characterization

/ˌkærəktəraɪˈzeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkærəktərəˈzeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌker-ik-t(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən ˌka-rik-/ (ame, mw)

characterization — 名詞

  • characterizationsingular
  • characterizationsplural

1. the way a writer, actor, or director builds believable personalities for the peo

1.名詞B2
釋義

角色刻劃

故事或戲劇中人物的塑造方式

the way a writer, actor, or director builds believable personalities for the people in a story so that the audience sees them as real

例句

Leila's novel earned praise for its sensitive characterization of a teen in a new country.

Leila 的小說因其對身處新國家的青少年的細膩角色刻劃而獲得讚賞。

sensitive characterization of [person]

The film's weak characterization left the audience unable to care about the characters.

這部電影薄弱的角色刻劃讓觀眾無法對故事中的角色產生關懷。

weak characterization

同義詞
  • portrayal

    Broader — can refer to any subject (people, places, emotions), not just fictional characters.

  • depiction

    Emphasizes visual or detailed descriptive representation, often in art or writing.

  • representation

    More neutral and general; less focused on personality development.

用法筆記

Uncountable — used mainly in discussions of literature, film, and theater. Frequently paired with adjectives like 'strong', 'weak', 'sensitive', or 'convincing'.

常見錯誤

❌The movie has good characterizations.
✅The movie has good characterization.
💡In this sense, characterization is uncountable and does not take a plural form.
❌The characterization of the building is its tall windows.
✅The characteristic of the building is its tall windows.
💡'Characterization' means how something is portrayed; 'characteristic' means a feature or quality.

2. a way of describing a person, thing, or situation by pointing out what makes it

2.名詞C1
釋義

描述；定性

對事物主要特點的陳述

a way of describing a person, thing, or situation by pointing out what makes it special or different from others — for example, calling a protest violent, or describing a company culture as welcoming

例句

Yara disagreed with the newspaper's characterization of the protest as violent.

Yara 不同意報紙將抗議活動描述為暴力的說法。

characterization of [thing] as [quality]

Theo's characterization of the company culture was accurate but lacked detail.

Theo 對公司文化的描述很準確，但缺乏細節。

同義詞
  • description

    More general and less formal; does not necessarily emphasize distinctive or defining qualities.

  • portrayal

    Suggests a particular angle or interpretation, often with subjective coloring.

  • depiction

    Emphasizes detailed representation, often visual or vividly descriptive.

用法筆記

Countable and formal — common in academic writing, journalism, and legal contexts. Often appears with an 'of' phrase or a possessive to specify what or who is being described.

常見錯誤

❌The report gives a characterization about the economy.
✅The report gives a characterization of the economy.
💡Use 'of', not 'about', after 'characterization'.