nonsense
/ˈnɒnsns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɑːnsens/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌnän-ˌsen(t)s ˈnän(t)-sən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
nonsense — 名詞
1. Written or spoken ideas, or behaviour, that are foolish, have no basis in truth,
胡說;胡鬧
愚蠢、不真實或沒道理的言行
Written or spoken ideas, or behaviour, that are foolish, have no basis in truth, or show no reasonable judgement — for example, repeating a claim that has been proved false, or acting in a way that ignores basic rules.
Defne knew the story about the ghost was nonsense because she saw the truth herself.
Defne 知道那個關於鬼魂的故事是胡說,因為她親眼看到了真相。
be + nonsense (predicate position)
The science teacher explained that most online miracle cures are pure nonsense.
自然科老師解釋說,大多數網路奇蹟療法純粹是胡說。
collocation: pure nonsense / absolute nonsense
Nellie's mother told her to stop the nonsense and finish her maths homework.
Nellie 的媽媽叫她不要胡鬧,趕緊把數學作業寫完。
Roya called her cousin's freezer-charging claim nonsense and walked away.
Roya 說她表哥那個把手機放進冰箱充電的說法是胡說八道,然後就走開了。
The coach had no patience for arguments about lucky socks and similar nonsense.
教練對於有關幸運襪之類的胡鬧說法毫無耐心。
- rubbish
Especially British English; covers similar ground but also applies to things of poor quality, not just foolish ideas
- garbage
Especially American English; similar range to rubbish, often more dismissive
- baloney
Informal; specifically describes exaggerated or dishonest claims rather than general foolishness
文法句型
nonsense (uncountable)
用法筆記
Frequently used with adjectives such as absolute, complete, pure, and total for added emphasis. Also common in the informal British fixed phrases a load of nonsense and a lot of nonsense.
常見錯誤
2. Speech or writing that has no recognisable meaning because the words, though the
胡言亂語
沒有實際意義、無法理解的話語
Speech or writing that has no recognisable meaning because the words, though they may look or sound like a real language, do not form any logical or understandable message.
When baby Lakan started babbling, his grandmother smiled and called it lovely nonsense.
小寶寶 Lakan 開始咿咿呀呀時,他的奶奶笑著說那是可愛的胡言亂語。
babble / babbling → lovely nonsense
The computer screen showed a stream of nonsense characters after the virus hit.
電腦被病毒攻擊後,螢幕上出現了一串胡言亂語般的亂碼。
After the car crash, the injured cyclist could only speak nonsense for several minutes.
車禍之後,受傷的自行車騎士有幾分鐘只能說出胡言亂語。
Nila could not understand the foreign conversation — it sounded like complete nonsense to her.
Nila 聽不懂那場外語對話——那聽起來完全是胡言亂語。
- meaning
The clear message or significance that language is intended to convey
文法句型
nonsense (uncountable)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (SILLY IDEAS): in this sense the words are not false but simply convey no information — they cannot be understood at all. The phrase make a nonsense of (see idioms) is related to this sense but is used more broadly to mean 'spoil completely'.
常見錯誤
nonsense — 形容詞
- nonsensepositive
- more nonsensecomparative
- most nonsensesuperlative
1. Used before a noun to describe written symbols, sounds, or words that have been
無意義的
隨意組合、不具含義的字詞或符號
Used before a noun to describe written symbols, sounds, or words that have been put together without following any established system, so that they do not carry a real meaning.
Professor Ilan asked his students to memorise a list of nonsense syllables for the experiment.
Ilan 教授要學生記下一串無意義的音節作為實驗內容。
attributive: nonsense + syllable (common in linguistics)
Lewis Carroll's poem 'Jabberwocky' is full of invented nonsense words that sound real.
Lewis Carroll 的詩《Jabberwocky》裡充滿了聽起來真實但其實是發明的無意義單詞。
The researchers tested memory by having participants repeat nonsense symbols on cards.
研究人員讓參與者重複卡片上的無意義符號來測試記憶力。
Children often enjoy making up nonsense verses with funny made-up words and sounds.
孩子們很喜歡編造帶有搞笑自創字詞的無意義詩句。
- meaningless
A broader, more common word that works in both attributive and predicative positions
- nonsensical
Related but can be used predicatively ('That theory is nonsensical'); may also carry a judgement of foolishness rather than simply lacking meaning
- meaningful
Having a clear and understandable meaning
文法句型
nonsense + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Never used after a linking verb: 'these symbols are nonsense' uses the noun (sense 2), not the adjective. Most common in academic contexts (linguistics, psychology) and literature (nonsense verse, Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear).