humanise

IPA/ˈhjuː.mə.naɪz/
IPA/ˈhjuː.mə.naɪz/

humanise — 動詞

  • humanisepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • humanises3rd person singular
  • humanising-ing form
  • humanisedpast simple

1. to change a system, process, or physical space so that it feels kinder, more com

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

人性化

使更友善舒適，適合人

to change a system, process, or physical space so that it feels kinder, more comfortable, and better suited to people's needs rather than being cold or harsh

例句

Dr. Okafor insisted that the hospital install softer lighting to humanise the waiting areas.

Okafor 醫生堅持醫院要安裝更柔和的燈光，以人性化候診區。

passive: humanise [place] with [change]

Ananya's team redesigned the office layout to humanise the work environment for everyone.

Ananya 的團隊重新設計了辦公室格局，讓工作環境對每個人都更人性化。

humanise + noun phrase (environment)

同義詞
  • soften

    less formal; focuses on reducing harshness rather than making things people-friendly

  • civilise

    more formal and old-fashioned; can sound judgemental about a place or group of people

  • improve

    more general; does not carry the specific sense of making something more people-centred

反義詞
  • dehumanise

    to make something feel impersonal, cold, or mechanical

文法句型

humanise + noun phrase (system / place / process / conditions)

用法筆記

Often used in passive voice. The direct object is typically an institution, environment, or set of rules — not a person. Frequently appears in discussions about workplace reform, healthcare, and criminal justice.

常見錯誤

❌The manager wants to humanise the employees.
✅The manager wants to humanise the working conditions.
💡in this sense, humanise changes a system or environment, not the people inside it.

2. to make a person seem more familiar or relatable when portraying or describing t

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

展現人性

呈現人性弱點引發共鳴

to make a person seem more familiar or relatable when portraying or describing them, by focusing on ordinary traits, failures, or emotions — for instance, showing a powerful leader's daily habits or a celebrity's private struggles

例句

The documentary humanises the scientist by showing her watering plants in the garden every morning.

這部紀錄片藉由拍攝女科學家每天早上在花園澆水，展現了她的人性面。

humanise + noun phrase + by + gerund

Amir's biography tries to humanise the former president by describing his ordinary fears and doubts.

Amir 的傳記透過描述前總統的日常恐懼與疑惑，試圖展現他的人性。

同義詞
  • personalise

    overlaps in meaning but is broader; personalise can mean adding a name or customising details, not necessarily revealing human traits

  • characterise

    more neutral; does not carry the emotional or sympathetic angle of humanise

反義詞
  • demonise

    to portray someone as evil or frightening, the opposite of showing their sympathetic human side

文法句型

humanise + noun phrase (person / character / figure)

用法筆記

Common in media, biography, and film criticism. The subject is often a writer, journalist, documentary maker, or work of art. The object is a person or group seen as distant, powerful, or misunderstood.

常見錯誤

❌The article humanised the company by showing its profits.
✅The article humanised the CEO by talking about her daily routine.
💡use this sense for people and characters, not organisations or brands.

3. to treat a non-human creature, object, or natural force as if it had human thoug

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

擬人化

賦予非人事物人的特質

to treat a non-human creature, object, or natural force as if it had human thoughts, feelings, or behaviour — for example, describing the wind as angry or the moon as lonely

例句

Children's books often humanise animals by making them talk and wear clothes.

童書常讓動物擬人化，讓牠們會說話、會穿衣服。

humanise + animal, making them [verb] and [verb]

The game designers humanised the AI opponent with a name and a personality.

遊戲設計師用名字和個性將人工智慧對手擬人化。

同義詞
  • anthropomorphise

    more formal and technical; means the same thing but is much less common in everyday speech

  • personify

    similar but often used for abstract ideas (e.g. 'she personifies kindness') rather than animals or objects

反義詞
  • objectify

    to treat a person as an object; the reverse direction of attributing humanity to something non-human

文法句型

humanise + noun phrase (animal / object / idea / machine)

用法筆記

Overlaps with the more technical term 'anthropomorphise', but humanise is more widely understood by general readers. Common in literary analysis, children's media, and discussions about artificial intelligence.

常見錯誤

❌The story humanises the main character.' (if the character is already human)
✅The story develops the main character well.
💡use humanise in this sense only when the subject is NOT actually human.