psychological

psychological — adjective

1. connected with the way people think, feel, and behave, rather than with their ph

1.形容詞B2
釋義

connected with the way people think, feel, and behave, rather than with their physical body

例句

After the accident, Christopher received psychological support to help him recover.

collocation: psychological support

The constant criticism created psychological pressure that affected Yuna's schoolwork.

同義詞
  • mental

    more general; can refer to intellect or cognitive function, while psychological often includes emotion and behaviour

  • emotional

    narrower — focuses on feelings rather than the full range of mental activity

  • cognitive

    formal; specifically about thinking, learning, and memory processes

反義詞
  • physical

    relating to the body rather than the mind

文法句型

psychological + noun

用法筆記

Often contrasts with physical, social, or financial aspects of a situation. Frequently modifies nouns like effect, impact, state, well-being, and health.

常見錯誤

❌She needs physical help, not psychological.
✅She needs emotional support, not medical treatment.
💡'psychological' is broader than 'emotional'; it covers all mental processes, not just feelings.

2. describing a physical symptom or condition whose real cause is emotional distres

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a physical symptom or condition whose real cause is emotional distress — for example, when worry or sadness produces headaches, stomach pain, or skin problems without a physical injury or infection

例句

The doctor said Rania's stomach pain was psychological rather than physical.

complement: be psychological

Abigail developed a psychological cough that appeared whenever she felt anxious.

modifier before a condition noun

同義詞
  • psychosomatic

    formal medical term; identical meaning but less common in everyday speech

  • stress-related

    less precise — emphasises stress as a cause, while psychological can also stem from sadness or anxiety

反義詞
  • organic

    medical term for symptoms with a clear physical cause

  • physical

    having a bodily origin rather than an emotional one

文法句型

psychological + noun (a physical condition)

be psychological (as complement)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (MENTAL STATE): sense 2 describes a physical body problem whose origin is emotional, not a general mental condition. Common in medical and therapeutic contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He has a psychological disease.
✅His symptoms are psychological.
💡'disease' usually refers to physical pathology; 'symptoms' or 'condition' are more natural with this sense.

3. describing a story, film, or novel that focuses on the hidden thoughts, fears, a

3.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a story, film, or novel that focuses on the hidden thoughts, fears, and motivations of the characters, especially how their minds drive the plot and influence each other

例句

The film is a psychological drama about two sisters who cannot escape their past.

pattern: psychological + genre noun

Élise enjoys reading psychological novels that explore why people make terrible choices.

同義詞
  • character-driven

    focuses on personality and relationships rather than the mind itself

  • psychoanalytic

    more specific; refers to the theories of Freud or analytical depth

文法句型

psychological + genre noun (thriller, drama, novel)

用法筆記

Commonly paired with genre labels: psychological thriller, psychological drama, psychological horror, psychological novel. Not used alone as a complement (❌ 'That movie is very psychological').

常見錯誤

❌That movie was very psychological.
✅That movie is a psychological thriller.
💡the adjective almost always appears before a genre noun, not as a standalone complement.

4. involving or belonging to the scientific study of how the human mind works, how

4.形容詞B1
釋義

involving or belonging to the scientific study of how the human mind works, how people learn, and how they behave

例句

The university offers both psychological research and practical training for therapists.

collocation: psychological research

Gita decided to pursue a career in psychological research after graduating from college.

同義詞
  • psychology-related

    more explanatory; useful when the connection to the academic field needs emphasis

文法句型

psychological + noun (research, theory, method)

用法筆記

Used in academic and professional contexts to describe methods, theories, or studies that belong to the field of psychology. Not used for informal, everyday observations about the mind (use sense 1 instead).

常見錯誤

❌I am studying psychological.
✅I am studying psychology.
💡the adjective form cannot replace the noun as the name of a subject or degree.