indelicate

IPA/ɪnˈdelɪkət/
KK[ˌɪndˈɛlɪkət]IPA/ɪnˈdelɪkət/

indelicate — 形容詞

  • indelicatepositive
  • more indelicatecomparative
  • most indelicatesuperlative

1. describing a remark, question, or action that makes people feel uncomfortable or

1.形容詞C1
釋義

不得體

言語或行為不合宜，易令人尷尬

describing a remark, question, or action that makes people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed because it is too direct about a personal or private subject that should not be discussed openly.

例句

Theo's question about his boss's marriage problems was indelicate and made everyone at the table uncomfortable.

Theo 問起老闆的婚姻問題，此舉很不得體，讓在座的人都感到不自在。

collocation: indelicate question / remark / subject

Amina felt it would be indelicate to ask about the funeral cost so soon after the family's loss.

Amina 覺得在對方家庭剛遭喪親之痛後問葬禮費用，是很不得體的事。

it would be indelicate to + infinitive — hedging before a sensitive question

常見搭配
  • indelicate question
  • indelicate remark
  • indelicate comment
  • indelicate subject
  • indelicate to ask / mention / discuss / bring up
同義詞
  • tactless

    more direct and slightly less formal; focuses on the speaker's social clumsiness

  • improper

    focuses on violation of social rules; can sound more severe

  • coarse

    stronger — implies roughness or vulgarity, not just social awkwardness

反義詞
  • tactful

    the closest direct opposite — showing social sensitivity

  • polite

    broader; polite behaviour respects all social norms, not just sensitive topics

用法筆記

Often used in hedging constructions ('it would be indelicate to…', 'I hope this isn't indelicate…') where the speaker signals awareness that a topic is sensitive before raising it anyway. Describes the social effect of an action, not the speaker's intention — someone can be indelicate without meaning to offend.

常見錯誤

Don't be so indelicate with the antique vase.
Don't be so careless with the antique vase.
'indelicate' describes socially awkward behaviour, not physical handling of objects.

同根字

  • indelicacy
    名詞C1
  • indelicately
    副詞C1

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • indelicate question
  • indelicate remark
  • indelicate comment
  • indelicate subject

常用片語

  • it would be indelicate to...
  • I hope this isn't indelicate...
  • an indelicate topic
  • seem indelicate