sensible
/ˈsensəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsensəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl/ (ame, mw)
sensible — 形容詞
- sensiblepositive
- more sensiblecomparative
- most sensiblesuperlative
1. showing the wisdom that comes from careful thinking and real-life experience
明智；務實
基於理性與實際判斷的
showing the wisdom that comes from careful thinking and real-life experience
William decided it was sensible to save part of his salary each month for emergencies.
William 認為每月從薪水中存一部分以備不時之需，是明智的做法。
pattern: it is sensible to + infinitive (giving advice/recommendation)
Lara made a sensible choice by taking the earlier train to avoid the rush-hour crowds.
Lara 做了明智的選擇，搭乘較早的火車以避開尖峰人潮。
collocation: a sensible choice / decision
Tamar's father warned her it was not sensible to invest all her savings in one startup.
Tamar 的父親提醒她，把所有的積蓄都投在一家新創公司並不明智。
Élise's sensible suggestion to book the train tickets early saved the group over forty dollars.
Élise 建議早點訂火車票，這個明智的提議讓整個團體省了四十多美元。
Kevin considered himself a sensible person, so he asked his cousin to sign a written agreement before lending the money.
Kevin 自認是個明智的人，所以在借錢之前請他的表哥簽了一份書面協議。
- reasonable
focuses on fairness and logic rather than practical experience; 'a reasonable price'
- practical
emphasises real-world usefulness over theory; 'a practical solution'
- rational
more formal, stressing logical thinking without emotional influence; 'a rational argument'
- wise
implies deeper life experience and broader judgment; 'a wise old woman'
文法句型
it is sensible to + infinitive
sensible + noun (choice, decision, person)
be + sensible
用法筆記
Commonly used with impersonal it: 'It is sensible to wear a helmet.' Can describe a person ('She is very sensible') or a thing ('That is a sensible plan'). The opposite is foolish or unwise, not 'insensible'.
常見錯誤
2. chosen or designed to be practical, comfortable, and useful for a particular act
實用的
注重實用功能而非外觀時尚的
chosen or designed to be practical, comfortable, and useful for a particular activity, rather than to look fashionable or attractive
Yael wore sensible walking boots for the trip through the muddy forest trail.
Yael 穿著實用的登山靴，穿過泥濘的森林小徑。
collocation: sensible shoes / boots
Faisal packed a sensible waterproof jacket instead of a designer coat for the camping trip.
Faisal 露營時帶了一件實用的防水夾克，而不是穿設計師外套。
The school asks students to wear sensible flat shoes during science lab classes every week.
學校要求學生每週上自然科學實驗課時，穿實用的平底鞋。
Ingrid chose a sensible bag with multiple pockets to carry her laptop and books.
Ingrid 選了一個有多層口袋的實用包包，用來裝她的筆電和書籍。
The nurse's uniform is designed to be sensible — easy to clean and comfortable to wear.
護士制服設計得很實用——好清洗而且穿起來舒服。
- practical
broader; 'a practical jacket' could mean it has useful features beyond just comfort and durability
- functional
more neutral; emphasises that something serves its intended purpose well
- serviceable
suggests durability and adequate performance, often used for work clothes
- fashionable
following current trends, often at the expense of comfort or practicality
- stylish
attractive in appearance, which can conflict with practical design
文法句型
sensible + clothing noun (shoes, clothes, jacket)
be + sensible (of an item)
用法筆記
Applies almost exclusively to clothing, shoes, bags, and equipment. Can connote a mild contrast with stylish: calling something 'sensible' may imply it is not fashionable, though this connotation is softening in modern use.
常見錯誤
3. having understanding or knowledge of a particular situation, feeling, or fact; a
察覺；理解
對某情況或感受有所理解的
having understanding or knowledge of a particular situation, feeling, or fact; aware of something in a thoughtful way
The senator was sensible of the public's growing anger about the proposed tax increase.
那位參議員察覺到公眾對調漲稅收提案的憤怒日益高漲。
pattern: sensible of + [abstract noun]
Sade was fully sensible of the risk she was taking by leaving her steady job at the bank.
Sade 完全了解辭去銀行那份穩定工作所要承擔的風險。
adverb modifier: fully / keenly sensible of
Kasia remained sensible of the cultural differences throughout her year abroad in Japan.
Kasia 在日本待了一整年，期間始終能感受到文化差異。
The committee was sensible of the need to reach a decision before the deadline passed.
委員會深知必須在截止日期前做出決定。
文法句型
sensible of + noun/gerund
fully/keenly sensible of
用法筆記
This sense is formal and increasingly rare in everyday speech. It is almost always followed by of (not about) and often modified by an adverb such as fully, keenly, or acutely. Modern English prefers aware of in most contexts.
常見錯誤
4. large, strong, or clear enough to be noticed or felt through the senses
可感知；顯著
大到足以被感官察覺或注意到的
large, strong, or clear enough to be noticed or felt through the senses
João noticed a sensible drop in the bath water temperature after he had been soaking for twenty minutes.
João 發現在浴缸裡泡了二十分鐘後，洗澡水的溫度明顯下降了。
collocation: a sensible + [observable physical effect]
Roya felt a sensible tremor run through the floorboards whenever a heavy truck passed her apartment.
每當大卡車駛過她的公寓，Roya 就能感覺到地板傳來明顯的震動。
After insulating the attic, the family noticed a sensible difference in their winter heating bills.
在閣樓加裝隔熱層之後，這家人發現冬天的暖氣帳單有了顯著差異。
The doctor found no sensible change in Mizuki's breathing after two days of the new treatment.
醫生發現 Mizuki 接受兩天的新療法後，呼吸狀況沒有顯著變化。
- noticeable
the everyday replacement for this sense; 'a noticeable improvement'
- perceptible
more technical, especially in scientific writing; 'a barely perceptible change'
- significant
emphasises importance as well as size; 'a significant increase'
- imperceptible
too small or slight to be noticed
- negligible
so small that it does not matter
文法句型
a sensible + noun
be + sensible
用法筆記
This sense is now very rare in modern English except in formal or literary writing. The word noticeable, perceptible, or significant is preferred in everyday speech. Distinguish from sense 1: a 'sensible difference' does not mean 'a wise difference' — it means 'a difference large enough to notice.'
常見錯誤
sensible — 名詞
1. in philosophy, a thing or quality that human senses can detect — such as an obje
可感知事物
能被感官偵測到的物體或現象
in philosophy, a thing or quality that human senses can detect — such as an object you can see, hear, or touch — rather than an idea or a mental concept
The philosopher argued that colours and sounds are sensibles that exist only when someone perceives them.
那位哲學家主張，顏色和聲音只有在被人感知時才存在，屬於可感知事物。
pattern: sensibles = objects of perception (philosophical term)
A ripe mango's sweet smell and soft texture are sensibles that our senses can detect directly.
成熟芒果的香甜氣味和柔軟質地，都是我們的感官可以直接偵測到的可感知事物。
For ancient Greek thinkers, taste and smell were sensibles that could not be fully described in words.
對古希臘思想家而言，味覺和嗅覺是無法完全用言語描述的可感知事物。
The lecture compared mathematical objects, which are invisible, with sensibles such as tables and chairs.
那場講座比較了看不見的數學物體與可感知事物（如桌椅）之間的差異。
- sense-datum
technical term in philosophy for the raw content of sensory experience
- phenomenon
broader; anything that appears to the senses or the mind
文法句型
the sensible
sensible + verb
用法筆記
This noun use belongs almost entirely to academic philosophy. In everyday English you will never hear someone use sensible as a noun. Use perceived object, physical thing, or sense-datum instead.