inclination

/ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-klə-ˈnā-shən ˌiŋ-/ (ame, mw)

inclination — 名詞

  • inclinationsingular
  • inclinationsplural

1. An inner pull or leaning that makes you likely to choose one action over another

1.名詞B2
釋義

傾向；偏好

內心自然偏向某種選擇或行動

An inner pull or leaning that makes you likely to choose one action over another, coming from your personality rather than from outside pressure.

例句

Nadia had a strong inclination to help anyone who looked lost in the station.

Nadia 有強烈的傾向去幫助車站裡看起來迷路的任何人。

inclination + to-infinitive for a personal impulse

Boris felt no inclination to join the loud debate at the dinner table.

Boris 完全不想加入晚餐桌上那場激烈的爭論。

同義詞
  • tendency

    broader; can describe patterns in inanimate things too (a tendency to rust), while inclination is personal

  • propensity

    more formal; often suggests an undesirable habit (a propensity for violence)

  • leaning

    softer and more intellectual — a gentle pull toward ideas or philosophies rather than actions

  • disposition

    refers to overall temperament or character, not a specific urge to act

反義詞
  • disinclination

    a lack of willingness or a feeling of reluctance to do something

文法句型

inclination + to-infinitive

inclination + toward(s) + noun

用法筆記

Frequently followed by a to-infinitive (an inclination to do something). The preposition 'toward(s)' can also introduce a general area of interest: an inclination toward music. Distinguish from sense 2 (a physical nod) and sense 3 (a slope angle).

常見錯誤

❌I have the inclination of helping people.
✅I have an inclination to help people.
💡'inclination' takes a to-infinitive, not 'of + gerund'.
❌His inclination to mathematics was obvious from a young age.
✅His inclination toward mathematics was obvious from a young age.
💡Use 'toward(s)' for a field or area, 'to + verb' for a specific action.

2. A slight bending or dipping motion, especially a lowering of the head — like a b

2.名詞C1
釋義

點頭；微傾

頭部或身體輕微向下的動作

A slight bending or dipping motion, especially a lowering of the head — like a brief, formal nod.

例句

Andre gave a quick inclination of the head when the waiter approached.

服務生走近時，Andre 迅速點了一下頭。

inclination of the head — a formal way to describe a nod

Amara signalled with a slight inclination of the head that the meeting could begin.

Amara 微微點頭示意會議可以開始了。

slight inclination — a small, subtle head movement

同義詞
  • nod

    the everyday word; 'inclination of the head' is the formal equivalent

  • bow

    a deeper, more ceremonial gesture, often bending from the waist

  • tilt

    more general; can describe any object tipping to one side, not just the head

文法句型

inclination of the head

give + inclination

with a + inclination

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'of the head' or 'of the body'. The phrase 'an inclination of the head' is more formal than 'a nod'. Distinguish from sense 1 (a mental tendency).

常見錯誤

❌He did an inclination to his friend.
✅He gave an inclination of the head to his friend.
💡In this sense, 'inclination' pairs with 'give' or 'make', not 'do', and is typically 'of the head'.

3. The amount by which a surface or line tilts away from being perfectly flat or up

3.名詞C1
釋義

傾斜度；坡度

物體表面偏離水平或垂直的角度

The amount by which a surface or line tilts away from being perfectly flat or upright — the slope of a roof, the lean of a hillside, or the grade of a ramp.

例句

The roof had a steep inclination that sent the rain rushing into the gutters.

屋頂的坡度很陡，雨水迅速沖進排水溝。

steep inclination — describing the slope of a surface

Fatima measured the inclination of the ramp before the wheelchair was brought in.

Fatima 在輪椅送來之前先測量了坡道的傾斜度。

measure the inclination — technical use for calculating slope angle

同義詞
  • slope

    the most common everyday term for a surface that is not level

  • slant

    often implies an undesirable or awkward angle

  • gradient

    technical, used especially for roads and railways

  • pitch

    used mainly for roofs; describes how steeply a roof rises

文法句型

inclination of + surface/roof/hill

measure the inclination

steep/gentle inclination

用法筆記

Used in technical or formal descriptions of slopes, angles, and gradients. In everyday speech, 'slope' or 'slant' is more common. Distinguish from sense 1 (a mental tendency) and sense 2 (a nod of the head).