shallowness

/ˈʃæləʊnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʃæləʊnəs/ (ame, ipa)

shallowness — 名詞

1. the quality of having only a small distance from the top to the bottom, or from

1.名詞B1
釋義

淺度

從表面到底部距離小的特性

the quality of having only a small distance from the top to the bottom, or from the surface of water to the ground under it

例句

The shallowness of the pond meant the children could wade across it safely.

池塘的淺度讓孩子們可以安全地涉水而過。

the shallowness of [body of water] for describing physical depth

Wei was surprised by the shallowness of the river near the campsite.

Wei 對於營地附近河流的淺度感到驚訝。

同義詞
  • depth

    neutral term; shallowness specifically describes limited depth

  • thinness

    used for layers or flat objects rather than bodies of water

反義詞
  • depth

    the quality of being deep, opposite of shallowness

  • deepness

    less common but direct antonym

文法句型

the shallowness of [something]

用法筆記

Typically describes bodies of water, containers, or ground features. Common with of-phrase specifying what is shallow.

常見錯誤

❌The shallowness of the box was 10 cm.
✅The box was only 10 cm deep.
💡For precise measurements, use 'depth' rather than 'shallowness'.

2. the state of taking in only a small amount of air with each breath, often becaus

2.名詞B2
釋義

呼吸淺

每次呼吸只吸入少量空氣的狀態

the state of taking in only a small amount of air with each breath, often because of illness, nervousness, tiredness, or physical weakness

例句

The doctor noticed the shallowness of Nadia's breathing and ordered an oxygen mask.

醫生注意到 Nadia 呼吸的淺度，於是為她戴上了氧氣面罩。

shallowness of breathing — medical context

Kofi's shallowness of breath worsened as he climbed the steep hill.

Kofi 爬上陡峭的山丘時，呼吸的淺度變得更加明顯。

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

shallowness of [one's] breath

shallowness of breathing

用法筆記

Most common in medical or health-related writing. Often used with possessive determiners (his, her, their) before breathing or breath.

常見錯誤

❌He suffered from breathing shallowness.
✅He suffered from shallowness of breath.
💡The natural pattern is 'shallowness of breath' or 'shallowness of breathing'.

3. the quality of lacking serious, careful, or deep thought; a tendency to focus on

3.名詞B2
釋義

膚淺

缺乏深度思考或感受的特質

the quality of lacking serious, careful, or deep thought; a tendency to focus on unimportant or surface-level matters instead of what really matters

例句

The teacher criticized the shallowness of the students' arguments in the class debate.

老師批評學生在課堂辯論中的論點過於膚淺。

shallowness of [someone's arguments] — abstract/superficiality sense

Diego was frustrated by the shallowness of online conversations about important social issues.

Diego 對於網路上關於重要社會議題的討論之膚淺感到沮喪。

同義詞
  • superficiality

    stronger negative tone; implies concern with image over reality

  • emptiness

    suggests a total lack of substance rather than just surface-level thinking

  • frivolity

    focus on lightheartedness and lack of seriousness; less negative in some contexts

  • triviality

    focus on unimportant details rather than deep thinking

反義詞
  • depth

    the quality of having serious, thoughtful ideas

  • profundity

    formal; great intellectual or emotional depth

文法句型

the shallowness of [someone's argument/thoughts/feelings]

用法筆記

Applies to human qualities (arguments, emotions, thoughts) rather than physical objects. Frequently found in discussions of intellectual character or personality. The adjective shallow is more common than the noun in everyday speech for this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The shallowness of the water disappointed the divers.' (use sense 1 for physical depth).
✅The shallowness of his understanding of the topic disappointed his teacher.
💡Use this sense only for abstract/mental lack of depth, not physical.