earnest
/ˈɜːnɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɜːrnɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈər-nəst/ (ame, mw)
earnest — 形容詞
- earnestpositive
- more earnestcomparative
- most earnestsuperlative
1. showing such deep gravity that you take every matter seriously and rarely find a
一本正經
過於嚴肅、無法放鬆的態度
showing such deep gravity that you take every matter seriously and rarely find any reason to smile or laugh at your own actions.
Theo kept an earnest expression during the comedy show his friends had dragged him to.
Theo 在朋友硬拉他去的喜劇表演中，全程保持一本正經的表情。
earnest expression — fixed serious look
Aiko's earnest dedication to recycling impressed the town council members greatly.
Aiko 對資源回收一本正經的投入態度，讓鎮公所成員印象深刻。
The speaker's earnest tone made everyone in the hall put down their phones and listen.
演講者一本正經的口吻，讓禮堂裡的每個人都放下手機專心聆聽。
Diego was so earnest about his new diet that he refused a slice of his own birthday cake.
Diego 對自己的減肥計劃太過一本正經，連生日蛋糕都不肯吃一口。
Yara found it hard to relax because her earnest classmates never joked during study sessions.
Yara 很難放鬆，因為她那些一本正經的同學在讀書會上從不開玩笑。
- solemn
suggests formal gravity, while 'earnest' emphasises personal conviction
- grave
more intense and often tied to serious consequences; less about personal attitude
- humourless
highlights the inability to find things funny, which is only part of this sense
文法句型
earnest + noun
be earnest
用法筆記
Often carries a mild negative tone, suggesting the person takes matters too seriously or lacks a sense of humour. Distinguished from sense 2 (SINCERE) by this critical overtone.
常見錯誤
2. showing a genuinely serious and heartfelt attitude, without any pretence or desi
真誠的
發自內心、不虛假的認真態度
showing a genuinely serious and heartfelt attitude, without any pretence or desire to deceive.
Priya offered her earnest thanks to the volunteers who rebuilt the village library.
Priya 向重建村莊圖書館的義工們表達真誠的感謝。
earnest thanks — sincere gratitude
Rohan made an earnest promise to take care of his sister while their parents were away.
Rohan 真誠地承諾，在父母外出期間會好好照顧妹妹。
The letter from the orphanage contained an earnest plea for help with school supplies.
孤兒院寄來的信裡，真誠地懇求各界幫忙提供學用品。
Hana's earnest wish was to become a nurse and serve families in remote mountain villages.
Hana 真誠的願望是當護理師，為偏遠山區的家庭服務。
Leila was earnest in her desire to learn Japanese before the exchange programme began.
Leila 真心渴望在交換計劃開始前學好日語。
- insincere
direct opposite: pretending rather than genuinely feeling
- half-hearted
lacks the full commitment this sense describes
文法句型
earnest + noun
be earnest in/about + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (SOLEMN), this sense carries a clearly positive or neutral tone — it conveys genuine sincerity without the implication of being overly grave.
常見錯誤
3. with a higher level of effort, energy, or commitment than before, especially aft
認真地
以全力投入、比之前更積極
with a higher level of effort, energy, or commitment than before, especially after a period of preparation or low activity.
Once the rainy season ended, construction on the new school began in earnest.
雨季一結束，新學校的工程便認真地展開了。
began in earnest — started with full effort
Nadia started studying in earnest after her teacher explained how important the exam was.
Nadia 聽老師說明考試有多重要之後，便開始認真唸書。
The search for the missing child began in earnest as soon as the rescue team arrived.
搜救隊一到現場，尋找失蹤兒童的行動便認真地展開了。
The Watanabe family began cleaning the old house in earnest after the typhoon warning was issued.
颱風警報發布後，Watanabe 一家便認真地打掃起那棟老房子。
The night-shift nurse worked in earnest to prepare the emergency room for the incoming patients.
值夜班的護理師認真地準備急診室，迎接即將送達的病人。
- seriously
more general; 'in earnest' emphasises increased intensity after a build-up
- with full force
more informal and dramatic; similar meaning
- wholeheartedly
focuses on enthusiasm rather than effort intensity
- half-heartedly
the opposite of giving full effort
- superficially
lacks the depth and commitment this phrase conveys
文法句型
begin/start/get under way + in earnest
be in earnest
用法筆記
This is a fixed phrase that functions adverbially. The headword 'earnest' here is part of the compound 'in earnest' and cannot be modified or separated. Do not write 'in very earnest' or 'in earnest manner.'
常見錯誤
4. used to introduce or emphasise a statement that you want the listener to accept
真心誠意
強調所言完全屬實、絕非玩笑
used to introduce or emphasise a statement that you want the listener to accept as completely honest and without any trace of humour.
I tell you in all earnestness, Tomás, that your idea could change how we teach music in schools.
Tomás，我真心誠意告訴你，你的點子可能改變學校教音樂的方式。
in all earnestness — emphasising honesty
In all earnestness, the mayor admitted that the city needed safer bike lanes immediately.
市長真心誠意地承認，市區迫切需要更安全的自行車道。
Farouk asked the professor in all earnestness whether the old legend could possibly be true.
Farouk 真心誠意地問教授，那個古老傳說是否有可能為真。
Mei said in all earnestness that she would rather fail the test than copy her friend's answers.
Mei 真心誠意地說，她寧可考試不及格，也不願抄同學的答案。
- in all sincerity
largely interchangeable, slightly more common in modern speech
- without joking
more informal and conversational
- honestly
simpler and more direct; less formal weight
- jokingly
opposite intention — saying something without serious intent
- half in jest
partly not serious, which is the opposite of this phrase
文法句型
in all earnestness + comma + clause
clause + comma + in all earnestness
用法筆記
This is a formal set phrase. Use it when you need to convince someone you are not joking. The shorter 'in earnest' (sense 3) does not carry this 'I am being honest' meaning; 'in all earnestness' does.
常見錯誤
earnest — 名詞
1. a state of being completely serious, focused, and sincere in one's thoughts or i
嚴肅
全神貫注、誠摯的心態
a state of being completely serious, focused, and sincere in one's thoughts or intentions, especially when speaking or acting.
Wen spoke with such earnest that everyone at the table stopped eating and listened closely.
Wen 說話時語氣充滿嚴肅，讓飯桌上每個人都放下碗筷仔細聆聽。
with such earnest — serious manner
There was an earnest in Ravi's voice that convinced the whole team to try his plan.
Ravi 語氣中的嚴肅，說服了整支團隊嘗試他的計劃。
The children listened with earnest as the librarian told the story of the lost city.
孩子們滿懷嚴肅地聽著圖書館員講述失落的城市故事。
Beatriz could see the earnest in Yusuf's eyes when she promised to return the next spring.
Beatriz 在 Yusuf 承諾明年春天回來時，看見了他眼神中的嚴肅。
- earnestness
the more common noun form; interchangeable in most modern contexts
- seriousness
broader and more common; lacks the 'sincere intent' flavour
- sincerity
focuses on honesty rather than intensity of focus
- frivolity
the opposite of being seriously focused
- insincerity
the opposite of genuine intent
文法句型
in earnest
with earnest
用法筆記
This noun sense is quite rare in modern English and sounds literary or old-fashioned. Most speakers prefer 'earnestness' or the phrase 'in earnest.' The expression 'in earnest' (adj sense 3) is far more common than using 'earnest' as a standalone noun.
常見錯誤
2. a surprisingly large or impressive amount, level, or degree of something, especi
相當程度
令人驚訝的規模或數量
a surprisingly large or impressive amount, level, or degree of something, especially something that is unexpected or striking.
The storm caused damage of such an earnest that the whole village needed government aid.
暴風雨造成的破壞達到相當程度，整個村莊都需要政府援助。
earnest — large degree (formal/literary)
Nikolai had never seen generosity of that earnest in his twenty years of charity work.
Nikolai 在二十年的慈善工作中，從未見過如此程度的慷慨。
The flooding reached an earnest that forced the evacuation of three riverside communities.
洪水漲到了相當程度，迫使三個河邊社區撤離。
The park ranger said the fire had grown to an earnest the team could not control without backup.
管理員說火勢已蔓延到相當程度，沒有支援就無法控制。
- trivial amount
a small, insignificant degree
- modest level
the opposite of a striking or impressive degree
文法句型
of such an earnest that...
to an earnest
用法筆記
This sense is extremely rare and highly formal. It typically follows 'of an earnest' or 'to an earnest' and is almost never used in everyday conversation. Learners should recognise it but not be expected to produce it actively.
常見錯誤
3. a deposit made when someone agrees to buy a house or other major asset, serving
定金
買方為表示誠意而預付的款項
a deposit made when someone agrees to buy a house or other major asset, serving as a signal of genuine commitment to finish the purchase.
The buyer paid thirty thousand dollars as earnest to secure the apartment before the auction.
買方支付了三萬美元作為定金，在拍賣前確保那間公寓的交易。
pay + earnest — deposit to secure a purchase
The real estate lawyer explained that the earnest would be held in an escrow account until closing.
房地產律師解釋說，定金在過戶前會存放在第三方託管帳戶中。
Sven and Pia handed over the earnest money as soon as the seller accepted their offer.
賣方接受出價後，Sven 和 Pia 立刻支付了定金。
When the sale fell through, the earnest was returned to Zara because the contract had a clause for that situation.
交易破局後，Zara 拿回了定金，因為合約中有相關條款。
The developer required an earnest of five percent of the total property price before construction could begin.
建商要求在動工前支付總房價百分之五的定金。
- deposit
the everyday term; 'earnest money' is the formal legal term for real estate
- down payment
a larger sum paid later; 'earnest' is the initial smaller good-faith deposit
- caution money
British term for a security deposit, not specific to property
文法句型
pay + earnest (money)
put down + earnest
earnest + on + noun
用法筆記
In the US, 'earnest money' (or just 'earnest' in legal contexts) refers specifically to a real-estate deposit. In British English, the term 'deposit' is far more common. The sum is typically refundable only under conditions stated in the purchase contract.
常見錯誤
4. a sign, object, or promise that serves as a guarantee or indication that somethi
先兆
預示更大事物即將來臨的象徵
a sign, object, or promise that serves as a guarantee or indication that something greater or more important will follow later.
The first warm days of spring were an earnest of the long summer ahead for the farm.
春天最初的溫暖日子，是農場漫長夏季即將到來的先兆。
an earnest of — sign of something to come
Ines saw the small scholarship as an earnest of the university's commitment to rural students.
Ines 將這筆小額獎學金視為大學致力於扶助偏鄉學生的先兆。
The handshake between the two leaders was an earnest of the peace agreement they would sign later.
兩位領袖的握手，是他們稍後將簽署和平協議的先兆。
Noa considered the old key an earnest of the family's promise that the cottage would one day be hers.
Noa 把那把舊鑰匙視為家族承諾的先兆——那間小屋總有一天會屬於她。
文法句型
an earnest of + noun
be + an earnest of
用法筆記
This sense is primarily literary and found in older or formal writing. The phrase 'a token of' is more common in modern English. Do not use this sense in everyday conversation.