insubstantial
/ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin(t)-səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl/ (ame, mw)
insubstantial — 形容詞
- insubstantialpositive
- more insubstantialcomparative
- most insubstantialsuperlative
1. Something that is insubstantial is too small, thin, weak, or light to be useful,
不充分；薄弱；不堅固
太弱、太少而無用或不可靠的
Something that is insubstantial is too small, thin, weak, or light to be useful, solid, or meaningful — for example, a meal that does not fill you up, evidence that does not prove anything, or an argument that has little logical support.
The lawyer argued that the evidence against his client was too insubstantial to prove anything.
那位律師主張，不利於其委託人的證據過於薄弱，無法證明任何事。
collocation: insubstantial evidence
Guo found the hotel breakfast insubstantial — only a dry roll and weak coffee.
郭先生覺得旅館的早餐分量不足——只有一個乾麵包捲和淡咖啡。
collocation: insubstantial breakfast / insubstantial meal
The old wooden chair collapsed because its legs were insubstantial and full of cracks.
那張舊木椅塌了，因為它的椅腳不夠堅固，而且滿是裂縫。
Several critics said the minister's report was insubstantial, offering opinions without supporting data.
幾位評論家指出該部長的報告內容空泛，只提出意見而沒有數據佐證。
A thin blanket provides insubstantial protection against the winter cold.
一條薄毯子在冬夜裡提供的保暖效果相當不足。
- flimsy
more physical — suggests something breaks or tears easily, e.g. a flimsy chair or a flimsy excuse
- weak
broader and less formal; can describe any kind of insufficient strength
- inadequate
focuses on not meeting a required standard rather than on structural weakness
- substantial
the direct opposite; large, strong, or important enough
- sturdy
specifically about physical strength and solid construction
- adequate
focuses on sufficiency rather than strength
文法句型
be + insubstantial
insubstantial + noun
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns whose strength or sufficiency is being judged, such as evidence, argument, meal, basis, foundation, or claim.
常見錯誤
2. Something that is insubstantial has no physical body or material form, existing
非實質的；虛幻的
沒有物質形體或實體存在的
Something that is insubstantial has no physical body or material form, existing only as a thought, image, spirit, or effect — for example, a ghostly shape, morning mist, or a fleeting feeling.
The ghostly figure in the film was an insubstantial shape that faded when touched.
電影裡的那個鬼影是一個虛幻的形體，一碰就消散了。
collocation: insubstantial shape / insubstantial figure
Lucia said her dream felt real at first but turned insubstantial as she woke up.
Lucia 說她的夢一開始感覺很真實，但醒來後就變得虛幻了。
predicative use: turn + insubstantial
The morning fog was so thin and insubstantial that it vanished before eight o'clock.
晨霧非常稀薄空泛，八點前就散得無影無蹤。
Light and shadow are insubstantial things that painters learn to capture on a flat canvas.
光和影是非實質的東西，畫家卻要學習如何在平面的畫布上捕捉它們。
Deepa felt that happiness was an insubstantial feeling — here one moment, gone the next.
Deepa 覺得快樂是一種虛幻的感覺——前一秒還在，下一秒就不見了。
- intangible
formal; cannot be touched, often used for ideas, rights, or assets
- immaterial
formal or legal; not made of physical matter
- unreal
more dramatic; suggests something dreamlike or imagined
- substantial
direct opposite; having real physical existence
- material
made of physical matter; tangible
- tangible
able to be touched or felt physically
文法句型
be + insubstantial
insubstantial + noun
用法筆記
Common in literary or descriptive writing. Often collocates with shape, form, figure, shadow, mist, or being — things that have a visual or sensed presence but no tangible body.