brittle
/ˈbrɪtl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbrɪtl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbri-tᵊl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbrɪt.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbrɪt̬.əl/ (ame, ipa)
brittle — 形容詞
- brittlepositive
- brittlercomparative
- brittlestsuperlative
1. Describes hard materials such as glass, bone, or metal that crack or shatter ver
易碎
材質硬脆，容易碎裂
Describes hard materials such as glass, bone, or metal that crack or shatter very easily because they lack flexibility — like a thin icicle that snaps when you bend it.
The ceramic vase was so brittle that it shattered when Amara brushed the shelf.
那個舊陶瓷花瓶非常易碎，Amara 輕輕擦到架子時，花瓶就碎掉了。
result clause with 'so...that' showing consequence of brittleness
Doctors warned Lin that chemotherapy can leave bones brittle and prone to fractures.
醫生警告 Lin，化學治療會讓骨骼變得易碎且容易骨折。
collocation: brittle bones
Pablo picked up a brittle autumn leaf and watched it crumble between his fingers.
Pablo 撿起一片脆硬的落葉，看著它在他指間碎裂。
The steel beams became dangerously brittle after being exposed to extreme cold for weeks.
那些鋼樑在極寒天氣中暴露數週後，變得極度易碎且危險。
Be careful with those boxes — the glass ornaments inside are brittle and crack easily.
搬那些箱子的時候要小心——裡面的玻璃飾品很易碎，容易弄破。
文法句型
brittle + noun (glass, bone, metal)
用法筆記
Usually placed before the noun it describes (attributive position). Not used for soft or flexible materials — something brittle breaks rather than bends.
常見錯誤
2. Describes a situation, relationship, or system that can be damaged or destroyed
脆弱
容易受破壞的局勢或關係
Describes a situation, relationship, or system that can be damaged or destroyed very easily because it lacks stability or strength — for example, a peace deal that could fall apart after one small disagreement.
The ceasefire between the two countries remained brittle and could collapse at any moment.
兩國之間的停火協議仍然十分脆弱，隨時可能破裂。
collocation: brittle ceasefire / brittle peace
Ananya knew her friendship with Deepak was brittle after the argument about the business deal.
Ananya 知道她和 Deepak 的友誼在生意上的爭執之後已經變得脆弱不堪。
The region's economy is dangerously brittle, as it depends almost entirely on a single crop.
該地區的經濟極其脆弱，幾乎完全依賴單一作物。
Trust between the business partners was so brittle that one mistake destroyed it completely.
合夥人之間的信任非常脆弱，一個錯誤就徹底摧毀了一切。
- fragile
More common and general; can describe both physical and abstract things
- precarious
Emphasises danger and risk rather than inherent weakness, e.g. 'precarious financial situation'
- unstable
Focuses on likelihood of change rather than weakness, e.g. 'unstable government'
文法句型
brittle + abstract noun (peace, trust, relationship, economy)
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract noun: peace, ceasefire, relationship, trust, economy, alliance. Not used for concrete objects in this sense.
常見錯誤
3. Describes a person who appears happy, confident, or strong on the surface but is
外強中乾
表面輕鬆但內心緊張的
Describes a person who appears happy, confident, or strong on the surface but is actually anxious, tense, or emotionally fragile inside — like a performer smiling bravely before a nervous audience.
Theo's brittle laughter at the party could not hide the sadness he felt inside.
Theo 在派對上外強中乾的笑聲，藏不住他內心的悲傷。
collocation: brittle laughter / brittle smile
Behind her brittle smile, Fatima was terrified of failing the final exam.
在強裝的笑容背後，Fatima 其實非常害怕期末考不及格。
Kwame's brittle confidence during the presentation melted away when the audience started asking hard questions.
Kwame 在簡報時表現得外強中乾，等到聽眾開始質疑時，他的自信就全垮了。
The comedian's brittle stage persona cracked the moment the audience sat in awkward silence.
那位喜劇演員外強中乾的舞台形象，在觀眾陷入尷尬的沉默時瞬間破滅。
文法句型
brittle + noun (laughter, smile, confidence, persona)
用法筆記
Often pairs with laughter, smile, confidence, or persona. The brittleness is visible or audible to observers — the person's display of calm does not feel genuine.
4. Describes a sound — especially a voice, laugh, or cough — that is high-pitched,
尖銳緊張
尖細而帶有緊張感的聲音
Describes a sound — especially a voice, laugh, or cough — that is high-pitched, sharp, and betrays tension or nervousness, like a laugh that comes out too quickly and sounds strained.
‘I am perfectly fine,’ Emma said in a brittle voice, though her hands were trembling.
「我完全沒事，」Emma 用尖銳緊張的聲音說，但她的手在發抖。
collocation: brittle voice
A brittle giggle escaped Lucia's lips as she tried to explain what had happened.
Lucia 忍不住發出一聲尖銳緊張的輕笑，一邊試圖解釋發生了什麼事。
Oliver let out a brittle cough during the speech and reached for his water.
Oliver 在演講中途發出尖銳緊張的咳嗽聲，隨即伸手去拿水杯。
The radio emitted a brittle crackle just before it went silent for good.
那台收音機發出尖銳的噼啪聲，然後就徹底沒聲音了。
文法句型
brittle + sound noun (voice, laugh, giggle, cough)
用法筆記
Describes sounds only — voice, laugh, giggle, cough, or the quality of an audio recording. Not used for loud, deep, or warm sounds.
5. Describes a person, their manner, or their words as cold and unkind, showing no
冷漠
缺乏同理或溫情的性情
Describes a person, their manner, or their words as cold and unkind, showing no care or warmth toward others — for example, someone who never offers comfort and gives only short, dismissive replies.
The manager's brittle reply made it clear he had no interest in hearing new ideas.
經理冷漠的回答表明他完全無意聽取任何新點子。
collocation: brittle reply / brittle remark
Elena found her new colleague to be brittle and unwilling to offer help to anyone.
Elena 發現她的新同事為人冷漠，不願意幫助任何人。
Felix's brittle manner at dinner drove away the guests who had come to celebrate.
Felix 在餐桌上冷漠的態度，把前來慶祝的客人都嚇跑了。
The judge was known for his brittle personality and cold, quick decisions.
那位法官以冷漠的個性和快速無情的判決聞名。
文法句型
brittle + noun (personality, manner, tone, remark)
用法筆記
Strongly negative. Describes character or the tone of someone's words. A brittle person is not just reserved — they are actively cold and ungiving.
常見錯誤
brittle — 名詞
- brittlesingular
- brittlesplural
1. A hard, crunchy sweet made by boiling sugar until it turns brown and then mixing
脆糖
用焦糖和堅果製成的硬糖果
A hard, crunchy sweet made by boiling sugar until it turns brown and then mixing it with nuts such as peanuts or almonds, spread into thin sheets and left to cool.
Aunt Mei-Lin brought a box of homemade peanut brittle to the family reunion.
Mei-Lin 阿姨帶了一盒自製的花生脆糖來參加家庭聚會。
The bakery sells three types of nut brittle — peanut, cashew, and almond.
那家烘焙店賣三種堅果脆糖——花生、腰果和杏仁。
common compound: nut brittle / peanut brittle
Jack cracked a piece of brittle with a spoon and shared it around the table.
Jack 用湯匙背面敲開一片脆糖，分給桌邊的每個人。
Ratana's grandmother taught her how to make brittle without burning the sugar on the stove.
Ratana 的祖母教她如何在爐子上煮脆糖而不把糖燒焦。
文法句型
a piece of brittle
make brittle