shy

/ʃaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ʃaɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshī/ (ame, mw) · /-ʃaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /-ʃaɪ/ (ame, ipa)

shy — 形容詞

  • shypositive
  • shyercomparative
  • shyestsuperlative

1. feeling nervous, uncomfortable, or lacking confidence when you are with other pe

1.形容詞B1
釋義

害羞的

與人相處時感到緊張或缺乏自信

feeling nervous, uncomfortable, or lacking confidence when you are with other people, especially people you do not know well.

例句

Theo was too shy to ask his teacher for help with the math problem.

Theo 因為太害羞，不敢請老師幫忙解數學題。

too + adjective + to-infinitive for inability due to shyness

As a shy child, Yuna often hid behind her mother when visitors arrived.

Yuna 小時候很害羞，客人來時常躲在媽媽身後。

同義詞
  • timid

    suggests a more permanent lack of courage, not just social nervousness

  • bashful

    describes a cute, often blushing shyness, common in children

  • reserved

    implies deliberate control over showing feelings, not necessarily nervousness

  • withdrawn

    stronger and more negative; suggests someone has pulled away from social contact

反義詞
  • outgoing

    enjoys meeting and talking to new people

  • confident

    sure of oneself in social situations

用法筆記

Common after linking verbs (be, feel, seem) and before nouns (a shy smile, a shy girl). The prepositions 'with' and 'around' indicate who causes the shyness: 'shy with strangers', 'shy around new people.'

常見錯誤

❌I am shy to talk to new people.
✅I am too shy to talk to new people.
💡When 'shy' is followed by a to-infinitive, the intensifier 'too' is needed.
❌He has a shy personality.
✅He is shy.
💡'Shy' is already an adjective describing personality; 'shy personality' is redundant.

2. (of an animal) easily frightened and likely to stay away from people; timid by n

2.形容詞B2
釋義

膽怯的

(動物)容易受驚而不敢靠近人類

(of an animal) easily frightened and likely to stay away from people; timid by nature.

例句

The wild rabbit was too shy to come out of the bushes while the children played nearby.

孩子們在附近玩耍時，那隻野兔因為太膽怯而不敢從灌木叢出來。

be + too + adjective + to-infinitive describing animal behaviour

Shy birds often hide in the treetops when hikers pass through the forest.

膽怯的鳥類經常在登山客經過森林時躲到樹梢上。

同義詞
  • timid

    the closest synonym, used for both people and animals

  • skittish

    describes an animal that moves nervously and is hard to approach

  • wary

    suggests cautious alertness to danger rather than fear of people

反義詞
  • tame

    not afraid of people; comfortable around humans

  • fearless

    showing no fear of potential danger

用法筆記

Used primarily for wild or non-domesticated animals. For pets, 'timid' or 'scared' is more common in modern usage. Not used for insects or very small creatures.

常見錯誤

❌The butterfly is very shy.
✅The butterfly is easily startled.
💡'Shy' for animals is usually restricted to mammals and birds, not insects.

3. hesitant or unwilling to become involved, do something, or accept something beca

3.形容詞B2
釋義

不情願的

因顧慮而不願參與或接受

hesitant or unwilling to become involved, do something, or accept something because of worry, lack of trust, or a previous bad experience.

例句

Sofia was shy about sharing her opinions during the group discussion.

Sofia 不情願在分組討論時分享自己的看法。

be + adjective + about + gerund for reluctance

The company has been shy of investing in new technology since the market crash.

那家公司自市場崩盤以來一直不願投資新技術。

同義詞
  • wary

    suggests cautious watchfulness based on past experience

  • reluctant

    directly describes unwillingness to do something

  • cautious

    implies carefulness rather than emotional hesitation

反義詞
  • eager

    enthusiastic and ready to do something

  • keen

    very interested and willing to participate

用法筆記

Commonly followed by 'about + gerund' or 'of + noun/gerund'. The proverb 'once bitten, twice shy' is a fixed expression that captures this sense: after a bad experience, a person becomes cautious.

常見錯誤

❌She shies to ask for directions.
✅She is shy about asking for directions.
💡Do not use 'shy' as a bare verb in this meaning; use the adjective with a preposition.
❌He is shy of to invest.
✅He is shy of investing.
💡After 'shy of', use a gerund, not a to-infinitive.

4. not reaching a particular number, amount, or level; lacking the full or required

4.形容詞B2
釋義

不足的

未達到所需數量或標準

not reaching a particular number, amount, or level; lacking the full or required quantity.

例句

The charity is still shy of its fundraising goal by about five thousand dollars.

那家慈善機構距離募款目標還差大約五千美元。

be + adjective + of + [amount] for shortfall

Her exam score was just shy of the passing grade by two points.

她的考試成績距離及格分數只差兩分。

同義詞
  • short of

    more common in everyday English for any kind of shortage

  • just under

    informal and slightly less precise

  • below

    used when comparing to a standard or benchmark

反義詞
  • above

    exceeding the required amount or level

  • over

    surpassing the target or limit

用法筆記

Always followed by 'of' and a number, amount, or target. Cannot be used without a complement: 'The total is shy' is incomplete. Common in informal reporting of financial targets, scores, and measurements.

常見錯誤

❌We are shy of money.
✅We are short of money.
💡For general shortage of resources, use 'short of', not 'shy of.' 'Shy of' is only used with specific numbers or targets.
❌The total is shy.
✅The total is shy of one thousand dollars.
💡'Shy' in this sense always needs a complement.

shy — 動詞

shy — 字尾

shy — 名詞