secretive
/ˈsiːkrətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsiːkrətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsē-krə-tiv si-ˈkrē-/ (ame, mw)
secretive — 形容詞
1. Someone who is secretive tends to keep their thoughts, feelings, or actions hidd
神祕的
不願透露想法或計畫的
Someone who is secretive tends to keep their thoughts, feelings, or actions hidden from others, often because they do not want to share personal information or let other people know what they are doing.
Yara is secretive about her personal life and never discusses her family at work.
Yara 對自己的私生活向來很神祕，從來不在公司談論家裡的事。
secretive about [topic] — the most common preposition
The company's secretive hiring process left applicants waiting for months without any updates.
那家公司神祕的招聘流程讓求職者等了幾個月，完全沒有任何消息。
attributive use: secretive + noun
Femi grew more secretive as the exams approached, studying alone and avoiding his friends.
Femi 隨著考試將近變得越來越神祕，總是一個人讀書、避開朋友。
There was something secretive about the way Tamar kept checking her phone and lowering her voice.
Tamar 一直看手機、壓低聲音說話的樣子，有種說不上來的神祕感。
- reticent
more formal and suggests a reluctance to speak, not necessarily active hiding
- tight-lipped
informal and more intense, often about a specific situation
- reserved
softer tone — suggests a quiet personality rather than deliberate hiding
- close-mouthed
informal; emphasises refusing to speak about something
- open
willing to share thoughts and feelings freely
- frank
direct and honest in expressing what one thinks
- forthcoming
ready to give information when asked
文法句型
secretive about + noun / verb-ing
secretive + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'about' to introduce the topic that is being kept hidden (e.g. secretive about his past). Can also be used attributively before a noun (e.g. secretive behaviour) or with 'grow / become' to describe a developing tendency.