superficialities
/ˌsü-pər-ˌfi-shē-ˈa-lə-tē How to pronounce superficiality (audio)/ (ame, mw)
superficialities — 名詞
1. The quality of showing only a shallow or surface-level understanding of a subjec
膚淺；淺薄
只關注表面、缺乏深度的性質
The quality of showing only a shallow or surface-level understanding of a subject, without real thought or serious analysis.
The book's superficialities disappointed critics who expected deep analysis of the social problem.
這本書的膚淺讓期待深入分析社會問題的書評家們大失所望。
superficialities + of + [noun phrase] for lacking depth
Bao found the film review full of superficialities, with no real understanding of the director's work.
Bao 認為那篇影評充滿了膚淺論述，完全沒有真正理解導演的作品。
collocation: full of superficialities
The professor dismissed the student paper for its superficialities and weak arguments.
教授認為這份學生報告內容膚淺、論證薄弱，因此不予理會。
Political debates often drown in superficialities instead of addressing real policy differences.
政治辯論往往淹沒在膚淺言辭中，而不是討論真正的政策差異。
Amira lost interest in the course because it focused on superficialities rather than core concepts.
Amira 對這門課失去興趣，因為課程只停留在膚淺內容而忽略了核心概念。
- shallowness
Stronger and more judgmental — suggests not just surface-level but also a lack of seriousness or substance.
- emptiness
Suggests a complete absence of meaningful content, a stronger charge than superficiality.
- thoughtlessness
Focuses on the intellectual process — someone who did not think carefully before speaking or writing.
- depth
The opposite quality — showing thorough understanding and serious thought.
- profundity
Formal term for deep intellectual or emotional insight.
文法句型
superficialities + of + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
The singular form superficiality is uncountable when referring to the abstract quality. The plural superficialities typically refers to multiple manifestations of shallowness — for instance, in a piece of writing, an argument, or a conversation.
常見錯誤
2. A trivial detail, appearance-focused remark, or minor aspect that concerns only
表面事物
只涉及外表或細節的東西
A trivial detail, appearance-focused remark, or minor aspect that concerns only the surface of something, rather than what is important or meaningful.
The couple argued about superficialities like furniture while avoiding their real problems.
這對伴侶為了家具之類的表面瑣事爭吵，卻避開了真正的問題。
argue about superficialities (collocation with argue about)
Brandon said the magazine focused on superficialities such as fashion and celebrity gossip.
Brandon 說那本雜誌只關注時尚和名人八卦這類表面事物。
focused on superficialities such as [examples]
Many job interviews get stuck on superficialities and never ask about actual skills.
許多工作面試卡在表面問題上，從未問及應徵者真正的能力。
Nikhil felt the conversation stayed at the level of superficialities, never touching on anything important.
Nikhil 覺得談話始終停留在表面層次，從未觸及任何重要的事。
The manager ended the meeting because it wasted time on superficialities.
經理結束了會議，因為會議把時間浪費在表面細節上。
- trivialities
Emphasizes unimportance more than surface-level quality; overlaps heavily with this sense.
- appearances
Refers more narrowly to how things look rather than surface details in general.
- surface details
Literal paraphrase — things that are obvious or visible without deeper investigation.
- essentials
The core or fundamental aspects that truly matter.
- fundamentals
The basic principles or key facts that should be the focus.
文法句型
superficialities + like + [examples]
get stuck on + superficialities
waste time on + superficialities
用法筆記
Always appears in the plural. Refers to specific concrete items (remarks, details, topics), not the abstract quality. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on what people talk about or pay attention to, not on how deeply they think.