slightness
slightness — 名詞
1. the fact that something is only a small amount, or that a change or difference i
微小；輕微
數量或程度很小、差異不明顯
the fact that something is only a small amount, or that a change or difference is very minor.
The slightness of the price rise meant Élise barely noticed it on her grocery receipt.
因為漲價幅度十分微小，Élise 在雜貨收據上幾乎沒有察覺。
the slightness of + noun for a minor amount
Shanti was relieved by the slightness of the damage after the storm passed.
暴風雨過後，Shanti 因為損害輕微而鬆了一口氣。
Doctors were puzzled by the slightness of the fever, given how ill Mateo felt.
醫生們對於 Mateo 病得這麼難受，發燒卻如此輕微感到不解。
Because of the slightness of the delay, the train still reached London on time.
由於誤點時間極短，火車仍準時抵達倫敦。
- smallness
plainer and more everyday; 'slightness' sounds more formal
- insignificance
stresses that the amount does not matter, not just that it is small
- magnitude
the large size or importance of something
文法句型
the slightness of [something]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'of' plus the thing being measured (the slightness of the change, the slightness of the risk). Distinguish from sense 3, which is about lack of seriousness rather than small size.
常見錯誤
2. the quality of having a thin, delicate body that looks small and easily harmed.
纖瘦；單薄
身材瘦小、看起來纖弱易傷
the quality of having a thin, delicate body that looks small and easily harmed.
The dancer's slightness made her leaps across the stage look almost weightless.
這位舞者的纖瘦身形，讓她在舞台上的跳躍看起來幾乎毫無重量。
the slightness of a person's build
Despite his slightness, Reuben lifted the heavy crate without any help.
儘管身形單薄，Reuben 還是獨力搬起了那只沉重的板條箱。
contrast between thin build and strength
Lien pinned the coat at the back so the slightness of her shoulders wouldn't show.
Lien 把外套在背後別起來，好讓自己纖瘦的肩膀不那麼明顯。
Nurses worried about the slightness of the newborn and kept her in a warm cot.
護士們擔心這名新生兒過於瘦弱，便把她留在保暖的嬰兒床裡。
- slenderness
more positive, suggesting graceful thinness
- frailty
stresses weakness and being easily hurt, not just thinness
- sturdiness
being strong and solidly built
文法句型
the slightness of [someone's] [body part / frame]
用法筆記
Subject is a person or their frame, not an object. Often paired with words about fragility or grace; contrast with sense 1, where the subject is an amount or measurement.
3. the quality of dealing with topics that are not serious or important, so that so
膚淺；空泛
內容不夠嚴肅深刻、缺乏分量
the quality of dealing with topics that are not serious or important, so that something seems to lack depth.
Élise praised the play's jokes but complained about the slightness of its two-scene plot.
Élise 稱讚這齣戲的笑料，卻抱怨它只有兩場戲的劇情過於空泛。
the slightness of a creative work
Hiro raced through the thin novel, yet its slightness left him wanting a deeper story.
Hiro 飛快讀完那本薄薄的小說，但它內容的單薄讓他渴望更深刻的故事。
The slightness of Reuben's three-page report annoyed the committee, who wanted hard evidence.
Reuben 那份只有三頁的報告內容空泛，惹惱了想要確鑿證據的委員會。
Listeners hummed the catchy tune, but its slightness meant nobody remembered it a week later.
聽眾哼著這首朗朗上口的曲子，但它的淺薄讓人一週後就忘得一乾二淨。
- triviality
stronger; suggests the topic is almost worthless
- superficiality
stresses staying on the surface rather than going deep
文法句型
the slightness of [a work / argument]
用法筆記
Typically applied to books, films, plays, or arguments to say they are pleasant but lack weight. Distinguish from sense 1: here the issue is depth of content, not physical or numerical size.