superficiality

/ˌsuːpəˌfɪʃiˈæləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌsuːpərˌfɪʃiˈæləti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌsü-pər-ˌfi-shē-ˈa-lə-tē/ (ame, mw)

superficiality — 名詞

  • superficialitysingular
  • superficialitiesplural

1. a tendency to think only about obvious or trivial matters while avoiding deeper,

1.名詞C1
釋義

膚淺；淺薄

只關心表面及不重要事物的傾向

a tendency to think only about obvious or trivial matters while avoiding deeper, more serious ideas or feelings

例句

Rafael tired of the superficiality of small talk at events where nobody discussed anything meaningful.

Rafael 厭倦了社交場合中閒聊的膚淺，因為沒人願意討論有意義的事。

superficiality + of + [abstract noun phrase]

Ada's superficiality annoyed her classmates; she always changed the subject when talk turned serious.

Ada 的淺薄讓同學們感到不耐煩，因為每當討論變得嚴肅時，她總會轉移話題。

possessor + superficiality + verb (shows consequence)

同義詞
  • shallowness

    more direct and common synonym; 'superficiality' is slightly more formal

  • frivolity

    emphasises a lack of seriousness rather than a lack of depth

反義詞
  • depth

    the opposite quality — showing seriousness and thoughtful engagement

  • profundity

    formal antonym stressing great intellectual or emotional depth

2. the quality of appearing attractive, impressive, or valuable while lacking any g

2.名詞C1
釋義

虛有其表

看似美好但無實際價值的特質

the quality of appearing attractive, impressive, or valuable while lacking any genuine substance or real usefulness

例句

The glossy brochure promised a dream vacation, but the resort's superficiality showed on day one.

那本精美的宣傳手冊描繪了夢幻般的假期，但第一天入住就讓人看清度假村的虛有其表。

possessor + superficiality + became obvious

Kabir saw through the superficiality of the company's sustainability campaign — its factories still dumped waste into the river.

Kabir 看穿了這家公司永續發展活動的虛有其表——他們的工廠仍然在向河裡排放廢棄物。

saw through the superficiality of + [noun]

同義詞
  • facade

    emphasises the deceptive outer appearance rather than the quality of being hollow

  • emptiness

    more direct; lacks the nuance of 'appearing valuable but not being so'

反義詞
  • substance

    what something is genuinely made of, in a metaphorical sense

  • authenticity

    the quality of being genuine and real

用法筆記

In sense 2, the word can occasionally be used as a countable noun (e.g. 'a superficiality'), referring to a specific thing that is superficially impressive but hollow. This countable use is less common than the uncountable form.

常見錯誤

❌The product has a superficiality that attracts customers.
✅The product has a superficial appeal that attracts customers.
💡'superficiality' is a quality, not something a product actively 'has'; use 'superficial appeal' or 'surface attractiveness' instead.

3. the practice of dealing with a subject or task by looking at surface features al

3.名詞C1
釋義

粗略；不深入

只處理明顯部分而缺乏徹底性的做法

the practice of dealing with a subject or task by looking at surface features alone, without any depth or careful attention

例句

The doctor's superficiality during the check-up meant she missed the early signs of the infection.

醫生在檢查時的粗略態度導致他錯過了感染的早期徵兆。

possessor + superficiality during + [event]

Hoa was frustrated by the training course's superficiality, which skipped all practical exercises.

Hoa 對這門培訓課程的不深入感到失望，因為課程完全跳過了實作練習。

superficiality of + [training/study program]

同義詞
  • shallowness

    overlaps significantly, but 'superficiality' is more common for processes and analyses

  • incompleteness

    broader; lacks the nuance of 'only surface-level'

反義詞
  • thoroughness

    the opposite quality — careful and complete attention to detail

  • rigor

    formal antonym stressing strict precision and depth

用法筆記

This sense often appears in criticism of professional work — reviews, analyses, inspections, or investigations. The focus is on the incompleteness of the process itself rather than on a person's character.