immune
immune — adjective
1. having protection inside your body against a specific illness, so that germs or
having protection inside your body against a specific illness, so that germs or viruses cannot successfully attack you and make you sick
After having chickenpox as a child, 小明 became immune to the disease permanently.
be immune to + specific disease
小美 received a vaccine that made her immune to the flu last winter.
vaccine + make + person + immune to
The doctor explained that some people are naturally immune to certain viruses.
志強 had to prove he was immune to hepatitis before starting at the hospital.
- resistant
broader term — includes non-biological resistance (e.g. resistant to change)
- protected
focuses on the external action that gives safety, not the body's internal defence
- invulnerable
stronger and more formal; suggests complete and permanent immunity
- susceptible
the direct opposite — lacking protection and likely to catch the disease
- vulnerable
weaker protection or no defence at all
文法句型
be immune to [disease]
become immune to [disease]
make + object + immune to [disease]
用法筆記
Common in medical and health discussions. The related noun 'immunity' appears in phrases such as 'build up immunity' and 'herd immunity.' This sense is almost always followed by 'to' rather than 'from.'
常見錯誤
2. not disturbed or influenced by something that would normally upset or affect mos
not disturbed or influenced by something that would normally upset or affect most people — such as criticism, insults, pressure, or emotional appeals
After years of public speaking, 阿傑 became immune to the audience's critical comments.
become immune to + criticism
小華 seemed immune to the sadness that affected everyone else after the news.
The manager was immune to the complaints and continued with her original plan.
國強 had heard so many jokes about his accent that he was now immune to them.
- unaffected
neutral and factual; less figurative than 'immune'
- impervious
more formal and emphatic; suggests total impenetrability
- hardened
implies that repeated experience made the person numb (often negative)
- sensitive
easily affected or upset by the same type of behaviour or emotion
- vulnerable
open to emotional harm or influence
文法句型
be immune to [behaviour/emotion]
become immune to [behaviour/emotion]
seem immune to [behaviour/emotion]
用法筆記
Often describes someone who has become desensitised through repeated exposure. Frequently used with 'to' followed by abstract nouns such as criticism, pressure, flattery, insults, or emotional appeals.
常見錯誤
3. specially protected so that the usual rules, punishments, legal actions, or nega
specially protected so that the usual rules, punishments, legal actions, or negative consequences that apply to other people do not apply to you
Diplomats are immune from prosecution in the country where they serve.
be immune from + prosecution (legal exemption)
大明 believed his wealth made him immune to the strict rules of the school.
As a minor, the boy was immune from the death penalty under the new law.
雅婷 learned that diplomats' families are also immune from local criminal charges.
- exempt
the closest synonym — specifically means excused from a rule or obligation
- protected
broader; can include physical safety, not just legal exemption
- immune from
the full phrasal form used in legal writing to distinguish it from sense 1
- subject to
opposite — must obey the rules or face the consequences
- liable
legally responsible and therefore not exempt from punishment
文法句型
be immune from [punishment]
be immune from [prosecution]
be immune from [consequences]
用法筆記
Typically used in legal, political, or institutional contexts. The preposition 'from' is preferred for this sense, though informal usage sometimes uses 'to.' Frequently appears in constructions such as 'immune from prosecution' and 'immune from liability.'