absent-mindedness

/ˌæbsənt ˈmaɪndɪdnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌæbsənt ˈmaɪndɪdnəs/ (ame, ipa)

absent-mindedness — 名詞

1. A tendency to be so occupied by other thoughts that you stop noticing the task i

1.名詞C2
釋義

心不在焉

想別的事而常忽略眼前小事

A tendency to be so occupied by other thoughts that you stop noticing the task in front of you and often forget everyday practical details.

例句

A moment of absent-mindedness made Mira leave her lunchbox on the train.

Mira 一時心不在焉，把午餐盒忘在火車上了。

pattern: a moment of absent-mindedness

During the call, Christopher's absent-mindedness led him to email the wrong file.

通話時，Christopher 的心不在焉讓他把錯的檔案寄了出去。

pattern: absent-mindedness led someone to + verb

同義詞
  • forgetfulness

    More general and often about memory itself, while 'absent-mindedness' highlights attention drifting away from the present task.

  • distraction

    Can come from an outside interruption, whereas 'absent-mindedness' often starts inside the person's own thoughts.

  • preoccupation

    Stresses being absorbed by one strong concern; 'absent-mindedness' focuses on the careless results of that mental drift.

反義詞
  • attentiveness

    Means careful notice of what is happening now.

  • focus

    Emphasizes steady mental control on one task.

文法句型

a moment of absent-mindedness

someone's absent-mindedness

absent-mindedness + led to + noun/verb-ing

用法筆記

Usually refers either to a recurring habit or to one short lapse, often in the phrase 'a moment of absent-mindedness'. Distinguish it from 'forgetfulness': absent-mindedness suggests the person's thoughts are elsewhere at that moment, not simply that information was lost from memory.

常見錯誤

❌I had an absent-mindedness and missed the stop.
✅I was absent-minded and missed the stop.
💡Use the noun for a quality or lapse, not with 'an' for a single event unless you say 'a moment of absent-mindedness.'
❌His absent-mindedness means he cannot remember any school facts.
✅His forgetfulness means he cannot remember any school facts.
💡'Absent-mindedness' usually means being mentally elsewhere in the moment, not a broad failure to remember stored information.