unlearned
unlearned — adjective
- unlearnedpositive
- more unlearnedcomparative
- most unlearnedsuperlative
1. having little formal schooling, reading, or general knowledge, especially in a w
having little formal schooling, reading, or general knowledge, especially in a way that comes across as obvious to other people.
Anong felt embarrassed at the dinner because the other guests treated her as unlearned.
predicative use: treated as unlearned
The old chief was unlearned in books, yet villagers came to him for every important decision.
pattern: unlearned in [field of knowledge]
Critics dismissed the new minister as an unlearned man with strong opinions about science.
Sana never finished high school, but nobody would dare call her unlearned about the family farm.
Her grandfather was a kind, unlearned shopkeeper who could neither read nor write.
- uneducated
more neutral and everyday than 'unlearned'
- illiterate
specifically unable to read or write, narrower
- ignorant
may suggest deliberate refusal to know; harsher tone
用法筆記
Formal register; in everyday speech speakers say 'uneducated' or 'not well-read'. Often used in pattern 'unlearned in [subject]'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a skill, behaviour, or reaction that an animal or person is born with
describing a skill, behaviour, or reaction that an animal or person is born with, rather than picking up through teaching or practice.
A baby's cry when hungry is an unlearned response shared by infants everywhere.
common phrase: an unlearned response
Newly hatched sea turtles head straight for the ocean, guided by unlearned instinct.
collocation: unlearned instinct/behaviour
Naoko's biology teacher explained that the suckling reflex in newborns is completely unlearned.
Many fear reactions to snakes appear to be unlearned in young primates raised in zoos.
- innate
the most common scientific equivalent
- instinctive
emphasises automatic response without thought
- inborn
everyday word for the same idea, less technical
- learned
acquired through training or experience
- conditioned
specifically produced by repeated training, technical
用法筆記
Mostly seen in biology, psychology, and animal-behaviour writing. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes the behaviour or reflex, not the person.
常見錯誤
unlearned — verb
- unlearnedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- unlearneds3rd person singular
- unlearneding-ing form
- unlearnededpast simple
1. to deliberately let go of a habit, belief, or way of doing things you have grown
to deliberately let go of a habit, belief, or way of doing things you have grown used to, in order to replace it with a different and often better one.
After moving to Tokyo, Christopher had to unlearn the habit of tipping waiters at restaurants.
pattern: unlearn + the habit of + -ing
New tennis coaches often spend the first month helping players unlearn a weak grip.
collocation: unlearn a [bad/weak] technique
Eli says it took him years to unlearn the prejudices he grew up with at home.
We must unlearn the idea that working long hours is the only way to be successful.
Wren found it harder to unlearn bad piano fingering than to learn the song in the first place.
- shake off
more informal; about freeing yourself from a habit
- break (a habit)
common everyday choice; narrower than 'unlearn'
- let go of
softer; works for beliefs and attitudes
- learn
the direct opposite
- internalize
make a habit or belief deeply part of oneself
文法句型
unlearn + noun
unlearn how to + verb
用法筆記
Object is usually something you wish you didn't do or believe (a habit, prejudice, myth, technique). Subject is the learner, not the teacher. Often appears alongside the verb 'learn' for contrast.