weakness
/ˈwiːknəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwiːknəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwēk-nəs/ (ame, mw)
weakness — 名詞
- weaknesssingular
- weaknessesplural
1. how lacking in power, force, or ability a person, group, or thing is, especially
虛弱；薄弱
身體或力量不足的狀態
how lacking in power, force, or ability a person, group, or thing is, especially when this prevents them from performing well or reaching their goals.
After her illness, Meera felt weakness in her legs that made stairs hard to climb.
生病後，Meera 感覺雙腿無力，爬樓梯變得困難。
uncountable: weakness in [body part]
The weakness of the company's financial position worried its long-term investors.
該公司財務狀況的薄弱讓長期投資人感到擔憂。
uncountable: weakness of [organisation]
Omar admitted the weakness of his argument when the committee pressed for details.
Omar 在委員會追問細節時，承認了自己的論點不夠有力。
The team's weakness in defence became obvious during the second half of the match.
該隊在防守上的薄弱在下半場比賽中暴露無遺。
Sivan could barely lift the suitcase due to physical weakness after the long flight.
Sivan 在長途飛行後身體虛弱，幾乎提不起行李箱。
- frailty
suggests physical or moral fragility; more literary or medical in tone
- powerlessness
focuses on lack of influence or ability to act, not physical strength
- fragility
describes something that breaks or fails easily under stress
文法句型
weakness + in [body part / area]
weakness + of [entity]
用法筆記
Typically uncountable when referring to a general lack of strength or power. Can be countable when listing specific types of weakness (economic weaknesses, strategic weaknesses).
常見錯誤
2. a specific area where a person, plan, system, or object performs poorly or falls
缺點；弱點
人或事物不佳或不完善之處
a specific area where a person, plan, system, or object performs poorly or falls short of what is expected, making the whole thing less successful.
The main weakness of the proposal was that it had no clear budget plan.
這份提案的主要缺點是沒有明確的預算計畫。
countable: weakness of [plan]
Feng's biggest weakness as a manager was not listening to junior staff.
Feng 當主管最大的缺點是不願意傾聽下屬意見。
The building's structural weakness was only discovered during the earthquake safety inspection.
這棟建築的結構缺陷是在地震安全檢查時才發現的。
One weakness of the camera is its battery, which dies after only two hours.
這台相機的缺點之一是電池續航力僅有兩小時。
Hoa knew that procrastination was a real weakness and tried hard to overcome it.
Hoa 知道拖拖拉拉是自己的缺點，並努力改進。
- flaw
more neutral and technical; often used for objects, designs, or arguments
- defect
suggests a more serious or permanent fault, typically in a manufactured object
- shortcoming
focuses on a failure to meet a standard; common for personal or organisational qualities
文法句型
weakness + in [plan/system/person]
weakness + of [entity]
用法筆記
Countable — often used with 'a' and followed by 'of' (the weakness of the plan) or 'in' (a weakness in the system). The plural weaknesses is common when listing multiple faults.
常見錯誤
3. an unusually strong liking for a particular thing, often one that is not healthy
癖好；嗜好
對某事物難以抗拒的喜好
an unusually strong liking for a particular thing, often one that is not healthy, sensible, or good for you; also used for the thing itself that someone cannot resist.
Ignacio has a weakness for chocolate cake and always orders dessert when we eat out.
Ignacio 對巧克力蛋糕毫無抵抗力，每次外出吃飯都一定會點。
have a weakness for [food]
Tyler cannot resist expensive running shoes — that is his one financial weakness.
Tyler 對昂貴的跑鞋沒有抵抗力——那是他金錢上的一個弱點。
Tendai admitted that staying up late watching movies was a real weakness on work nights.
Tendai 坦承上班日晚上熬夜看電影是他的壞習慣。
Allison's weakness for vintage handbags means she never passes a charity shop without going in.
Allison 對復古手提包的癖好讓她經過慈善商店絕不錯過。
Stefan's weakness for spicy food means he always orders the hottest dish on the menu.
Stefan 對辛辣食物的嗜好讓他總是點菜單上最辣的料理。
文法句型
have a weakness + for + [thing liked]
用法筆記
Always in the pattern 'have a weakness for' — the article 'a' is required. The thing liked can be a type of food, drink, activity, or object of desire. This sense is informal and describes a mild inability to resist something enjoyable.