levity

/ˈlevəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlevəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈle-və-tē/ (ame, mw)

levity — 名詞

1. a light, joking attitude shown at a moment when calm or respectful behaviour is

1.名詞C2
釋義

輕浮；不莊重

在嚴肅場合表現的開玩笑態度

a light, joking attitude shown at a moment when calm or respectful behaviour is expected, especially during sad, important, or solemn events

例句

The judge warned the lawyers that any levity during the murder trial would not be tolerated.

法官警告律師們，謀殺案審理期間出現任何輕浮的言行都不會被容許。

formal register: 'levity will not be tolerated' in legal or official settings

Aoi's quiet jokes brought a welcome touch of levity to the long funeral reception.

Aoi 輕聲說的玩笑話，為冗長的喪禮接待帶來一絲恰到好處的輕鬆氣氛。

collocation: 'a touch of levity' softens a heavy occasion

同義詞
  • frivolity

    stronger; suggests silly behaviour generally, not only at solemn moments

  • flippancy

    narrower; emphasises a disrespectful, dismissive joking tone

  • light-heartedness

    neutral or positive; lacks the disapproving edge of 'levity'

反義詞
  • solemnity

    the calm, serious mood that 'levity' interrupts

  • gravity

    the seriousness expected on important occasions

文法句型

uncountable: levity

show / display / introduce + levity

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable and marked formal. Frequently appears in fixed phrases such as 'a touch of levity', 'a moment of levity', and 'no place for levity'. Subject contexts are typically grave, official, or ceremonial — funerals, courtrooms, hospitals, religious services — where the joking attitude stands out as inappropriate or, more rarely, as a welcome relief.

常見錯誤

❌She has a lot of levities in her personality.
✅She has a light, joking personality.
💡'levity' is uncountable and almost never describes a general personality trait; it labels behaviour at a specific solemn moment.
❌The comedy show had great levity.
✅The comedy show was very funny.
💡'levity' is not a general word for humour; it only applies when the humour clashes with a serious context.