superficially

/ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəli/ (ame, ipa)

superficially — 副詞

1. with an impression of truth, value, or importance that disappears when you exami

1.副詞B2
釋義

表面上

看起來如此，其實不然

with an impression of truth, value, or importance that disappears when you examine it more closely.

例句

The deal looked superficially fair, but the small print favored the landlord.

這筆交易表面上看來公平，但細則其實偏向房東。

superficially + adjective showing a false first impression

Superficially polite emails hid the team's growing anger after the budget cuts.

那些表面上客氣的電子郵件，其實藏著團隊對預算刪減的不滿。

superficially + adjective masking a different reality

同義詞
  • apparently

    broader and more neutral; does not always imply that the appearance is false

  • outwardly

    focuses on what can be seen from the outside

  • on the face of it

    more conversational; stresses the first available evidence

  • seemingly

    close in meaning, but slightly less focused on surface impression

反義詞
  • genuinely

    describes something that is truly what it appears to be

  • truly

    stresses real facts rather than appearance

  • fundamentally

    points to the deeper reality or basic nature

文法句型

superficially + adjective

superficially + past participle

用法筆記

Often used before adjectives such as fair, calm, similar, or convincing. It focuses on a first impression that later proves misleading, unlike sense 2, which describes a shallow process rather than a misleading appearance.

常見錯誤

❌The answer was superficial correct.
✅The answer was superficially correct.
💡Use the adverb before an adjective when you mean 'only in appearance'.

2. with attention limited to the easiest points to notice, without checking details

2.副詞B2
釋義

粗略地

只看明顯部分，不細究

with attention limited to the easiest points to notice, without checking details or understanding the subject fully.

例句

Diya read the contract only superficially and missed the late-fee rule.

Diya 只是粗略地讀了那份合約，所以漏掉了逾期費條款。

verb + superficially when checking something without enough care

The inspector examined the kitchen superficially before approving the restaurant.

檢查員只是粗略地看了廚房，就批准那家餐廳營業。

superficially + examined for incomplete inspection

同義詞
  • cursorily

    more formal; stresses speed and lack of attention

  • roughly

    can mean 'not exactly' as well, so it is less specific

  • sketchily

    suggests an incomplete outline rather than a full treatment

  • shallowly

    rare as an adverb, but it clearly stresses lack of depth

反義詞
  • thoroughly

    with careful attention to all parts and details

  • carefully

    broader; focuses on avoiding mistakes as well as checking details

  • in depth

    shows that the person went beyond obvious points

文法句型

verb + superficially

superficially + examined / reviewed

用法筆記

Common with verbs such as read, examine, discuss, review, and listen. Unlike sense 1, it does not mean that something only seems true; it means the person deals with it in a shallow or incomplete way.

常見錯誤

❌The student read the article superficially, so she understood every detail.
✅The student read the article thoroughly, so she understood every detail.
💡'Superficially' means without enough depth, so it cannot describe full understanding.

3. so that only the outside layer of a body, object, or material is affected, not t

3.副詞C1
釋義

只在表面

只影響外層，不進入內部

so that only the outside layer of a body, object, or material is affected, not the deeper part underneath.

例句

The burn was treated superficially at first, so deeper tissue damage was missed.

那處燙傷起初只在表面處理，所以較深層的組織傷害被漏掉了。

physical treatment limited to the outer layer

The paint had peeled superficially, so the wood underneath was still dry.

那層油漆只是表面剝落，所以底下的木頭仍然是乾的。

superficially describing damage that stays near the surface

同義詞
  • on the surface

    close in meaning, though often used as a prepositional phrase rather than an adverb

  • externally

    more formal; often contrasts with internal effect

  • skin-deep

    usually an adjective phrase, but it similarly stresses shallow physical depth

反義詞
  • deeply

    affecting far below the surface

  • internally

    affecting the inside rather than the outside

  • throughout

    shows that the effect reaches all layers or all parts

文法句型

verb + superficially

superficially + cut / burned / damaged

用法筆記

This sense is literal and physical, often used with wounds, burns, scratches, or damage to materials. Unlike senses 1 and 2, it does not describe ideas or impressions; it describes limited effect on an outer layer.