unearthly

IPA/ʌnˈɜːθli/
KK[ənˈɚθli]IPA/ʌnˈɜːrθli/

unearthly — 形容詞

  • unearthlypositive
  • more unearthlycomparative
  • most unearthlysuperlative

1. describes a time of day that is unreasonably early or late, causing inconvenienc

1.形容詞B2
釋義

不合宜的

指時間過早或過晚而令人不便

describes a time of day that is unreasonably early or late, causing inconvenience — for example, a meeting booked for five a.m. or a phone call that comes after midnight.

例句

Min had to catch a flight at the unearthly hour of four in the morning.

Min 必須在清晨四點這種不合宜的時間趕飛機。

collocation: unearthly hour

The landlord called Aylin at an unearthly hour to complain about the noise.

房東在三更半夜打電話給 Aylin 抱怨噪音。

常見搭配
  • unearthly hour
  • unearthly time
  • at an unearthly hour
同義詞
  • ungodly

    more informal and slightly stronger annoyance — 'an ungodly hour of the morning'

  • ridiculous

    broader in meaning; can apply to any unreasonable thing, not just time

反義詞

用法筆記

Almost always used with 'hour' or 'time' in the pattern 'at an unearthly hour/time'. Often appears in complaints about early-morning travel, late-night calls, or unreasonable scheduling.

常見錯誤

The meeting was at an unearthly time in the afternoon.
The meeting was at an unearthly hour in the morning.
'unearthly hour' typically describes very early morning (before 6 a.m.) or late night (after 11 p.m.), not an ordinary afternoon.
She has an unearthly beauty.' (when meaning she looks strange/eerie)
She has an unearthly beauty.' (only correct if meaning transcendent beauty)
Sense 1 is about time only; using it for appearance is a different sense.

2. having a quality that feels odd, mysterious, or supernatural, often making you u

2.形容詞B2
釋義

詭異的

怪異而令人不安,彷彿超自然

having a quality that feels odd, mysterious, or supernatural, often making you uneasy — like an eerie glow in an empty room or a sound that seems to come from nowhere.

例句

An unearthly glow filled the hallway, though no one could find the source.

一道詭異的光芒照亮了走廊,但沒有人找得到光源。

collocation: unearthly glow

Gabriel heard an unearthly howl coming from the forest behind the cabin.

Gabriel 聽到小屋後方的森林傳來一陣詭異的嚎叫聲。

常見搭配
  • unearthly glow
  • unearthly light
  • unearthly howl
  • unearthly silence
  • unearthly scream
  • unearthly quality
同義詞
  • eerie

    focuses more on the frightening aspect — 'an eerie silence'

  • uncanny

    suggests something strange because it is beyond what is normal — 'an uncanny resemblance'

  • supernatural

    more direct about a non-human or magical cause — 'supernatural powers'

  • otherworldly

    suggests something from another world or dimension — 'an otherworldly landscape'

反義詞
  • normal

    ordinary and expected

  • natural

    belonging to the observable world

用法筆記

Common with nouns of light, sound, and atmosphere (glow, light, howl, silence, stillness). Not used for ordinary strangeness — implies an almost supernatural quality.

常見錯誤

The joke was so bad, an unearthly silence followed.
The joke was so bad, an awkward silence followed.
'unearthly silence' suggests a mysterious or supernatural quiet, not just social awkwardness.

3. so beautiful, pure, or inspiring that it seems to belong to a world beyond ordin

3.形容詞C1
釋義

超凡的

超越凡俗、非人間的美或意境

so beautiful, pure, or inspiring that it seems to belong to a world beyond ordinary human experience — like a voice that feels heavenly or a landscape that makes you forget the everyday world.

例句

The soprano's voice had an unearthly beauty that moved the entire audience to tears.

那位女高音的歌聲有著超凡的美,讓全場觀眾感動落淚。

collocation: unearthly beauty

Devika spoke of the unearthly peace she felt during her meditation in the mountains.

Devika 談起她在山中冥想時感受到的那種超凡的寧靜。

常見搭配
  • unearthly beauty
  • unearthly peace
  • unearthly light
  • unearthly stillness
  • unearthly grace
同義詞
  • transcendent

    more formal, emphasizing going beyond ordinary limits — 'transcendent beauty'

  • ethereal

    suggests extreme delicacy and lightness, as if not of this world — 'ethereal music'

  • sublime

    of such excellence that it inspires awe — 'sublime scenery'

反義詞

用法筆記

Typically modifies abstract nouns such as 'beauty', 'peace', 'light', 'stillness', 'grace'. Unlike Sense 2, there is no frightening or uneasy feeling — the tone is reverent or awe-inspired. More common in literary and formal writing than in conversation.

常見錯誤

The haunted house had an unearthly atmosphere.' (when meaning scary)
The haunted house had an eerie atmosphere.
If you mean frightening, use Sense 2; Sense 3 is reserved for sublime, spiritual, or transcendent beauty.
慣用語

This phrase describes a time that is extremely early, often causing inconvenience or annoyance.

在很早的時候

Mia had to wake up at an unearthly hour for her flight.

Why did the meeting start at an unearthly hour on Saturday?

同根字

常見搭配

常用片語