jealousy

jealousy — noun

1. the bitter or unhappy feeling that arises when you see someone else enjoying a s

1.名詞B1
釋義

the bitter or unhappy feeling that arises when you see someone else enjoying a success, a possession, or a relationship that you wish were yours

例句

When Tuan saw his colleague receive a promotion, he felt a sharp pang of jealousy.

jealousy + of + [someone's success]

Amira tried to hide her jealousy when her best friend started dating someone new.

同義詞
  • envy

    more neutral, focuses on desire for what another has rather than resentment

  • covetousness

    formal and often disapproving, focuses on a strong desire for material possessions

  • resentment

    focuses on the anger and bitterness, less emphasis on desire

  • bitterness

    highlights the unhappy or sour feeling rather than the wanting

反義詞
  • contentment

    a feeling of satisfaction with what one already has

  • generosity

    a willingness to share joy in others' successes rather than resent them

文法句型

jealousy + of/over + noun phrase

jealousy + between + plural noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly followed by of or over to specify the target of the feeling, or by between when comparing two people or groups. The adjective form jealous (be jealous of) is far more common in everyday speech than the noun jealousy.

常見錯誤

❌I have a jealousy of his car.
✅I am jealous of his car.
💡The noun jealousy is rarely used with 'have a [noun] of'; use the adjective 'be jealous of' for everyday statements.
❌She made a jealousy of my success.
✅She was jealous of my success.
💡Jealousy does not combine with 'make a [noun] of'; use the adjective form with 'be.'

2. the quality of guarding or protecting something with passionate care and attenti

2.名詞
釋義

the quality of guarding or protecting something with passionate care and attentiveness — an older or literary usage of the word

例句

The old queen's jealousy in guarding her family's honor was known to everyone at court.

archaic: jealousy in + [gerund]

In his diary, the painter wrote of his jealousy in protecting his creative vision.

同義詞
  • zeal

    the modern equivalent; passionate dedication without the negative connotation

  • vigilance

    watchful care, though without the strong emotional component

  • watchfulness

    close attention to protect something, more neutral in tone

反義詞
  • neglect

    failure to care for or protect something properly

  • indifference

    lack of interest or concern about something

文法句型

jealousy + in + gerund phrase

用法筆記

Archaic usage now restricted to literary or historical contexts. This sense preserves the original meaning of the word, which was closer to 'zeal' or 'passionate concern' for something one feels responsible for. Do not use this sense in modern conversation — it will be misunderstood as the common 'envy' sense.

常見錯誤

❌My boss has a jealousy about our work quality.' (intending the archaic sense).
✅My boss is very protective of our work quality.
💡The archaic sense of jealousy is not used in modern business contexts; use 'protective of' or 'zealous about' instead.