light-hearted

light-hearted — adjective

1. cheerful and relaxed, not taking things too seriously; describes a person's happ

1.形容詞B2
釋義

cheerful and relaxed, not taking things too seriously; describes a person's happy, unworried mood, or something that is meant to entertain rather than deal with serious topics.

例句

Élise gave a light-hearted laugh when her puppy chased its own tail in circles.

light-hearted + laugh — describing someone's reaction

The film is a light-hearted comedy about a family who wins a trip to Japan.

light-hearted + comedy — describing a movie's tone

同義詞
  • cheerful

    more general; describes showing happiness through behavior or expression. A person can be cheerful while dealing with serious tasks, but light-hearted adds the idea of not taking things too seriously.

  • carefree

    emphasizes freedom from worry or responsibility. In some contexts carefree can suggest a lack of concern (e.g. 'a carefree attitude to deadlines'), while light-hearted is always positive and warm.

  • playful

    focuses on the intention to tease or have fun. Often describes actions or words rather than a person's general character. Light-hearted is broader, covering both mood and tone.

  • easygoing

    describes a person who is relaxed and not easily upset or annoyed. Light-hearted adds a sense of cheerfulness and humor that easygoing does not necessarily include.

反義詞
  • serious

    opposite of 'not taking things too seriously'; describes someone who thinks carefully about things or something that deals with important topics.

  • gloomy

    describes a sad or depressing mood, the opposite of the cheerful feeling of light-hearted.

  • heavy

    describes a topic or atmosphere that feels serious, difficult, or upsetting (e.g. 'a heavy conversation').

文法句型

light-hearted + noun (comedy, conversation, laugh, tone)

be / seem / remain / keep + light-hearted

用法筆記

Light-hearted works for both people and things. When describing a person, it suggests a natural cheerfulness that helps them stay calm about small problems. When describing a thing such as a film, book, or conversation, it means the tone is meant to be fun and not serious. This word has a positive, warm feeling — it never suggests that someone is avoiding responsibility.

常見錯誤

❌He was light-hearted about losing his job.
✅He tried to stay light-hearted about the mix-up with the booking.
💡Light-hearted fits small, temporary problems. Major life events call for stronger or more serious words.
❌The manager gave a light-hearted speech about the company's financial losses.
✅The manager gave a light-hearted speech at the office holiday party.
💡Avoid using light-hearted for topics that are genuinely serious or upsetting.