introspective
introspective — adjective
1. tending to direct your attention inward and examine your inner emotional and men
tending to direct your attention inward and examine your inner emotional and mental world rather than focus on events or people around you
Wen is so introspective that she writes in her diary for an hour every evening.
so + adjective + that-clause — cause-and-effect pattern
The therapist noticed that Ravi was deeply introspective and could name his emotions clearly.
notice + object + adjective complement
Beatriz's introspective poems explore her feelings about family and growing up.
After the long hike, Aiko sat alone and became quiet and introspective.
The novel's introspective main character spends most of the story thinking about his past.
- self-reflective
similar in meaning, often implies a deliberate practice of examining one's actions or beliefs
- contemplative
broader in scope — can describe thinking deeply about any subject, not only oneself
- pensive
more literary, suggests a gentle or slightly sad thoughtfulness rather than active examination
- meditative
suggests calm, focused inner attention, often with spiritual or mindful overtones
- outward-looking
describes someone who focuses on external events and other people rather than their own inner life
- unreflective
describes someone who does not tend to think about their own thoughts, feelings, or actions
文法句型
be + introspective
become/grow + introspective
find + object + introspective
用法筆記
Often used with verbs that show a change of state (become, grow, turn) to describe someone entering a reflective mood. Can also describe a lasting personality trait. Do not confuse with 'introverted' — introspective people may be sociable or shy; the focus is on inner attention, not social preference.