderness to cold.
✅This plant has tenderness to cold.' or 'This plant is tender.
💡the noun is uncountable; no article needed.