plainest
plainest — 形容詞
- plainestpositive
- more plainestcomparative
- most plainestsuperlative
1. having the least decoration, colour, pattern, or extra features; the most simple
最樸素的
裝飾最少、樣式最簡單的
having the least decoration, colour, pattern, or extra features; the most simple in style.
Mei-Lin chose the plainest white dress for her wedding, without any lace or beads.
Mei-Lin 選擇了最樸素的白色婚紗，沒有蕾絲也沒有珠飾。
the plainest + noun pattern for most simple version
Among all the cakes on display, the plainest one — a simple sponge — sold out first.
陳列的所有蛋糕中，最樸素的那個——簡單的海綿蛋糕——反而最先賣完。
The architect designed the plainest possible building, using only concrete and glass.
建築師設計了最樸素的建築，只用了混凝土和玻璃。
Kwame prefers the plainest phone case he can find, just solid black with no logo.
Kwame 偏愛最樸素的手機殼，只要全黑且沒有任何標誌。
This room is the plainest in the house, with white walls and no curtains.
這間房間是整棟房子裡最樸素的，只有白牆，沒有任何窗簾。
- simplest
overlaps but 'simplest' emphasises lack of complexity; 'plainest' emphasises lack of decoration
- most basic
more informal; focuses on having only essential features
- most unadorned
more formal; specifically means without decoration
- most decorated
direct opposite
- most elaborate
suggests complex detail rather than simplicity
文法句型
the plainest + noun
常見錯誤
2. (of paper) having no printed lines, grid marks, or ruled guides; completely blan
無線條的
紙張沒有印刷格線的
(of paper) having no printed lines, grid marks, or ruled guides; completely blank.
The art teacher asked us to bring the plainest paper, with no lines at all.
美術老師要求我們帶最空白的紙，上面完全沒有任何線條。
the plainest + paper collocation for unlined paper
For her calligraphy practice, Fatima uses the plainest notebook pages without any grid marks.
Fatima 練習書法時，用的是沒有任何格線的最空白筆記本內頁。
The printer was set to the plainest paper option, skipping the ruled template.
印表機設定為最空白的紙張選項，跳過了任何有格線的範本。
Yuna wrote her final poem on the plainest page she owned, wanting no distractions.
Yuna 把自己擁有的最空白紙頁用來寫最後的詩，不希望有任何干擾。
- blankest
emphasises emptiness rather than lack of lines specifically
- most unruled
technical term for paper without lines; less common
- most lined
paper with printed lines
- most ruled
formal term for paper with guide lines
文法句型
the plainest + paper / page / notebook
用法筆記
This sense applies almost exclusively to paper, notebooks, and other writing surfaces. In other contexts 'plainest' defaults to sense 1 (SIMPLE UNDECORATED).
3. the most clear and easy to see, hear, or understand; not hidden, doubtful, or co
最明顯的
最容易看見或理解的
the most clear and easy to see, hear, or understand; not hidden, doubtful, or complicated.
The plainest sign of the storm was how the trees bent sideways in the wind.
風暴最明顯的跡象，就是樹木在風中彎倒的樣子。
the plainest + sign for most obvious indication
The plainest clue was the footprint left in the mud by the back door.
最明顯的線索是後門泥巴裡留下的腳印。
To Henry, the plainest reason for the loss was the team's lack of practice.
對 Henry 來說，球隊輸球最明顯的原因就是缺乏練習。
The plainest evidence of the leak was the water stain spreading across the ceiling.
漏水最明顯的證據，就是天花板上一路擴散的水漬。
When asked why she cried, the plainest answer was that she missed her home.
被問到為什麼哭時，最明顯的答案就是她想家了。
- clearest
more general; 'plainest' adds a sense of being unmistakable
- most obvious
interchangeable, but 'plainest' is more emphatic and slightly informal
- most evident
more formal; suggests something is proven rather than just visible
- most hidden
direct opposite in terms of visibility
- most unclear
opposite in terms of understandability
文法句型
the plainest + noun (sign/reason/evidence/truth/answer)
常見錯誤
4. the most complete or absolute version of something negative or extreme, used to
最徹底的
用於強調某事物極端或無庸置疑
the most complete or absolute version of something negative or extreme, used to add strong emphasis and express disapproval.
What Diego said during the meeting was the plainest nonsense I have ever heard.
Diego 在會議上說的話，是我聽過最徹底的胡說八道。
the plainest + nonsense for emphatic disapproval
To call his behaviour merely unusual would be too kind — it was the plainest dishonesty.
說他的行為只是「不太尋常」也太客氣了——那根本是最徹底的不誠實。
Leaving a job without a backup plan was the plainest foolishness Chen had witnessed.
沒找好退路就辭職，是 Chen 見過最徹底的愚蠢行為。
The plainest truth is that we cannot afford a vacation this year.
最赤裸的真相是，我們今年負擔不起度假的費用。
Refusing to wear a seatbelt is the plainest stupidity on a long highway drive.
在高速公路上長途駕駛不繫安全帶，就是最徹底的愚蠢行為。
- most utter
stronger and more formal, but less common
- most absolute
overlaps, but 'plainest' carries a more conversational, emphatic tone
- sheerest
used with similar abstract nouns ('sheerest nonsense') but sounds more literary
文法句型
the plainest + abstract noun (nonsense/dishonesty/truth/stupidity/foolishness)
用法筆記
In this sense 'plainest' always precedes an abstract noun (nonsense, truth, stupidity, dishonesty, foolishness) and functions as a strong intensifier. It is more common in spoken English than formal writing. The nouns it modifies are almost always negative in tone.
常見錯誤
5. judged to have the least conventional physical beauty within a particular group
最不起眼的
外表最不出眾的（過時且可能冒犯）
judged to have the least conventional physical beauty within a particular group or family; the least attractive in appearance (now widely considered dated and potentially offensive).
In the old novel, the heroine was described as the plainest of three sisters.
那本舊小說中，女主角被形容為三姊妹中最不美的那個。
the plainest of + group for comparison of looks
Tired of being called the plainest girl, Amara started a campaign against judging looks.
厭倦了被稱為最不起眼的女生，Amara 發起了一場反對以外表評判人的運動。
In the 19th-century novel, Cinderella is the plainest of the household, overlooked by her stepsisters.
在十九世紀的小說中，灰姑娘被形容為家裡最不起眼的人，備受兩位繼姊忽視。
Sofia wrote about being labelled the plainest of the cousins in her memoir on self-image.
Sofia 在關於自我形象的回憶錄中，寫到自己被貼上「表姊妹中最不起眼的」標籤。
Noa's grandmother recalled being called 'the plainest of the family' — a memory that still stung.
Noa 的祖母回憶起自己被稱為「家族中最不起眼的」——這個回憶幾十年後仍讓她隱隱作痛。
Readers dislike fairy tales that rank women as the plainest or prettiest.
讀者不喜歡將女性分為「最不起眼」或「最美麗」的童話故事。
- most ordinary-looking
less harsh but still potentially unkind
- least conventionally attractive
more neutral and precise
- most beautiful
direct opposite
- most striking
suggests distinctive, memorable appearance
文法句型
the plainest + woman/girl/daughter/sister
the plainest of + group
用法筆記
This sense encompasses both the direct adjective use ('the plainest woman') and the noun-like 'of the group' construction ('the plainest of the family'). It is almost always applied to women and girls, reflecting older social attitudes that equated a woman's value with her looks. Both forms are increasingly recognised as outdated and potentially hurtful. Modern speakers avoid using 'plain' to describe a person's appearance. If you need a neutral term, use 'unconventional-looking' or describe specific features rather than making a value judgement.
常見錯誤
6. the most direct, honest, and straightforward in speech, without trying to soften
最直率的
說話最直接坦白、不修飾的
the most direct, honest, and straightforward in speech, without trying to soften the truth or spare someone's feelings.
Omar gave the plainest possible answer: the project would fail without more funding.
Omar 給了最直率的答案：這個專案沒有更多資金就會失敗。
the plainest possible + noun for most direct version
Among all the advisors, Deepa offered the plainest assessment of what had actually gone wrong.
在所有顧問中，Deepa 對實際出錯的原因提出了最直率的判斷。
The plainest advice my father ever gave me was to save money before spending it.
父親給過我最直率的建議，就是在花錢之前先把錢存起來。
Jack's response was the plainest of all — he simply said no and explained the reasons.
Jack 的回應是所有答案中最直率的——他只說了不，並解釋了原因。
Sari appreciated her doctor's plainest explanation of the risks, without hiding anything.
Sari 很感謝醫生給了她最直白的風險說明，沒有任何隱瞞。
- most straightforward
very close; 'plainest' feels more personal and down-to-earth
- most candid
more formal; implies honesty even when it's uncomfortable
- most blunt
more negative; suggests the speaker is rude or tactless
- most indirect
opposite in communication style
- most diplomatic
implies softening the truth to be polite
文法句型
the plainest + noun (answer/advice/response/assessment/speaking)
用法筆記
This sense is generally positive — being 'plain-spoken' is considered a virtue in many cultures. However, 'the plainest' version of something can sometimes sound harsh or blunt. Distinguish from sense 3 (OBVIOUS): sense 3 describes a fact that is easy to notice ('a plain sign'), while sense 6 describes a person's style of communication ('a plain answer').
常見錯誤
plainest — 副詞
1. in the most absolute or complete way; used to emphasise how extreme a quality or
完全；徹底
用於強調負面性質到了極點
in the most absolute or complete way; used to emphasise how extreme a quality or situation is.
Of all the wrong answers the students submitted, Yuki's was the plainest wrong.
在所有學生提交的錯誤答案中，Yuki 的錯得最徹底。
ranking frame: 'of all X, Y was the plainest wrong'
Of all the misleading statements in the report, the CEO's denial was the plainest dishonest.
在那份報告所有誤導性的陳述中，這位執行長的否認是最徹頭徹尾不誠實的。
Of all the bad ideas for the new product, the pink packaging was the plainest foolish.
在新產品所有糟糕的點子中，粉紅色包裝是最徹頭徹尾愚蠢的。
Walking into a client meeting without any preparation was the plainest foolish thing he did.
完全沒準備就走進客戶會議，是他做過最愚蠢的事。
- most absolutely
more formal and correct in standard written English
- just
simpler and more common, but less emphatic ('just wrong' vs 'the plainest wrong')
文法句型
the plainest + adjective (wrong/impossible/ridiculous/stupid/foolish)
the plainest + past participle
用法筆記
As a superlative adverb, 'plainest' is very informal and used mainly in spoken English or casual writing. It appears most naturally in comparative/ranking contexts ('of all X, Y was the plainest wrong') and always modifies an adjective or past participle that expresses a strong negative judgement (wrong, impossible, ridiculous, stupid, foolish). It cannot be used with positive adjectives ('the plainest wonderful' is not idiomatic). The base form 'plain' (as in 'plain wrong' or 'just plain stupid') is far more common than this superlative.