emotional

/ɪˈməʊʃənl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈməʊʃənl/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈmō-sh(ə-)nəl/ (ame, mw)

emotional — 形容詞

  • emotionalpositive
  • more emotionalcomparative
  • most emotionalsuperlative

1. relating to the feelings that people have inside them, such as sadness, joy, or

1.形容詞B1
釋義

情感的

與情感或情緒有關的

relating to the feelings that people have inside them, such as sadness, joy, or fear — as opposed to facts, physical sensations, or logical thoughts.

例句

The school counselor helps children deal with emotional problems after a crisis.

學校輔導員在危機過後幫助孩子們處理情感問題。

collocation: emotional problems / emotional support

Ada's emotional state improved when she started exercising regularly.

Ada 開始規律運動後，她的情緒狀態就好轉了。

collocation: emotional state

同義詞
  • affective

    a technical term used mainly in psychology and medicine; not common in everyday speech

  • emotive

    describes language or behavior that deliberately arouses feelings, not simply relating to them

反義詞
  • cognitive

    relating to thinking and reasoning rather than feelings

用法筆記

Frequently placed before a noun. This sense refers to the domain of feelings in general, not to how strongly someone expresses them — compare sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌He was very emotional about the scientific data.' (when meaning 'concerned with emotions')
✅He was very emotional about the scientific data.' when the intended meaning is 'showing strong feelings
💡use sense 2, not sense 1. For domain use: 'The study examined emotional responses to music.'

2. showing or experiencing strong feelings such as sadness, joy, or anger in a way

2.形容詞B1
釋義

情緒激動的

容易流露強烈情緒的

showing or experiencing strong feelings such as sadness, joy, or anger in a way that is open and visible to others — for example, crying during a sad movie or laughing with joy at good news.

例句

Henry became very emotional when he talked about his childhood in Taiwan.

Henry 談到他在台灣的童年時，變得非常情緒激動。

pattern: become + emotional when…

Shirin, an emotional person, cries easily at happy news and sad stories.

Shirin 是個情緒豐富的人，無論是好消息還是悲傷的故事都很容易哭。

pattern: emotional + noun describing a person

同義詞
  • sentimental

    implies tender feelings often tied to memories or nostalgia; slightly softer than 'emotional'

  • passionate

    expresses very strong enthusiasm or desire, not just sadness or joy

  • effusive

    shows feelings in an extremely open and often energetic way; slightly formal

反義詞
  • unemotional

    not showing feelings even when most people would

  • stoic

    endures hardship without showing feelings; culturally associated with endurance

文法句型

be/become/get/feel + emotional

emotional + noun (person)

用法筆記

When used before a noun (e.g. 'an emotional person'), it describes a recurring trait — someone who often shows feelings. When used after a linking verb (e.g. 'got emotional'), it describes a temporary state triggered by a particular event.

常見錯誤

❌She became emotional when she heard the statistics.' (too vague)
✅She became emotional when she heard the news about her friend's recovery.
💡the trigger needs to be something personally meaningful, not just any information.

3. showing more feeling than a situation calls for, to the point that other people

3.形容詞B2
釋義

過度情緒化

情感表現過於誇張的

showing more feeling than a situation calls for, to the point that other people consider it exaggerated or unnecessary.

例句

The judge warned the witness not to become so emotional during testimony.

法官警告證人不要在作證時變得如此情緒化。

negative connotation: told not to be emotional

Linh found her colleague's emotional reaction to a small mistake rather embarrassing.

Linh 覺得同事對一個小錯誤反應那麼情緒化，令人很尷尬。

同義詞
  • melodramatic

    dramatically exaggerated, like a stage actor; more theatrical than 'emotional'

  • hysterical

    extremely uncontrolled; much stronger and more negative than 'emotional'

  • overwrought

    very anxious and upset, often about something minor; slightly formal

反義詞

文法句型

be/get/becoming + emotional

用法筆記

This sense carries a mildly critical tone. It is used when the speaker thinks the emotional display is more than the situation calls for. Distinguish from sense 2 (SHOWING STRONG FEELINGS), which is neutral or sympathetic.

常見錯誤

❌ 'I felt emotional at my daughter's wedding.' (neutral, appropriate) — this describes a normal reaction and should use sense 2, not sense 3.

4. making people feel strong emotions such as sadness, sympathy, or excitement — us

4.形容詞B1
釋義

令人動情的

引發強烈情感的

making people feel strong emotions such as sadness, sympathy, or excitement — used to describe events, stories, films, speeches, or moments that touch the heart.

例句

The documentary about endangered animals was so emotional that many viewers cried.

那部關於瀕危動物的紀錄片非常令人動情，許多觀眾都哭了。

pattern: so emotional that…

Tendai and his sister had an emotional reunion at the airport after eight years apart.

Tendai 和姊姊在機場重逢，睽違八年的感人會面。

collocation: emotional reunion

同義詞
  • moving

    suggests the feeling is deep and touching; strongly positive

  • touching

    gentler than 'emotional'; implies tenderness or sympathy

  • poignant

    a sharp, bittersweet feeling; more intense and literary

反義詞
  • unemotional

    not causing any emotional response

  • dry

    lacking emotional warmth; often used for writing or speech

文法句型

emotional + noun (event, experience, work of art)

用法筆記

The noun it modifies is always the thing that causes the feeling, not the person experiencing it. Compare: 'an emotional movie' (sense 4, the movie causes feelings) vs. 'an emotional person' (sense 2, the person shows feelings).

常見錯誤

❌She is an emotional movie.' (person vs. cause confusion)
✅She watched an emotional movie.
💡'emotional' before a thing (movie, speech, event) means 'causing emotions'; before a person it means 'showing emotions'.