challenged

IPA/ˈtʃælɪndʒd/
KK[tʃˈæləndʒd]IPA/ˈtʃælɪndʒd/

challenged — 形容詞

  • challengedpositive
  • more challengedcomparative
  • most challengedsuperlative

1. describes someone whose long-term illness or impairment makes everyday tasks har

1.形容詞B2
釋義

身心障礙的

對身障者的禮貌說法

describes someone whose long-term illness or impairment makes everyday tasks harder — a polite label often chosen instead of older words like 'handicapped' or 'disabled'.

例句

The new sports centre has special equipment for physically challenged athletes.

這座新的體育中心為身心障礙運動員準備了特殊設備。

physically challenged + noun describing a person/group

Mei-Lin volunteers at a school that supports visually challenged children.

Mei-Lin 在一所協助視障兒童的學校當志工。

visually challenged + noun (compound modifier)

同義詞
  • disabled

    the currently preferred, more direct term in most communities

  • handicapped

    older term, now often considered insensitive

  • impaired

    typically used in fixed phrases like 'visually impaired'; more clinical in tone

反義詞
  • able-bodied

    describes someone without physical disabilities

文法句型

be + challenged

physically/visually/hearing-challenged + noun

用法筆記

Increasingly seen as dated or overly euphemistic by disability-rights advocates, who generally prefer 'disabled' or 'person with a disability'. Most common in fixed compounds (e.g. 'visually challenged') rather than as a standalone predicate.

常見錯誤

❌He is challenged in math.
✅He struggles with math.
💡using 'challenged' for minor difficulties in a non-disability context sounds sarcastic or flippant.
❌Mentally challenged people are called disabled nowadays.
✅Many people prefer the term 'disabled' or 'person with a disability' over 'mentally challenged'.
💡the polite term is itself becoming outdated.

2. less able or successful than most other people in a particular area, because of

2.形容詞B2
釋義

弱勢的；不擅

在某方面比多數人弱勢或不擅長

less able or successful than most other people in a particular area, because of a lack of skill, experience, resources, or a physical limitation.

例句

Keiko felt socially challenged after moving to a country whose language she did not know.

Keiko 搬到一個她不會說當地語言的國家時，在社交方面感到吃力。

socially challenged — describing a situational difficulty

The charity provides free meals for economically challenged families during the winter.

這家慈善機構在冬天為經濟弱勢家庭提供免費餐點。

同義詞
  • disadvantaged

    more neutral and widely accepted, especially for economic/financial contexts

  • underprivileged

    stronger term, usually about lack of social or economic advantages

  • struggling

    more direct and less euphemistic

反義詞
  • advantaged

    having more resources, skills, or opportunities than others

  • gifted

    having natural talent or ability in an area

文法句型

be + challenged + in + noun phrase

be + challenged + when + clause

用法筆記

When applied to non-disability contexts (e.g. 'socially challenged', 'economically challenged'), this sense is often perceived as a mild euphemism or even humour. Avoid using it to describe trivial difficulties, as it may sound sarcastic.

常見錯誤

❌I am challenged at cooking.
✅I am not very good at cooking.
💡using 'challenged' for minor everyday weaknesses sounds unnatural or mock-serious.