volatile
/ˈvɒlətaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvɑːlətl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvä-lə-tᵊl especially British -ˌtī(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)
volatile — 形容詞
- volatilepositive
- more volatilecomparative
- most volatilesuperlative
1. describes a situation or condition that can change suddenly and often for the wo
不穩定；動盪
情況、市場等容易突然惡化的
describes a situation or condition that can change suddenly and often for the worse, making it hard to predict what will happen next.
The political climate grew volatile after the prime minister's unexpected resignation last Friday.
總理上週五意外辭職後，該國的政治情勢變得動盪不安。
be/become/remain + volatile describing political change
Coffee prices have been highly volatile this season because of severe drought in Brazil.
由於巴西嚴重乾旱，咖啡價格本季一直非常不穩定。
highly + volatile modifying market price
The ceasefire between the two armies stayed volatile, with small clashes reported every week.
兩軍之間的停火協議仍然很不穩定，每週都有小規模衝突發生。
Foreign investors avoid countries with volatile currencies that lose value overnight.
外國投資者避開那些貨幣不穩定的國家，因為這些貨幣可能一夜之間大幅貶值。
The team's performance was volatile all season, swinging from brilliant wins to heavy losses.
該球隊整個賽季的表現起伏不定，有時大勝，有時慘敗。
- unstable
broader — works for structures and situations, not only sudden-direction change
- unpredictable
focuses on the inability to forecast, not necessarily on risk of getting worse
- turbulent
stronger, suggesting active disturbance or conflict
- stable
steady and unlikely to change
- predictable
easy to know what will happen next
文法句型
volatile + noun
be/become/remain + volatile
用法筆記
Subject is usually a situation, market, relationship, or political condition — not a person. For people with unpredictable moods, use sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. describes a person who changes moods very quickly and unexpectedly, often becomi
反覆無常
人情緒容易突然變壞的
describes a person who changes moods very quickly and unexpectedly, often becoming angry or upset over small things.
After long night shifts, Javier becomes volatile and may snap at colleagues for no reason.
Javier 值完長夜班後就會變得情緒不穩，可能無緣無故對同事發脾氣。
be/become + volatile describing a person's mood
The lead singer's volatile personality worried the tour manager, who never knew if she would perform or walk off stage.
那位主唱情緒反覆無常的個性令巡演經紀人十分擔憂，因為他永遠不知道她會登台表演還是直接罷唱離場。
volatile + noun: volatile personality / volatile temper
A volatile child might laugh one moment and scream with anger the next.
一個情緒多變的孩子可能前一秒還大笑，下一秒就生氣尖叫。
Priya avoided discussing politics with her uncle, whose volatile temper flared up at small disagreements.
Priya 避免和叔叔討論政治，因為他脾氣暴躁，動不動就為小事發火。
The ward nurses were trained to handle volatile patients with patience and calm reassurance.
病房護理人員接受過訓練，能以耐心和平靜的態度安撫情緒不穩的病人。
- even-tempered
stays calm and does not get angry easily
- stable
emotionally steady and predictable
文法句型
volatile + noun
be + volatile
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense describes a person or their mood directly. Common with nouns like temper, personality, nature. Not typically used for day-to-day tiredness — the mood changes are extreme and frequent.
常見錯誤
3. describes a liquid or solid that turns into a gas easily at normal temperatures.
易揮發
液體或固體容易變成氣體的
describes a liquid or solid that turns into a gas easily at normal temperatures.
Acetone is a volatile solvent that dries within seconds when painted onto a surface.
丙酮是一種易揮發的溶劑，塗在表面後幾秒鐘內就會變乾。
volatile + noun: volatile solvent / volatile liquid
Dr. Okonkwo explained why volatile substances like rubbing alcohol evaporate far faster than water does.
Okonkwo 博士解釋了為什麼像外用酒精這類易揮發的物質蒸發得比水快得多。
Volatile chemicals must stay in sealed containers to prevent dangerous fumes from escaping.
揮發性化學品必須存放在密封容器中，以防止危險氣體逸出。
Gasoline is highly volatile — a puddle on the driveway disappears in hot weather.
汽油揮發性很高——高溫天氣下車道上的一灘汽油很快就會消失。
- evaporative
more specific to the process of turning into vapour
- vapourisable
technical synonym for able to become vapour
- stable
chemically stable, does not evaporate easily
- nonvolatile
the direct opposite in chemistry
文法句型
volatile + noun
be + volatile
用法筆記
Primarily used in scientific or technical writing. Often appears in phrases like 'volatile organic compounds' (VOCs) or paired with 'liquid', 'solvent', 'substance'.
常見錯誤
volatile — 名詞
1. a chemical substance that changes easily from a liquid or solid state into a gas
揮發性物質
在低溫下容易氣化的化學物質
a chemical substance that changes easily from a liquid or solid state into a gas at relatively low temperatures.
The paint factory was fined for releasing volatile organic compounds into the air.
該油漆工廠因將揮發性有機化合物排放到空氣中而遭到罰款。
volatile organic compound (VOC) — the most common noun phrase
Certain volatiles in cleaning products evaporate into the air and can cause breathing problems.
某些清潔產品中的揮發性物質會蒸發到空氣中，可能導致呼吸問題。
plural 'volatiles' + evaporate (vaporization context)
New regulations require furniture makers to reduce the volatile released by their glues and varnishes.
新的法規要求家具製造商減少其黏合劑和亮光漆所釋放的揮發性物質。
- nonvolatile
a substance that does not easily turn into gas
文法句型
volatile + noun
volatile organic compound
用法筆記
Most often used in the plural form 'volatiles' (e.g., 'petroleum volatiles') or in the fixed phrase 'volatile organic compounds' (VOCs). Singular use is rarer and usually technical.