willful
/ˈwɪlfl/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɪlfəl] /ˈwɪlfl/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɪlfəl] /ˈwil-fəl How to pronounce willful (audio)/ (ame, mw)
willful — 形容詞
- willfulpositive
- more willfulcomparative
- most willfulsuperlative
1. done on purpose even though the person knows the action breaks a law, rule, or d
明知故犯的
明知違反規定卻故意為之
done on purpose even though the person knows the action breaks a law, rule, or duty
Mia was fired for willful misconduct after deleting company files on purpose.
Mia 因故意刪除公司檔案的不當行為而被解僱。
collocation: willful misconduct (legal context)
The judge described Mr. Faisal's willful tax evasion as a serious crime.
法官認定 Faisal 先生明知故犯地逃稅，已構成嚴重犯罪。
collocation: willful tax evasion
The court ordered the Okonkwo family to pay a fine for their son's willful damage to the school's computer lab.
法院判決 Okonkwo 家須為兒子明知故犯地破壞學校電腦教室支付罰款。
Sayaka admitted that skipping the safety check was a willful choice, not an oversight.
Sayaka 承認跳過安全檢查是明知故犯的選擇，而非一時疏忽。
The court found the factory guilty of willful neglect: the fire alarms had been off for over a year.
法院判定該工廠明知故犯地疏於管理：消防警報器已被關閉超過一年。
- deliberate
less formal; does not carry the same legal weight
- intentional
broader in scope; not always negative
- knowing
emphasizes awareness of wrongdoing rather than the act itself
用法筆記
Frequently used in legal and formal contexts (willful misconduct, willful violation, willful neglect). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense emphasizes knowingly breaking a specific rule, law, or duty.
常見錯誤
2. done deliberately and on purpose, rather than happening by accident or by mistak
蓄意的
非出於意外或過失的刻意行為
done deliberately and on purpose, rather than happening by accident or by mistake
The referee decided the handball was willful and showed Bilal a red card.
裁判認定這次手球是蓄意的，並給了 Bilal 一張紅牌。
willful + sports decision for determining intent
Heloísa's willful silence during the meeting made her disagreement clear to everyone.
Heloísa 在會議上的蓄意沉默讓每個人都清楚她的不滿。
Inspector Deng asked whether the locked fire door was a careless oversight or a willful act.
鄧督察問，那道被鎖上的防火門是出於疏忽，還是蓄意行為。
Against the guide's warning, Halima made the willful choice to leave the group and walk home alone.
Halima 不顧導遊的警告，蓄意脫隊，獨自步行回家。
The investigator could not prove the nurse had shared patient records as a willful act rather than a careless slip.
調查人員無法證明該護士分享病人紀錄是蓄意行為，而非一時疏忽。
- deliberate
the most common synonym; neutral in tone
- intentional
the direct opposite of 'accidental'
- purposeful
emphasizes having a clear aim or reason
- conscious
stresses that the person was aware of what they were doing
用法筆記
More neutral than sense 1; does not imply that a rule or law was broken. Used for any action done on purpose, whether harmful or not.
常見錯誤
3. determined to get your own way and unwilling to change your mind, with no concer
任性的
不顧他人意願、堅持己見
determined to get your own way and unwilling to change your mind, with no concern for the wishes or feelings of others
As a child, Nadia was willful and often refused to eat anything but plain rice.
Nadia 小時候很任性，常常除了白飯什麼都不肯吃。
willful describing a child's stubborn personality
Amira's willful grandmother insisted on living alone even after she turned ninety.
Amira 那位任性的祖母堅持獨居，即使已經九十歲了。
The willful puppy ignored every command and kept digging up the flower beds.
那隻任性的小狗不理會任何指令，不停地在花圃裡挖洞。
Jisoo described her teenage sister as willful but also fiercely independent.
Jisoo 形容她十幾歲的妹妹雖然任性，但也非常獨立。
Hugo's willful refusal to change the bridge design delayed construction by six months and doubled the budget.
Hugo 任性地拒絕修改橋梁設計，導致施工延誤半年且預算加倍。
- stubborn
the most common everyday synonym
- headstrong
similar meaning; often used for young people
- obstinate
more formal; implies unreasonable refusal to change
- self-willed
emphasizes putting your own wishes above others'
- accommodating
willing to adjust to others' needs
用法筆記
Often describes children, pets, or people acting stubbornly. The subject is usually a person or animal whose personality is being described. More personal and emotional than sense 1 or sense 2.