personal

/ˈpɜːsənl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpɜːrsənl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpərs-nəl ˈpər-sə-nəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈpɜː.sən.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpɝː.sən.əl/ (ame, ipa)

personal — 形容詞

  • personalpositive
  • more personalcomparative
  • most personalsuperlative

1. connected with one particular person, or kept for that person's own use instead

1.形容詞B1
釋義

個人的

與特定個人有關或專屬其使用

connected with one particular person, or kept for that person's own use instead of being shared by a group, company, or the public.

例句

Maya keeps her personal diary in the bottom drawer of her desk.

Maya 把她的個人日記放在書桌最下面的抽屜裡。

collocations: personal diary / details / use

Each nurse has a personal locker beside the staff kitchen.

每位護理師在員工廚房旁都有一個個人置物櫃。

同義詞
  • individual

    more formal and often used in contrast with group or public

  • private

    often overlaps, but more strongly suggests not public

  • own

    stresses possession more than type or use

反義詞
  • public

    open to everyone rather than linked to one person

  • shared

    used by more than one person

文法句型

personal + noun

be for personal use

用法筆記

Often used before nouns like details, belongings, diary, use, and account. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about being linked to one person, while sense 3 is about private life.

常見錯誤

❌This desk is private to me.
✅This desk is personal.
💡'personal' fits things meant for one person's own use.

2. done directly by someone themselves, without sending another person to act for t

2.形容詞B2
釋義

親自的

由本人直接做，不經他人代辦

done directly by someone themselves, without sending another person to act for them.

例句

The owner made a personal visit to the shop after the fire.

火災後，店主親自到那家店查看。

collocation: personal visit

Dr. Wu gave personal thanks to every nurse on the night shift.

Wu 醫師親自向夜班的每位護理師致謝。

同義詞
  • direct

    stresses no middle person, but is broader

  • in-person

    modern compound form, often used for meetings and events

  • hands-on

    suggests active control as well as direct involvement

反義詞

文法句型

personal + visit

personal + thanks

personal + apology

用法筆記

Usually appears with nouns for direct action, such as visit, reply, thanks, apology, or charge. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense focuses on who carried out the action, not on ownership or private use.

常見錯誤

❌The manager sent a personal to the meeting.
✅The manager made a personal visit to the meeting.
💡this sense needs a noun like visit, reply, or apology.

3. about someone's private life, feelings, or home matters rather than their work o

3.形容詞B1
釋義

私人的

關於私生活，不是工作或公職

about someone's private life, feelings, or home matters rather than their work or public role.

例句

Carla never discusses personal problems during the morning sales meeting.

Carla 從不在早上的業務會議裡談私人問題。

work-vs-private contrast

The reporter asked no personal questions about the actor's divorce.

那名記者沒有問任何關於那位演員離婚的私人問題。

同義詞
  • private

    closest match; stresses not for public attention

  • intimate

    stronger; often suggests deep emotion or close relationships

  • domestic

    focuses more on home and family life

反義詞
  • public

    openly known or related to official life

  • professional

    connected with work instead of private matters

文法句型

personal + life

personal + problem

personal + question

用法筆記

Common with nouns like life, problem, matter, question, view, and day. Distinguish from sense 1: something can be personal because it belongs to one person, but sense 3 specifically points to private life.

常見錯誤

❌The interview asked many private of him.
✅The interview asked many personal questions about him.
💡this sense usually appears before nouns like question or problem.

4. connected with someone's body, appearance, or the daily care of the body.

4.形容詞C1
釋義

體貌的

關於身體照護或外表

connected with someone's body, appearance, or the daily care of the body.

例句

The hotel offers personal care products beside the bathroom sink.

旅館在浴室洗手台旁提供身體護理用品。

collocation: personal care products

The nurse wore gloves during personal care for the elderly man.

那位護理師替老人做身體照護時戴上了手套。

collocation: personal care

同義詞
  • physical

    broader and more neutral; not limited to care or appearance

  • bodily

    more formal and often used in medical or legal contexts

  • cosmetic

    only about appearance, not the body in general

反義詞
  • mental

    related to the mind rather than the body

文法句型

personal + care

personal + hygiene

personal + appearance

用法筆記

Mostly found in set combinations such as personal care, personal hygiene, and personal appearance. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 is about private life, while this one is specifically about the body or outward look.

常見錯誤

❌The soap is for private care.
✅The soap is for personal care.
💡in this meaning, the usual collocation is 'personal care'.

5. aimed at someone's looks, character, or private affairs in order to hurt or insu

5.形容詞C1
釋義

人身的

針對長相或性格的冒犯性話語

aimed at someone's looks, character, or private affairs in order to hurt or insult them.

例句

Liam made a personal comment about Eva's nose during lunch.

Liam 午餐時對 Eva 的鼻子做了人身評論。

collocation: personal comment

The host turned the interview ugly with personal jokes about the singer.

主持人拿歌手開人身玩笑，讓訪談變得很難看。

同義詞
  • insulting

    general and direct, without focusing on target type

  • abusive

    stronger; suggests harsher, repeated hurtful language

  • ad hominem

    formal term for attacking the person instead of the argument

反義詞
  • respectful

    showing care and not attacking the person

  • objective

    focused on facts instead of the person

文法句型

personal + comment

personal + attack

personal + abuse

用法筆記

Usually modifies nouns for insulting speech, especially comment, remark, attack, criticism, and abuse. Distinguish from sense 6: sense 5 describes the rude words themselves, while sense 6 describes a conversation shifting into that kind of attack.

常見錯誤

❌He gave me a personal about my hair.
✅He made a personal comment about my hair.
💡this sense needs a noun such as comment, attack, or criticism.

6. If a discussion becomes personal, people stop talking about the issue and start

6.形容詞C1
釋義

針對個人

從談事情轉成攻擊對方本人

If a discussion becomes personal, people stop talking about the issue and start attacking each other as people.

例句

The debate turned personal when Jack mocked Erin's haircut.

Jack 一拿 Erin 的髮型開玩笑，辯論就變成針對個人了。

pattern: turn personal

The brothers' argument grew personal after one mentioned the old divorce.

兄弟倆一提到那場舊離婚爭議，爭吵就變得針對個人。

同義詞
  • hostile

    broader; shows bad feeling, not always direct personal attack

  • ad hominem

    formal; used especially for argument style

  • hurtful

    focuses on emotional effect more than debate structure

反義詞
  • civil

    polite and controlled in disagreement

  • impersonal

    kept away from private feelings or individual attack

文法句型

get personal

turn personal

become personal

用法筆記

Almost always used after verbs like get, turn, grow, or become. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense describes the change in a discussion, not one specific insulting remark.

常見錯誤

❌The debate personal after lunch.
✅The debate turned personal after lunch.
💡this sense is usually used after a linking verb.

personal — 名詞