benign

IPA/bɪˈnaɪn/
KK[bɪnˈaɪn]IPA/bɪˈnaɪn/

benign — 形容詞

  • benignpositive
  • more benigncomparative
  • most benignsuperlative

1. Describing a person who is friendly, gentle, and treats others with warmth, ofte

1.形容詞C1
釋義

和藹；慈祥

形容人態度溫和、待人親切

Describing a person who is friendly, gentle, and treats others with warmth, often with a calm or fatherly air.

例句

Mr. Alvarez gave the children a benign smile as they crowded into his bookshop.

孩子們擠進書店時，Alvarez 先生對他們露出和藹的微笑。

attributive: a benign smile / look / expression

The old judge had a benign manner that put nervous witnesses at ease.

那位老法官態度慈祥，總能讓緊張的證人放鬆下來。

collocation: benign manner / presence

常見搭配
  • benign smile
  • benign expression
  • benign manner
  • benign gaze
  • benign old man
同義詞
  • kindly

    very close in meaning; slightly warmer and less formal

  • gentle

    focuses on softness of action; 'benign' adds an air of goodwill

  • gracious

    stresses polite generosity, often toward someone of lower rank

反義詞
  • hostile

    openly unfriendly or aggressive

  • stern

    harsh and serious in manner, the opposite of a benign expression

用法筆記

Often attributive before nouns describing facial expression, manner, or presence (smile, look, gaze, expression). Tends to suggest a calm, slightly distant warmth — not the same lively friendliness as 'kind' or 'warm'.

常見錯誤

My friend gave me a benign hug after I won.
My friend gave me a warm hug after I won.
'benign' suggests calm, gentle goodwill, not enthusiastic affection between equals.

2. Having no power to cause damage, suffering, or trouble — for example, a mild cli

2.形容詞C1
釋義

無害；溫和

不會造成傷害或負面影響的

Having no power to cause damage, suffering, or trouble — for example, a mild climate, a harmless chemical, or a government policy that produces no bad effects.

例句

The island enjoys a benign climate, with warm days and cool sea breezes all year.

這座島氣候溫和，全年白天暖和、海風涼爽。

collocation: benign climate / weather / environment

What seemed like a benign software update wiped half the photos from Xiomara's phone.

看似無害的軟體更新，竟讓 Xiomara 手機裡一半的照片消失了。

contrast pattern: seemingly benign … but harmful

常見搭配
  • benign climate
  • benign neglect
  • seemingly benign
  • benign influence
同義詞
  • harmless

    plainer everyday word; 'benign' is more formal

  • innocuous

    very close; stresses that something looks dangerous but isn't

  • favorable

    stronger — actively helpful, not just non-harmful

反義詞
  • harmful

    actively causes damage

  • hostile

    of an environment or climate, actively unfriendly to life

用法筆記

Frequently modified by 'seemingly', 'apparently', or 'completely' to set up a contrast with hidden danger. Subjects are typically things that could plausibly cause harm (climate, chemical, policy, software, organism), so 'benign' specifically denies that potential.

常見錯誤

The rock on the table is benign.
The rock on the table is harmless.
'benign' is reserved for things that might reasonably be expected to cause harm; an ordinary rock isn't a candidate.

3. Used about a lump or growth in the body to say that it is non-cancerous, will no

3.形容詞C1
釋義

良性的

腫瘤等不是癌症、不會擴散

Used about a lump or growth in the body to say that it is non-cancerous, will not spread, and poses no real threat to the patient's life.

例句

After a week of waiting, the doctor told Renata the lump in her breast was benign.

等了一週後，醫生告訴 Renata，她乳房裡的腫塊是良性的。

predicative: the [tumor / lump / growth] is benign

Most moles on the skin are benign and never need to be removed.

皮膚上大多數的痣都是良性的，不必特別切除。

collocation: benign mole / cyst / lesion

常見搭配
  • benign tumor
  • benign growth
  • benign cyst
  • benign mole
  • turn out to be benign
同義詞
  • non-cancerous

    plain medical equivalent; preferred when talking to patients

  • non-malignant

    technical; emphasises the contrast with malignant tumors

反義詞
  • malignant

    the standard medical opposite — cancerous and likely to spread

  • cancerous

    everyday opposite

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: this is the medical use, restricted to growths, tumors, lesions, cysts, or moles. Speakers often pair it with relief — 'turned out to be benign', 'thankfully benign'. The opposite is 'malignant', not 'harmful'.

常見錯誤

The doctor said my cold is benign.
The doctor said my cold is mild.
'benign' in medicine refers to growths, not infections or symptoms.
The benign of the tumor was a relief.
The benign nature of the tumor was a relief.
'benign' is an adjective only; it cannot be used as a noun.

同根字

  • benignly
    副詞C2
  • benignity
    名詞C2
  • benignant
    形容詞C2

常見搭配

名詞搭配

副詞搭配

  • seemingly benign
  • apparently benign
  • completely benign
  • largely benign
  • thankfully benign

常用片語

  • turn out to be benign
  • a benign smile
  • benign neglect
  • seemingly benign update

介系詞搭配

  • benign to (someone/something)
  • benign in (its effect / nature)