vermin
/ˈvɜːmɪn/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɚmɪn] /ˈvɜːrmɪn/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɚmɪn] /ˈvər-mən How to pronounce vermin (audio)/ (ame, mw)
vermin — 名詞
1. small wild animals, birds, or insects that cause damage by destroying food, crop
害蟲；害獸
對作物、財物或人畜有害的小動物或昆蟲
small wild animals, birds, or insects that cause damage by destroying food, crops, or property, or that spread disease — examples include rats, mice, cockroaches, lice, and fleas
Rats and cockroaches are common vermin that spread disease in crowded cities.
老鼠和蟑螂是常見的害蟲，會在擁擠的城市中傳播疾病。
vermin spread disease — subject + verb collocation
The landlord hired an exterminator to rid the apartment building of vermin.
房東雇了除蟲公司來清除公寓大樓裡的害蟲。
In the old kitchen, Yara found vermin living behind the stove and under the sink.
在老舊的廚房裡，Yara 發現爐子後方和水槽底下有害蟲出沒。
Farmers consider rats and mice to be vermin because they destroy stored grain.
農民把老鼠和田鼠視為害蟲，因為牠們會破壞儲存的穀物。
Felix set traps around the basement after noticing signs of vermin such as droppings.
Felix 在地下室四周設置了陷阱，因為他注意到有糞便等害蟲出沒的跡象。
- pests
broader in meaning; covers any annoying organism, including insects and weeds; less emotionally charged than vermin
- rodents
much narrower — only covers rats, mice, and similar gnawing mammals, not insects
- parasites
focuses on organisms that live on or inside another creature, rather than general crop/property destroyers
- beneficial insects
insects that help rather than harm crops or human health, e.g. bees and ladybirds
文法句型
vermin + plural verb
a type of vermin / a species of vermin
用法筆記
Vermin is an uncountable plural noun — you cannot say 'a vermin'. Instead use 'a species of vermin', 'a type of vermin', or the specific animal's name.
常見錯誤
2. a strongly offensive word used to describe a person or group that the speaker co
敗類
形容邪惡或有害社會的人，具強烈侮辱意味
a strongly offensive word used to describe a person or group that the speaker considers dangerous, dishonest, or morally worthless — comparable to calling someone 'scum' or 'filth'; dehumanising and rare in polite speech
During the heated debate, the candidate called his opponents vermin and refused to apologise.
在激烈的辯論中，那位候選人稱對手為敗類，而且拒絕道歉。
call someone vermin — derogatory usage pattern
Imani's grandmother taught her that referring to anyone as vermin was cruel and wrong.
Imani 的祖母教導她，把任何人稱為敗類是殘酷且錯誤的。
referring to someone as vermin — offensive register
The newspaper article described the gang members as vermin, sparking criticism from readers.
那篇報紙文章將幫派分子描述為敗類，引發了讀者的批評。
In the novel, the dictator calls the refugees vermin moments before ordering their arrest.
在小說中，獨裁者在下令逮捕難民的前一刻稱他們為敗類。
Calling people vermin is not just rude — it can be a form of hate speech.
稱他人為敗類不僅無禮——它還可能是一種仇恨言論。
- scum
similar level of offensiveness; more common in everyday insults; implies moral filth rather than physical disgust
- lowlife
informal and insulting but less dehumanising; refers to a person with low moral standards
- filth
also dehumanising; compares people to dirt or garbage; similar register and offensiveness
- decent people
neutral opposite; refers to ordinary, morally good individuals
- upstanding citizens
positive phrase; describes people who are respected and law-abiding
文法句型
call/describe/dismiss [someone] as vermin
用法筆記
This sense is strongly dehumanising and is widely considered hate speech when directed at real people or groups. It is included here so that learners can recognise the word in context, not for active use. The primary context where learners will encounter it is historical writing, political rhetoric, or fiction.