wilful
wilful — 形容詞
- wilfulpositive
- more wilfulcomparative
- most wilfulsuperlative
1. describes a harmful action done on purpose, knowing it breaks rules or moral sta
故意的；任性
明知不對仍故意做壞事，或固執不聽勸的
describes a harmful action done on purpose, knowing it breaks rules or moral standards; or describes a stubborn person who insists on having their own way despite others' advice.
The driver was charged with wilful damage after crashing his car into a shop window.
那名司機故意把車撞進商店櫥窗，被控以故意毀損罪。
collocation: wilful damage
The construction firm was found guilty of wilful neglect over missing safety rails.
該營造公司因缺少安全護欄而被認定構成故意疏忽罪。
collocation: wilful neglect (legal context)
Femi is a wilful child who throws a tantrum when his parents say no.
Femi 是個任性的孩子，父母不答應他就大發脾氣。
Omar showed wilful ignorance by refusing to read the warning label before using the medicine.
Omar 故意忽略用藥說明，拒絕閱讀藥品上的警告標示。
Yan's wilful refusal to do homework led to a meeting with the head teacher.
Yan 故意不做作業的任性行為導致校長約談。
- deliberate
Neutral — does not carry moral judgment; 'wilful' adds blame or disapproval
- intentional
Neutral register; 'wilful' is more formal and implies the person knew it was wrong
- stubborn
More informal and person-focused; lacks the 'deliberate bad action' meaning
- headstrong
Emphasises impulsive determination rather than calculated wrongdoing
- accidental
Describes events that happen without intent
- compliant
Describes a person who follows rules and listens to others
用法筆記
Common in British legal and formal contexts. The American spelling is 'willful'. When applied to a person, it often carries a disapproving tone about their stubbornness.