dreadful
/ˈdredfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdredfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdred-fəl/ (ame, mw)
dreadful — 形容詞
- dreadfulpositive
- more dreadfulcomparative
- most dreadfulsuperlative
1. making someone feel very frightened, shocked, or deeply upset — for example, whe
可怕的
引起極度恐懼或痛苦的
making someone feel very frightened, shocked, or deeply upset — for example, when a serious accident happens, a violent act occurs, or terrible news is received.
A dreadful scream came from the building, and neighbours quickly called the police.
建築物裡傳來可怕的尖叫聲，鄰居們立刻報了警。
collocation: dreadful scream / dreadful news / dreadful dream
The earthquake caused dreadful damage to the older parts of the town.
地震對舊城區造成了可怕的破壞。
Pim woke up from a dreadful nightmare, his heart beating fast and his hands shaking.
Pim 從可怕的惡夢中醒來，心跳加速，雙手不停發抖。
When the doctor gave the dreadful news, the whole family sat in shocked silence.
醫生告知那個可怕的消息時，全家人震驚地靜坐不語。
- terrifying
stronger emphasis on extreme fear; often used for threats to personal safety
- horrifying
focuses on shock and disgust rather than fear alone
- shocking
describes the surprise and upset caused by bad news or events
- wonderful
suggests something extremely positive and pleasing
- reassuring
describes something that calms fear rather than causes it
用法筆記
Less common in everyday conversation than sense 2 below. Reserve this sense for situations involving genuine fear or suffering, not mere annoyance.
常見錯誤
2. extremely bad in quality or extremely unpleasant to experience — so unsatisfacto
糟糕的
品質極差或令人非常不快的
extremely bad in quality or extremely unpleasant to experience — so unsatisfactory that you want to avoid it or complain about it.
The hotel served a dreadful meal that tasted like cardboard and cold soup.
那家飯店供應的餐點糟糕透頂，吃起來像紙板加冷湯。
collocation: dreadful meal / dreadful service / dreadful film
The weather was dreadful all week, so the children played board games indoors.
整個星期的天氣都很惡劣，孩子們只好在室內玩桌遊。
collocation: dreadful weather
Eleni made a dreadful mistake by sending the confidential email to the wrong client.
Eleni 犯了一個非常糟糕的錯誤，把機密郵件寄給了錯誤的客戶。
Antonia thought the film was dreadful and decided to leave after thirty minutes.
Antonia 認為那部電影很糟糕，決定三十分鐘後就離場。
用法筆記
Common after sense verbs (feel, look, taste, smell, sound): 'This soup tastes dreadful.' Do NOT use the adverb 'dreadfully' after these verbs — the adjective form is required.
常見錯誤
3. used before a noun to strongly emphasise how great or extreme something is, espe
極度的
用於強調程度之高的
used before a noun to strongly emphasise how great or extreme something is, especially when you are annoyed, surprised, or impressed by the degree of it.
Minho made a dreadful mess of the kitchen while cooking dinner for ten guests.
Minho 為了做十人份的晚餐，把廚房弄得一團亂。
collocation: dreadful + abstract noun (mess / silence / guilt / hurry)
A dreadful silence fell over the classroom when the head teacher entered the room.
校長走進教室時，全班陷入了一片極度的寂靜。
The family found themselves in a dreadful hurry to catch the last bus home.
那家人為了趕最後一班回家的公車而匆匆忙忙。
Hassan felt a dreadful sense of guilt after losing his sister's favourite necklace.
Hassan 弄丟了妹妹最喜歡的項鍊後，感到極度的內疚。
- extreme
more neutral and formal; lacks the emotional colour of dreadful
- enormous
focuses on size or degree rather than emotional impact
- tremendous
similar intensifying force but can be positive or negative
dreadful — 名詞
1. a cheaply produced story, magazine, or newspaper that tries to excite or shock r
低俗刊物
聳人聽聞的廉價故事或刊物
a cheaply produced story, magazine, or newspaper that tries to excite or shock readers with violent, scandalous, or gruesome content rather than provide serious information.
In the nineteenth century, dreadfuls were sold on street corners for just a few pennies.
在十九世紀，低俗刊物在街角以區區幾便士的價格出售。
dated countable noun: a cheap sensational story or periodical
The historian examined old dreadfuls to understand popular reading habits in Victorian times.
那位歷史學家研究舊的低俗刊物，以了解維多利亞時代大眾的閱讀習慣。
A colourful dreadful with a shocking headline sat on the corner of the newsstand.
一本色彩鮮豔、標題聳動的低俗刊物擺在書報攤的角落。
The young boy spent his pocket money on dreadfuls instead of proper books.
那個小男孩把零用錢都拿去買低俗刊物，而不是正經的書。
- pulp magazine
a broader term for cheaply produced popular magazines from the same period
- penny dreadful
the full phrase from which the shortened form 'dreadful' derives
- sensationalist
describes any publication aiming to shock rather than inform; not limited to historical contexts
用法筆記
This sense is dated and rarely used in modern English. You are most likely to encounter it in historical discussions of 19th-century publishing and popular culture.