nervous

nervous — adjective

1. feeling worried or uneasy about something that may happen, especially when you h

1.形容詞B1
釋義

feeling worried or uneasy about something that may happen, especially when you have to face an unfamiliar, difficult, or important situation — for example, being nervous before a job interview, an exam, or a speech.

例句

Élise felt nervous about her job interview at the hospital.

nervous + about + noun — common preposition pattern

Chidi was too nervous to eat dinner before his big exam the next morning.

too nervous to + infinitive — structure for degree

同義詞
  • anxious

    Stronger sense of worry than 'nervous'; often also implies a sense of dread about the outcome

  • tense

    Describes the physical feeling of tight muscles and inability to relax, not just mental worry

  • on edge

    Informal phrase meaning irritable and easily upset because of worry

反義詞
  • calm

    Relaxed and untroubled, the opposite of feeling nervous

  • relaxed

    Free from worry or tension

文法句型

nervous + about + noun/gerund

nervous + of + noun/gerund

nervous + infinitive

用法筆記

Used for temporary states triggered by a specific upcoming event. For a lasting personality trait, see sense 3. Often combines with 'about' (the cause), 'of' (the feared thing), or an infinitive clause ('nervous to speak').

常見錯誤

❌I am nervous from the exam.
✅I am nervous about the exam.
💡'About' introduces the cause, not 'from'.
❌She is very nervous, but she is not nervous about anything.
✅She feels uneasy and worried, but she is not nervous about anything in particular.
💡'Nervous' without 'about' suggests a general sense of worry; be clear if there is a specific trigger.

2. relating to the body's system of nerves, which carry signals between the brain a

2.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to the body's system of nerves, which carry signals between the brain and all the other parts of the body.

例句

The doctor explained that the pain was caused by a damaged nervous system.

nervous + system — most common medical collocation

Élise developed a rare nervous disorder that affects her sense of balance.

同義詞
  • neural

    More technical; used specifically for nerves or neurons rather than the whole system

  • nerve

    Used as a noun modifier ('nerve damage') in everyday language; less technical than 'nervous'

文法句型

nervous + system/damage/disorder/condition

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used before a noun (attributive position). It is a technical or medical term and is not used for everyday feelings of worry — that sense is covered by sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌I feel nervous system today.
✅I have a nervous system disorder.
💡'Nervous system' is a noun phrase, not an adjective describing how you feel.
❌She is very nervous — she has a problem with her nerves.
✅She has a nervous condition.
💡The medical sense requires 'nervous' before a noun like 'condition', 'disorder', or 'system'.

3. having a personality that makes you feel worried, frightened, or upset easily, e

3.形容詞B2
釋義

having a personality that makes you feel worried, frightened, or upset easily, even about small or ordinary things — for example, a person who jumps at loud noises or who worries about everyday situations that others find easy.

例句

Chidi is a nervous driver who grips the steering wheel tightly the whole trip.

nervous + driver/traveler/flyer — trait-as-modifier pattern

Their rescue dog is still very nervous around strangers despite years of training.

nervous around + noun — preposition for context of fear

同義詞
  • jumpy

    Informal; describes someone who reacts with a sudden startled movement to unexpected stimuli

  • skittish

    Typically used for animals, but can describe people who are easily frightened in social situations

  • high-strung

    Describes someone who is extremely sensitive and reacts strongly to stress; US English

反義詞
  • easygoing

    Relaxed and not easily worried or upset

  • placid

    Calm and undisturbed by what happens around them

文法句型

nervous + by nature

nervous + about + everything/anything

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes a person's (or animal's) general character, not a temporary state. Compare 'I am nervous about the exam' (sense 1, temporary) with 'He is a nervous person who worries about everything' (sense 3, character).

常見錯誤

❌My cat is always nervous, but today she is especially nervous about the visitors.' (ambiguous).
✅My cat is a nervous animal by nature, and today the visitors are making her even more nervous.
💡Clarify whether you mean a character trait (sense 3) or a temporary reaction (sense 1).