phlegm

IPA/flem/
KK[flˈɛm]IPA/flem/

phlegm — 名詞

1. the thick, sticky fluid that collects in the airways when a person has a cold, a

1.名詞B2
釋義

痰

呼吸道產生的黏稠分泌物

the thick, sticky fluid that collects in the airways when a person has a cold, a cough, or another lung infection

例句

Tomás coughed up a thick blob of phlegm during his chest infection.

Tomás 在胸部感染期間咳出了一大塊濃痰。

cough up + phlegm — common verb collocation

The doctor asked Nkechi whether her phlegm had changed colour since yesterday.

醫生問 Nkechi 她的痰從昨天到現在顏色有沒有改變。

同義詞
  • mucus

    broader term; mucus lines many body passages, while phlegm specifically refers to thick mucus produced in the respiratory passages during illness

  • sputum

    medical term for phlegm that has been coughed up from the lungs, bronchial tubes, or throat

文法句型

uncountable noun

用法筆記

Unlike saliva (produced in the mouth), phlegm is produced in the respiratory tract and is typically coughed up rather than swallowed. In medical contexts, doctors may ask patients to describe the colour and consistency of phlegm.

常見錯誤

❌I spat out some phlegm from my mouth.
✅I coughed up some phlegm from my chest.
💡Phlegm comes from the respiratory tract, not the mouth; 'cough up' is the correct verb.

2. the ability to keep your emotions under control and stay calm when facing a diff

2.名詞C1
釋義

沉著；冷靜

面對困境時保持鎮定

the ability to keep your emotions under control and stay calm when facing a difficult, dangerous, or upsetting situation

例句

Rohan faced the angry crowd with remarkable phlegm, never raising his voice.

Rohan 以驚人的沉著面對憤怒的人群，始終沒有提高音量。

with (remarkable / characteristic / unusual) phlegm — typical phrase structure

The principal showed remarkable phlegm during the earthquake, leading children to safety.

校長在地震期間展現出非凡的冷靜，帶領孩子們到安全的地方。

同義詞
  • composure

    more common and less formal; composure can be regained after losing it, while phlegm implies an unchanging calm

  • equanimity

    similar in meaning to phlegm but emphasizes mental balance and acceptance rather than emotional restraint

  • poise

    carries a connotation of elegance and social grace, while phlegm emphasises inner emotional control

  • coolness

    less formal and often used in contexts of physical danger or confrontation, similar to 'keeping cool'

反義詞
  • panic

    the complete opposite of the calm control implied by phlegm

  • agitation

    a state of nervous excitement or disturbance, in contrast to the steady composure of phlegm

文法句型

uncountable noun

usually used in phrase 'with phlegm'

用法筆記

This sense is formal and appears more often in written or literary English than in everyday conversation. It is frequently used in the phrase 'with phlegm' or preceded by an adjective such as 'remarkable', 'characteristic', or 'unusual'.

常見錯誤

❌She showed phlegm and didn't panic.
✅She faced the emergency with remarkable phlegm.
💡'With + (adjective) + phlegm' is the standard grammatical frame; using 'show phlegm' is less idiomatic.

3. a lack of interest, concern, or emotional response to things that would normally

3.名詞C2
釋義

冷漠；冷淡

對應有情緒反應的事物毫無感覺

a lack of interest, concern, or emotional response to things that would normally make people react with excitement, sympathy, or worry

例句

Allison listened to her friend's story of hardship with complete phlegm and offered no comfort.

Allison 以完全的冷漠聽著朋友講述艱難的遭遇，沒有說一句安慰的話。

with complete/total/surprising phlegm — common intensifier pattern

The public's phlegm toward the housing crisis frustrated community organisers who had campaigned for months.

民眾對住房危機的冷漠讓已經遊說好幾個月的社運人士感到沮喪。

同義詞
  • apathy

    more direct and common; apathy emphasises absence of interest, while phlegm emphasises absence of emotional reaction

  • indifference

    focuses on not caring about something; phlegm carries a slightly more stoic or detached quality

  • detachment

    less negative; can imply a deliberate emotional distance for self-protection, while phlegm suggests a temperamental coldness

  • coldness

    emphasises the lack of warmth in manner, overlapping with phlegm but broader in use

反義詞
  • passion

    strong enthusiasm or emotion, the opposite of the emotional barrenness of phlegm

  • concern

    a feeling of worry or interest that phlegm (sense 3) specifically lacks

  • empathy

    the ability to understand and share others' feelings, which this sense of phlegm denotes an absence of

文法句型

uncountable noun

usually preceded by adjective (complete / surprising / total)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (CALM COMPOSURE), which carries a positive or admiring tone. Sense 3 describes a negative, cold lack of feeling that others often judge as inappropriate or unkind. Context and the adjective used (e.g. 'complete' vs 'remarkable') usually disambiguate which meaning is intended.

常見錯誤

❌His phlegm was admirable when he ignored his crying child.
✅His phlegm was disturbing when he ignored his crying child.
💡When phlegm refers to indifference towards someone who needs care, the tone is negative, not admirable.