non-hostile

/ˌnɒnˈhɒs.taɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːnˈhɑː.stəl/ (ame, ipa)

non-hostile — 形容詞

1. behaving in a way that shows you are not against another person or group — your

1.形容詞C1
釋義

不帶敵意的

態度、口氣不顯露敵意或攻擊性

behaving in a way that shows you are not against another person or group — your tone, body language, or actions do not suggest you wish them harm.

例句

Hoa kept her voice steady and non-hostile when her teenage son slammed the bedroom door.

當十幾歲的兒子甩上房門時，Hoa 仍保持平穩、不帶敵意的口氣。

non-hostile + voice / tone for de-escalation

The two cats were not friends, but their daily encounters in the hallway stayed non-hostile.

那兩隻貓並不是朋友，但牠們每天在走廊上的碰面都還算不帶敵意。

predicative use: stayed / remained non-hostile

同義詞
  • friendly

    more positive; non-hostile only says 'not against you', friendly says 'warm toward you'

  • neutral

    shares the 'not opposed' meaning but adds detachment; non-hostile can be calm without being distant

  • amicable

    describes a settled good relationship; non-hostile often describes a single interaction

反義詞

用法筆記

Often describes tone, manner, body language, or an approach rather than a person's whole character. Frequently chosen when the situation could easily turn confrontational and the speaker is signalling it has not.

常見錯誤

❌She is a non-hostile woman.
✅She spoke to me in a non-hostile way.
💡describes behaviour or tone in a specific moment, not someone's whole personality.

2. describing a place, climate, or set of conditions that does not make life or gro

2.形容詞C1
釋義

宜居的

環境或氣候不嚴苛，適合生活或生長

describing a place, climate, or set of conditions that does not make life or growth difficult — people, plants, or animals can survive there without a constant struggle.

例句

After three winters in Lapland, Soraya moved south to a more non-hostile climate.

在拉普蘭住了三個冬天後，Soraya 搬到南方一個比較宜居的氣候裡。

non-hostile + climate / environment / weather

The greenhouse provides a non-hostile space where tropical orchids can flower all year.

這座溫室提供一個舒適的空間，讓熱帶蘭花一年到頭都能開花。

non-hostile + space / habitat / environment for growth

同義詞
  • habitable

    stricter sense of 'liveable'; non-hostile is broader and can include gardens or workplaces

  • welcoming

    warmer feel; non-hostile is more neutral, just 'not difficult'

  • mild

    usually only of climate or weather; non-hostile covers any conditions

反義詞

用法筆記

Subject is typically a setting (climate, environment, habitat, building, space) — not a person. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes social behaviour; sense 2 describes physical conditions for living or growing.

常見錯誤

❌The dog has a non-hostile garden.
✅The garden is non-hostile to small dogs.
💡the place is the subject; the living thing it benefits comes after 'to'.

3. during a war or armed conflict, not belonging to the enemy side and not taking p

3.形容詞C1
釋義

非敵方的

戰時不屬於敵對一方，也未參與作戰

during a war or armed conflict, not belonging to the enemy side and not taking part in fighting — used for people, ships, aircraft, territory, or anyone in similar circumstances.

例句

The pilots were ordered to avoid firing on any non-hostile fishing boats in the bay.

飛行員奉命不得對海灣裡任何非敵方的漁船開火。

non-hostile + vessels / aircraft / civilians in conflict zones

Foreign journalists travelled into non-hostile territory before crossing into the warring region.

外國記者先進入非敵方的領土，再跨越進入交戰區域。

non-hostile + territory / area / zone

同義詞
  • neutral

    broader; a neutral country may still arm itself, while non-hostile only says 'not currently an enemy'

  • friendly

    in military use, 'friendly forces' are on your side; non-hostile may be on neither side

  • civilian

    different angle: non-military; many non-hostile parties are civilians but not all

反義詞
  • enemy

    actively opposed in the conflict

  • hostile

    considered a military threat

用法筆記

Formal; common in military, journalism, and law-of-war contexts. Subject is usually a vessel, aircraft, territory, or category of people during an active conflict — not a single private encounter (use sense 1 for that).

常見錯誤

❌We had a non-hostile argument at dinner.
✅We had a calm argument at dinner.
💡this sense applies to wartime situations, not personal disagreements.

4. describing a takeover or merger in which the company being bought, and its direc

4.形容詞C2
釋義

善意收購的

被併購方董事會同意而非抵抗的交易

describing a takeover or merger in which the company being bought, and its directors, agree to the deal rather than fighting against it.

例句

The board accepted a non-hostile offer from a larger rival after two months of friendly talks.

經過兩個月的友善洽談後，董事會接受了一家規模較大競爭對手的善意收購的報價。

non-hostile + offer / bid / takeover (M&A context)

Investors welcomed the non-hostile merger because both companies kept most of their senior staff.

投資人歡迎這樁善意收購的合併案，因為兩家公司大多數的資深員工都得以留任。

non-hostile + merger / acquisition / deal

同義詞
  • friendly

    the standard term in business journalism; 'friendly takeover' is far more common than 'non-hostile takeover'

  • agreed

    British financial term for the same idea; non-hostile is broader in register

  • negotiated

    stresses the bargaining process; non-hostile stresses the absence of resistance

反義詞
  • hostile

    the target company opposes the takeover

  • contested

    actively fought, often through the courts

用法筆記

Specialist business and legal use. Almost always paired with deal nouns (takeover, bid, offer, merger, acquisition). Distinguish from sense 1: here it specifically means the target company is co-operating, not just being polite.

常見錯誤

❌Two neighbours reached a non-hostile takeover of the garden.
✅Two companies completed a non-hostile takeover of the factory.
💡this sense only describes corporate deals, not personal arrangements.