tone-deaf
/ˌtəʊn ˈdef/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌtəʊn ˈdef/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtōn-ˌdef How to pronounce tone-deaf (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tone-deaf — 形容詞
1. A tone-deaf person has difficulty telling one musical note from another and cann
音痴的
無法分辨音高或唱準音的
A tone-deaf person has difficulty telling one musical note from another and cannot sing a melody at the right pitch.
Theo called himself tone-deaf after failing to hear the difference between two piano notes.
Theo 在聽不出兩個鋼琴音的差異後，稱自己是音痴。
tone-deaf + can't tell the difference between notes
Karim remained tone-deaf after months of practice, unable to sing in key with the choir.
Karim 練習了幾個月後仍然是音痴，無法跟合唱團唱在同樣的音調上。
remain + tone-deaf (persistent condition)
A tone-deaf listener may enjoy a song's rhythm without noticing the wrong notes.
音痴的聽眾可能喜歡歌曲的節奏，卻沒注意到那些走調的音。
The vocal coach gently told Femi that he was not tone-deaf, just unpracticed.
聲樂教練委婉地告訴 Femi 說他不是音痴，只是缺乏練習。
Jiwoo loved to sing in the shower although her family teased her for being tone-deaf.
Jiwoo 喜歡在洗澡時唱歌，儘管家人都嘲笑她是音痴。
- unmusical
broader term for lacking musical ability; more formal and less specific than tone-deaf
- pitch-deaf
rarer synonym emphasising inability to discriminate pitch; more technical
- musical
having natural ability in music or a good ear for pitch
文法句型
be + tone-deaf
tone-deaf + noun
用法筆記
Usually used in predicative position ("He is tone-deaf") but also common attributively before nouns such as "singer" or "listener." The term describes a perceptual inability, not a physical hearing loss.
常見錯誤
2. Used to describe a remark, action, or decision that shows a person does not noti
白目的
無法察覺他人感受或場合需求的
Used to describe a remark, action, or decision that shows a person does not notice what other people are feeling or what a situation requires, making it seem inappropriate or unkind.
The minister's tone-deaf comments about job losses angered workers who had just been laid off.
部長關於失業問題的白目發言，惹怒了剛被資遣的工人。
tone-deaf + comments (attributive use for remarks)
Scheduling a luxury party after announcing pay cuts was a tone-deaf decision that hurt morale.
在宣布減薪後舉辦豪華派對，是個打擊士氣的白目決定。
tone-deaf + decision (attributive use for actions)
Ava saw the hurt look on her friend's face and realised her joke was tone-deaf.
Ava 看到朋友臉上受傷的表情，才意識到自己的笑話很白目。
Critics called the movie's portrayal of poverty tone-deaf and out of touch with reality.
評論家稱這部電影對貧窮的描寫既白目又脫離現實。
The mayor defended his tone-deaf remark, but the public had already turned on him.
市長為他白目的言論辯解，但公眾早已對他反感。
- insensitive
broader term; can describe intentional or unintentional disregard, while tone-deaf implies unintentional cluelessness
- oblivious
focuses on not noticing the situation; less negative in connotation
- tactless
describes specifically what is said/done rather than the person's state of awareness
- perceptive
quick to notice and understand what a situation calls for
- sensitive
aware of and responsive to other people's feelings
文法句型
tone-deaf + noun
be + tone-deaf
用法筆記
Very common in attributive position before nouns like "remark," "comment," "decision," or "speech." Widely used in news and political commentary. The figurative meaning is distinct from its literal musical sense — the term criticises a failure of social awareness, not an ear for pitch.