frigid

/ˈfrɪdʒɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfrɪdʒɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfri-jəd/ (ame, mw)

frigid — 形容詞

  • frigidpositive
  • more frigidcomparative
  • most frigidsuperlative

1. describing weather, air, or a place where the temperature is so low that it feel

1.形容詞C1
釋義

嚴寒的；極冷

氣溫極低、寒冷刺骨的

describing weather, air, or a place where the temperature is so low that it feels painful or dangerous to be in.

例句

Omar packed extra blankets before the bus crossed the frigid plains of Mongolia.

Omar 在巴士穿越蒙古嚴寒平原前，多打包了幾條毛毯。

attributive: frigid + [region/landscape noun]

The wind off the lake was so frigid that Reuben could not feel his fingers.

從湖面吹來的風極冷，Reuben 的手指冷到沒有知覺。

predicative: be + frigid, intensified by 'so … that'

同義詞
  • freezing

    everyday word; same meaning but neutral register

  • arctic

    vivid, dramatic; suggests polar-level cold

  • bitter

    often paired with 'cold' or 'wind'; emphasises painful sting

反義詞
  • balmy

    pleasantly warm air or weather

  • sweltering

    uncomfortably hot, the opposite extreme

用法筆記

Subject is usually weather, air, a place, or a body of water. Stronger than 'cold' or 'chilly' — implies the cold is severe enough to threaten comfort or safety.

常見錯誤

❌I drank a frigid glass of water.
✅I drank an ice-cold glass of water.
💡'frigid' applies to environments and large bodies, not single small objects you handle.

2. of a person, look, or atmosphere: showing no warmth, friendliness, or willingnes

2.形容詞C1
釋義

冷淡的；冷漠

態度極不友善、毫無溫度的

of a person, look, or atmosphere: showing no warmth, friendliness, or willingness to engage with someone.

例句

Femi greeted his ex-business partner with a frigid handshake and turned away.

Femi 冷淡地和前生意夥伴握了握手，便轉身離開。

collocation: frigid handshake / frigid smile / frigid silence

Abigail's frigid stare made the new intern apologise twice for the same mistake.

Abigail 冷淡的眼神讓新來的實習生為同一個錯誤道了兩次歉。

noun phrase: frigid stare / frigid look

同義詞
  • icy

    very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech

  • aloof

    describes a habitual style of keeping distance, not a single cold response

  • stony

    emphasises a face or expression showing no feeling

反義詞
  • cordial

    warm and friendly in a polite, formal way

  • welcoming

    actively making others feel at ease

用法筆記

Often modifies a noun for behaviour or atmosphere (handshake, stare, silence, tone, reception). When applied to a person, the focus is on their manner toward others, not their personality overall. More formal and judgemental than 'cold' or 'unfriendly'.

常見錯誤

❌My grandfather is a frigid man who never laughs.
✅My grandfather is a cold man who never laughs.
💡for a general personality description, 'cold' or 'distant' fits better; 'frigid' suits a specific moment, look, or response.

3. an older clinical or social label, applied almost always to women, meaning lacki

3.形容詞C2
釋義

性冷感的

過時冒犯用語，指對性無欲望

an older clinical or social label, applied almost always to women, meaning lacking sexual desire or unable to respond physically during sex. Now widely seen as offensive and outdated.

例句

Older medical books labelled many women frigid without ever asking about their relationships.

舊版的醫學書籍將許多女性貼上「性冷感」的標籤，從未詢問她們的感情狀況。

historical clinical usage; past-tense narrative frame

Ilan's grandmother said her doctor in 1960 called her frigid for refusing a second pregnancy.

Ilan 的祖母說，她 1960 年的醫生因為她拒絕再懷孕，就說她性冷感。

historical anecdote with specific date and context

同義詞
  • asexual

    modern, neutral term for someone who feels little or no sexual attraction

  • anorgasmic

    clinical term for difficulty reaching orgasm; specific and medical, not judgemental

反義詞
  • passionate

    showing strong sexual or emotional feeling

用法筆記

Almost never used neutrally today; modern writers either avoid the word or use it only when discussing the history of the term. Distinguish from sense 2 (cold in manner): this sense is specifically about sexual response, not general personality.

常見錯誤

❌My ex-girlfriend was frigid.
✅My ex-girlfriend and I had different needs around intimacy.
💡the older label blames the woman and is offensive; describe the situation neutrally instead.