oversimplification

/ˌəʊvəˌsɪmplɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˌsɪmplɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa)

oversimplification — 名詞

  • oversimplificationsingular
  • oversimplificationsplural

1. a short or easy explanation that leaves out so much that it gives a false pictur

1.名詞C1
釋義

失真簡述

因省略太多而失真的簡短解釋

a short or easy explanation that leaves out so much that it gives a false picture of what is really true

例句

Shanti called the news report an oversimplification of the long border dispute.

Shanti 認為那篇新聞報導對長期邊界爭議是一種失真簡述。

call X an oversimplification of Y

Saying that money causes all wars is a gross oversimplification of history.

說金錢是所有戰爭的原因，對歷史而言是一種嚴重的失真簡述。

gross oversimplification of [topic]

同義詞
  • generalization

    broader statement applied to many cases; not always misleading

  • reduction

    more neutral; just means cutting something down, not necessarily wrong

  • caricature

    stronger and more mocking; an exaggerated, distorted version

反義詞
  • nuanced account

    an explanation that keeps the small but important differences

文法句型

that is an oversimplification

call something an oversimplification

a gross / dangerous / crude oversimplification

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the frame 'be an oversimplification (of X)' to push back on a claim a speaker considers too easy. Usually critical: naming something an oversimplification signals the speaker thinks important details have been left out.

常見錯誤

❌That is oversimplification.
✅That is an oversimplification.
💡when naming one specific easy explanation, English needs the article 'a' or 'an'.

2. the process of cutting down a complicated subject so much that the shorter versi

2.名詞C2
釋義

過度簡化

把複雜內容化簡到失準的過程

the process of cutting down a complicated subject so much that the shorter version is no longer accurate

例句

Wei warned the students against the oversimplification of climate science in social media posts.

Wei 提醒學生不要被社群媒體貼文中對氣候科學的過度簡化所誤導。

the oversimplification of [field of knowledge]

Professor Ignacio's lectures avoid both heavy jargon and the oversimplification of difficult ideas.

Ignacio 教授的課程會同時避免艱澀術語以及對困難概念的過度簡化。

avoid the oversimplification of [ideas]

同義詞
  • reductionism

    more academic; the habit of explaining complex things only through their basic parts

  • dumbing down

    informal and critical; suggests making content easier in a careless way

反義詞
  • elaboration

    adding detail and explanation instead of stripping it away

文法句型

the oversimplification of [topic]

lead to oversimplification

avoid / risk oversimplification

用法筆記

Uncountable in this sense — no article. Treats oversimplification as an activity or tendency rather than a specific statement. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense talks about the process, while sense 1 names one particular short explanation that is misleading.

常見錯誤

❌The lecture led to an oversimplification of the topic.
✅The lecture led to oversimplification of the topic.
💡when the meaning is the general process, drop the article.