softness
/ˈsɒftnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɔːftnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /-f(t)nə̇s/ (ame, mw)
softness — 名詞
1. the quality of a material or object that makes it easy to press, squeeze, or ben
柔軟
物體易受壓變形的性質
the quality of a material or object that makes it easy to press, squeeze, or bend without breaking or cracking
The softness of the mattress made it easy for Ezra to fall asleep.
床墊的柔軟讓 Ezra 很容易就睡著了。
the softness of [object] as sentence subject
Tamar tested the softness of the dough by pressing it gently with one finger.
Tamar 用一根手指輕輕按壓麵團，測試它的柔軟度。
test the softness of [object]
Crossing the field was hard due to the muddy ground's softness after weeks of rain.
連下幾週雨後，泥濘地面的柔軟度讓穿越田野變得困難。
When choosing a yoga mat, most people care about softness just as much as thickness.
挑選瑜珈墊時，多數人同樣在意柔軟度和厚度。
Lien felt the softness of the wool scarf around her neck as she walked home.
Lien 圍著羊毛圍巾走回家時，感覺到了那柔軟的質感。
- pliability
more technical; emphasises ability to bend without breaking
- suppleness
suggests flexible resilience, especially in fabrics or skin
- malleability
chiefly for metals or materials that can be shaped by hammering
文法句型
the softness of [something]
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of softness. It refers to the physical property of materials and can be measured or felt by touch. The related adjective soft (A1) is far more frequent in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. the quality of having a smooth, non-rough surface that feels pleasant when touch
柔滑
表面平滑舒適的觸感
the quality of having a smooth, non-rough surface that feels pleasant when touched or rubbed against the skin
The moisturizer restored the softness of Camila's hands after a cold winter.
寒冬過後，這款保濕霜讓 Camila 的雙手恢復了柔滑。
restore the softness of [body part]
Defne admired the softness of the silk scarf her grandmother had given her.
Defne 很喜歡祖母送她的那條絲巾的柔滑質感。
Natural cotton sheets tend to keep their softness longer than synthetic ones.
純棉床單的柔滑度通常比合成材質的維持得更久。
The softness of the velvet cushion soothed Obi's tired face after the long flight.
天鵝絨坐墊的柔滑觸感舒緩了長途飛行後 Obi 疲憊的臉頰。
This conditioner promises to improve the softness of dry and damaged hair within one week.
這款潤髮乳號稱能在一週內改善乾燥受損髮質的柔滑度。
- smoothness
more general; applies to any even surface, not just pleasant-to-touch ones
- silkiness
specifically like silk; implies fine, smooth texture
- roughness
the opposite quality of surface texture
文法句型
the softness of [something]
用法筆記
Closely related to sense 1, but sense 1 focuses on compressibility (ease of pressing), whereas sense 2 focuses on surface texture (smooth vs. rough). An object can be hard but smooth (e.g. polished stone) — that would be softness in sense 2 but not sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. the quality of being quiet, gentle, and not forceful — used for sounds, voices,
柔和
聲音、光線等溫和而不強烈
the quality of being quiet, gentle, and not forceful — used for sounds, voices, light, wind, or colour that create a calm and pleasant atmosphere
The softness of Élise's voice helped the frightened kitten to calm down.
Élise 柔和的嗓音讓受驚的小貓冷靜了下來。
the softness of [someone's] voice
Faisal adjusted the lamp because he liked the softness of indirect evening light.
Faisal 調整了燈的位置，因為他喜歡傍晚間接光線的柔和感。
There was a gentle softness in the way Stefan spoke to his elderly mother.
Stefan 對年邁母親說話時，語氣中帶著一種溫柔。
The softness of the morning light made the garden look almost magical.
晨光的柔和讓花園看起來幾乎像一幅畫。
Christopher loved the softness of acoustic guitar music when he was studying late at night.
Christopher 深夜讀書時很喜歡木吉他音樂的柔和。
- gentleness
broader; can describe personality and behaviour in addition to sensory qualities
- quietness
specifically for sounds; implies absence of loudness rather than pleasant tone
文法句型
the softness of [sound / light / wind / voice]
用法筆記
Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense does not describe touch or texture. It describes sensory qualities perceived through hearing (voice, music) or sight (light, colour). Distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether the subject is a material (sense 1) or a sound / light source (sense 3).
常見錯誤
4. the habit of being excessively forgiving toward a wrongdoer or rule-breaker, esp
寬容；姑息
對犯錯者過於寬容的態度
the habit of being excessively forgiving toward a wrongdoer or rule-breaker, especially when a stricter response would normally be expected — often used to express disapproval
The teacher's softness toward late assignments annoyed students who always met the deadline.
老師對遲交作業的寬容，讓總是準時繳交的學生很不滿。
softness toward [someone/something]
Abigail criticized the court's softness when it gave a short sentence to the repeat offender.
Abigail 批評法院對累犯量刑過輕，態度過於姑息。
Some parents worry that too much softness will prevent their children from learning responsibility.
有些家長擔心太過寬容會讓孩子學不到責任感。
The coach's softness during training sessions cost the team their place in the final match.
教練在訓練時的鬆散態度，讓球隊失去了晉級決賽的機會。
- leniency
more neutral; does not carry the same disapproving tone
- permissiveness
stronger disapproval; implies allowing behaviour that should be controlled
- strictness
the direct opposite; implies firm enforcement of rules
- severity
stronger; implies harshness in punishment or judgement
文法句型
softness toward [someone]
softness in [doing something]
用法筆記
This sense carries a mildly negative or critical tone. It appears most often in discussions of discipline (school, parenting, law, sports). The phrase 'too much softness' is especially common. For a neutral description of leniency, use 'leniency' or 'flexibility' instead.
常見錯誤
5. a property of water that comes from having very few dissolved mineral salts, so
軟水
礦物質含量低的水質
a property of water that comes from having very few dissolved mineral salts, so that soap forms a lather easily and less residue is left behind
The softness of the local water meant Sora needed much less soap for his laundry.
當地的水質偏軟，所以 Sora 洗衣服用的肥皂少很多。
Rachel noticed the water's softness soon after moving to her mountain apartment.
Rachel 搬到山上的公寓不久後，就注意到水質很軟。
noticed the softness of the water
A water softener improves the softness of hard tap water by removing calcium and magnesium.
軟水器能去除鈣和鎂，從而改善自來水的軟度。
Hair washed in rainwater has a different softness because the water contains almost no minerals.
用雨水洗過的頭髮有種不同的柔軟感，因為雨水幾乎不含礦物質。
- low mineral content
describes the cause rather than the property itself
- hardness
the opposite quality in water; water with high mineral content
文法句型
the softness of [water]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively as a technical or semi-technical term in discussions of water quality. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'the water is soft' (using the adjective) rather than 'the softness of the water'.
常見錯誤
6. a situation in trade or commerce where available goods outnumber buyers, leading
疲軟
市場供過於求、價格偏低的狀態
a situation in trade or commerce where available goods outnumber buyers, leading to low or falling prices over time
Economists have warned about the softness of the housing market for several months.
經濟學家好幾個月來不斷警告房市疲軟的跡象。
softness of the [housing / job / stock] market
The softness in consumer spending worried small business owners across the country.
消費支出的疲軟讓全美的小企業主憂心忡忡。
Ezra attributed the softness of the job market to seasonal changes in hiring patterns.
Ezra 認為就業市場的疲軟是季節性招聘變化造成的。
The softness of oil prices brought relief to drivers but deep concern to energy investors.
油價的疲軟讓開車族鬆了一口氣，卻讓能源投資人深感憂慮。
- weakness
more common in business contexts; similar range of usage
- strength
the opposite in market conditions; implies rising demand and prices
文法句型
softness in [market / economy / sector]
用法筆記
This is a specialised economics term. It is almost always used in formal or journalistic writing about market conditions. In everyday conversation, speakers would say 'the market is weak' rather than 'there is softness in the market'.