scruple
scruple — 名詞
- scruplesingular
- scruplesplural
1. a moral worry or uneasy doubt that makes someone pause before acting
顧忌；顧慮
做事前因良心而遲疑
a moral worry or uneasy doubt that makes someone pause before acting
Christopher felt a scruple about opening his sister's private letters.
Christopher 對是否拆看妹妹的私人信件感到顧忌。
scruple about + -ing
Tamar's last scruple vanished when the broker offered cash under the table.
當經紀人提出桌下現金時，Tamar 最後那點顧忌也消失了。
last scruple vanished
The nurse's scruples kept the clinic from hiding the mistake.
那位護理師的顧慮讓診所沒有把那個錯誤隱瞞起來。
Felix spoke without scruple and revealed the private deal.
Felix 毫無顧忌地發言，還把那樁私下交易說了出來。
Esteban had no scruples about firing workers before the holiday.
Esteban 對於在假日前解雇員工毫無顧忌。
- qualm
often shorter and sharper, especially for a sudden moral doubt
- misgiving
broader and less moral; it can be worry about what may happen
- hesitation
more general and not necessarily tied to conscience
- reservation
more formal and often about one clear objection
- ruthlessness
shows no concern about harm or moral limits
- indifference
lack of concern replaces the inner moral pause
文法句型
have scruples about + noun/-ing
no scruples about + noun/-ing
without scruple
用法筆記
This noun often appears in the plural when talking about moral limits in real situations. Singular scruple is more formal and often appears in patterns such as without scruple or have a scruple about something.
常見錯誤
scruple — 動詞
- scruplepresent simple I / you / we / they
- scruples3rd person singular
- scrupling-ing form
- scrupledpast simple
1. to go ahead with an action without worrying whether it is wrong or harmful
毫不顧忌
明知可能有害仍照做
to go ahead with an action without worrying whether it is wrong or harmful
Dario did not scruple to blame the intern for the mistake.
Dario 毫不顧忌地把那個錯誤推給實習生。
not scruple to + verb
The company did not scruple to hide the safety report from staff.
那家公司毫不顧忌地向員工隱瞞安全報告。
formal pattern: did not scruple to + verb
The mayor never scrupled to use fear in local speeches.
那位市長在地方演說中毫不顧忌地利用恐懼。
Hiro would not scruple to cut workers' pay to save money.
Hiro 為了省錢，會毫不顧忌地削減工人的薪資。
The gang did not scruple to threaten shop owners for money.
那個幫派毫不顧忌地威脅店家索取錢財。
- not hesitate
broader and less moral; it can describe speed rather than shamelessness
- think nothing of
more informal and often stresses lack of concern
- stoop
stronger and focuses on doing something low or shameful
文法句型
not scruple to + verb
never scruple to + verb
would not scruple to + verb
用法筆記
This verb is mainly seen in formal writing and most often appears in negative patterns such as not scruple to do something. It describes acting freely despite moral limits, not feeling the hesitation itself.