insensitive
/ɪnˈsensətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈsensətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˈsen(t)-s(ə-)tiv/ (ame, mw)
insensitive — 形容詞
- insensitivepositive
- more insensitivecomparative
- most insensitivesuperlative
1. not understanding or caring about how other people feel, and therefore saying or
冷漠的；不體貼的
不關心他人感受的
not understanding or caring about how other people feel, and therefore saying or doing things that upset or offend them
Amara's insensitive remark about her colleague's weight caused a lot of hurt feelings at the office.
Amara 對同事體重說出的冷漠評論，在辦公室裡傷害了不少人的感情。
collocation: insensitive remark
The manager's insensitive comments during the team meeting made several staff members want to resign.
主管在小組會議上那些不體貼的發言，讓幾位員工萌生了辭職的念頭。
collocation: insensitive comment
Diego realised he had been insensitive when he joked about the car accident that nobody else found funny.
Diego 意識到自己很不體貼——他拿那場車禍開玩笑，但其他人都覺得一點也不好笑。
It was deeply insensitive of Ingrid to keep praising her promotion while her friend had just been laid off.
Ingrid 不斷炫耀自己升遷，而她朋友剛被裁員——這樣做非常不體貼。
Haruki's speech showed an insensitive attitude toward the struggles faced by low-income families in his city.
Haruki 的演說對城市中低收入家庭所面臨的困境表現出冷漠的態度。
- inconsiderate
focuses on thoughtless actions rather than a general lack of sympathy
- tactless
specifically about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time
- unfeeling
stronger and more negative; suggests a deliberate coldness
- sensitive
the direct opposite; aware of and caring about others' feelings
- considerate
actively thoughtful toward others' needs
文法句型
be insensitive to + [someone's feelings]
it is insensitive of someone to + infinitive
用法筆記
Often used with 'to' followed by the thing being ignored (feelings, needs, situation). The subject can be a person, a remark, or a behaviour.
常見錯誤
2. not noticing or reacting to changes in a situation, and therefore failing to adj
無感的；遲鈍的
未察覺變化而未能反應的
not noticing or reacting to changes in a situation, and therefore failing to adjust your decisions or behaviour appropriately
The clothing brand was insensitive to shifting fashion trends and soon lost most of its young customers.
這家服飾品牌對時尚潮流的變化無感，很快就失去了大多數年輕顧客。
pattern: insensitive to + [trend/change/situation]
Kofi's campaign strategy seemed insensitive to the growing concern among voters about climate change.
Kofi 的競選策略似乎沒有察覺選民對氣候變遷日益增加的擔憂。
The hotel chain remained insensitive to the sharp drop in tourism and kept raising its room rates.
這家連鎖飯店對旅遊業的急遽下滑反應遲鈍，依然持續調高房價。
Elena's teachers warned her that she was insensitive to the rising difficulty of her university courses.
Elena 的老師提醒她，她對大學課程難度不斷提高的情況不太警覺。
A government that is insensitive to public opinion will struggle to win the next election.
對民意反應遲鈍的政府，很難贏得下一次選舉。
- oblivious
stronger — implies complete unawareness rather than just lack of reaction
- unresponsive
more formal; often used for systems or organisations
- responsive
reacting quickly and appropriately to changes
- attuned
in harmony with a changing situation
文法句型
be insensitive to + [trend/need/change/situation]
用法筆記
Frequently used in business, political, or organisational contexts. The object of 'to' is typically a changing condition: market trends, public opinion, economic shifts.
常見錯誤
3. unable to feel physical sensations such as heat, cold, pain, or touch, often bec
麻木的；無知覺的
對身體刺激無反應的
unable to feel physical sensations such as heat, cold, pain, or touch, often because of injury, medical treatment, or extreme temperatures
After sitting cross-legged for two hours, Wei's foot was completely insensitive to touch.
Wei 盤腿坐了兩個小時之後，腳完全麻木了，對觸摸沒有知覺。
pattern: insensitive to touch
The dentist numbed Binh's gums so thoroughly that they became insensitive to the drill.
牙醫把 Binh 的牙齦麻醉得非常徹底，以至於牙鑽接觸時完全沒有感覺。
Omar's fingertips were so numb from the cold that they were insensitive to the heat of the campfire.
Omar 的指尖凍得麻木了，連營火的熱度都感覺不到。
The scar tissue on Ananya's knee was largely insensitive to pain, which surprised the doctor.
Ananya 膝蓋上的疤痕組織對疼痛幾乎沒有知覺，令醫生感到驚訝。
Lab workers must wear thick gloves because their hands would become insensitive to chemical burns after repeated exposure.
實驗室人員必須戴厚手套，因為反覆接觸化學品後，他們的手會對化學灼傷失去知覺。
- sensitive
able to feel physical sensations, often keenly
文法句型
be insensitive to + [physical stimulus]
用法筆記
Used in medical and scientific contexts. Frequently occurs in the pattern 'insensitive to [stimulus]' — pain, touch, heat, cold, light, or chemicals.