unsustainable

/ˌʌnsəˈsteɪnəbl/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌnsəstˈenəbəl] /ˌʌnsəˈsteɪnəbl/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌnsəstˈenəbəl] /ˌən-sə-ˈstā-nə-bəl How to pronounce unsustainable (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unsustainable — 形容詞

  • unsustainablepositive
  • more unsustainablecomparative
  • most unsustainablesuperlative

1. An unsustainable situation, level, or rate is one that cannot carry on as it is

1.形容詞B2
釋義

無法持續

無法以相同方式繼續

An unsustainable situation, level, or rate is one that cannot carry on as it is because it depends on something that will eventually run out or will create serious problems.

例句

The country's national debt reached an unsustainable level after a decade of heavy foreign borrowing.

該國的國債在經歷十年大舉對外借貸後，達到無法持續的水準。

unsustainable + noun (debt level)

Jin warned his managers that the current spending on marketing was unsustainable and had to be cut.

Jin 警告他的經理們，目前的行銷支出無法持續，必須刪減。

be + unsustainable (predicative with that-clause)

同義詞
  • unworkable

    suggests a plan or system that fails in practice rather than running out of resources

  • untenable

    stronger tone, often describes an argument or position that cannot be defended

  • unmanageable

    focuses on something too large or complex to control, not necessarily running out

反義詞
  • sustainable

    the direct opposite — able to continue at the same level over time

  • viable

    capable of working successfully in practice

  • manageable

    possible to deal with or control

文法句型

be + unsustainable

become/prove + unsustainable

unsustainable + noun (debt / growth / rate / level / spending)

用法筆記

Frequently pairs with nouns related to finance, economics, or growth (debt, spending, rate, expansion). Often appears in political or business discussion about systems that cannot be maintained over time.

常見錯誤

❌The party was unsustainable because everyone left early.
✅The party could not continue because everyone left early.
💡'unsustainable' is not used for short, one-time events; it describes systems or situations that last over time.

2. An unsustainable practice or system damages the natural environment by consuming

2.形容詞B2
釋義

非永續的

消耗資源超過自然恢復能力

An unsustainable practice or system damages the natural environment by consuming natural resources — such as water, forests, or fuel — faster than those resources can naturally be restored.

例句

The farm's intensive use of chemical fertilisers proved unsustainable for the local soil and water quality.

該農場大量使用化學肥料，對當地的土壤與水質而言是無法永續的。

unsustainable + preposition 'for' (environmental context)

Eshe refused to buy fish caught by unsustainable fishing methods that damaged ocean habitats.

Eshe 拒絕購買以非永續捕撈方式所捕獲的魚，因為這種方式破壞海洋生態。

unsustainable + noun (fishing methods)

同義詞
  • non-renewable

    specifically about resources that cannot be replaced at all (e.g. fossil fuels)

  • environmentally damaging

    broader, focuses on harm rather than the rate of resource use

  • destructive

    stronger negative tone, implies active ruining rather than gradual depletion

反義詞
  • sustainable

    the direct opposite — not harming the environment

  • renewable

    specifically about resources that naturally replenish, such as sunlight or wind

  • eco-friendly

    designed to cause minimal harm to the environment

文法句型

be + unsustainable

become + unsustainable

unsustainable + noun (farming / fishing / practices / methods / energy use)

用法筆記

Typically describes systems of production or consumption that draw down natural resources. Subject is often a method, industry, or practice rather than a single item. Frequently appears in environmental policy and conservation contexts.

常見錯誤

❌This plastic bottle is unsustainable.
✅The way we produce and dispose of plastic bottles is unsustainable.
💡'unsustainable' describes a practice or system, not a single object.