thoughtful

thoughtful — adjective

1. Done or made with serious and careful consideration of all the relevant details,

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Done or made with serious and careful consideration of all the relevant details, possible effects, and alternatives before reaching a conclusion.

例句

Zola gave a thoughtful answer to the committee's questions about the new policy.

thoughtful + answer / response / analysis

After a long pause, Daichi offered a thoughtful analysis of the proposal.

同義詞
  • deliberate

    emphasises slowness and intention rather than depth of consideration

  • considered

    more formal; implies the idea has been weighed by others as well

  • reflective

    suggests thoughtful in a personal, introspective way

反義詞
  • thoughtless

    acting without care or consideration of consequences

  • hasty

    done too quickly without proper thought

文法句型

be thoughtful about [issue/question]

be thoughtful in [approach/analysis]

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns like 'answer', 'analysis', 'decision', or 'approach' to describe work that shows careful reasoning.

常見錯誤

❌He gave a thoughtful thinking about the plan.
✅He gave a thoughtful analysis of the plan.
💡'thoughtful' is an adjective; use it to describe the result (analysis), not the action of thinking.
❌She was thoughtful for hours and finally decided.
✅She thought carefully for hours and finally decided.
💡'thoughtful' describes a quality of the decision or person, not the duration of thinking.

2. Quiet and appearing to be thinking deeply about something, often shown by a seri

2.形容詞B2
釋義

Quiet and appearing to be thinking deeply about something, often shown by a serious or distant look on the face.

例句

Sivan sat in a thoughtful silence, staring out the train window.

thoughtful + silence / mood / expression

Kasia had a thoughtful look as she read the letter from her grandmother.

同義詞
  • pensive

    more formal and literary; suggests gentle sadness along with thinking

  • contemplative

    suggests deep, prolonged thought, often of a spiritual or philosophical nature

  • musing

    suggests relaxed, daydream-like thinking rather than serious problem-solving

反義詞
  • blank

    empty of thought rather than full of it

文法句型

be thoughtful (about/over [something])

a thoughtful + [silence / look / expression / mood]

用法筆記

Describes a visible state, not an enduring personality trait. Typically paired with expressions ('look', 'expression', 'silence') that others can observe.

常見錯誤

❌He is a very thoughtful person — always quiet in meetings.
✅He is a very quiet person
💡always silent in meetings.' — sense 2 describes a temporary state, not a permanent character trait.

3. Showing that you care about other people's feelings, needs, and comfort by doing

3.形容詞B2
釋義

Showing that you care about other people's feelings, needs, and comfort by doing kind things or anticipating what would help them.

例句

It was thoughtful of Jessica to bring soup when she heard Hoa was sick.

it was thoughtful of [someone] to [do something]

Maja left a thoughtful note for her elderly neighbour who lived alone.

同義詞
  • considerate

    very similar, but emphasises avoiding inconvenience to others rather than actively helping

  • kind

    broader — describes a generous nature, not specifically the act of anticipating needs

  • attentive

    suggests noticing and responding to others' needs quietly and carefully

  • caring

    more emotional; focuses on genuine concern rather than specific actions

反義詞

文法句型

be thoughtful of [someone to do something]

it is/was thoughtful of [someone] to [do something]

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (about careful reasoning) and sense 2 (about being deep in thought), this sense describes kindness toward others. The pattern 'it was thoughtful of [someone]' is particularly common and useful for learners.

常見錯誤

❌It was thoughtful for Jessica to come.
✅It was thoughtful of Jessica to come.
💡the preposition is 'of', not 'for'.
❌She is a thoughtful listener and cares about my problems.
✅She is a considerate listener and cares about my problems.
💡'thoughtful' in sense 3 implies proactive kindness; for passive attentiveness, 'considerate' or 'attentive' is clearer.