unfriendly

unfriendly — adjective

1. showing a cold or angry attitude toward others, without warmth or kindness

1.形容詞A2
釋義

showing a cold or angry attitude toward others, without warmth or kindness

例句

The woman at the counter gave Kabir an unfriendly stare when he asked for help.

collocation: unfriendly stare

Élise found her new classmates unfriendly and ate lunch alone all week.

pattern: find + object + unfriendly

同義詞
  • hostile

    stronger than unfriendly; suggests active opposition or aggression

  • cold

    focuses on emotional distance and lack of warmth rather than active anger

  • unsympathetic

    emphasizes a lack of concern for other people's feelings or problems

反義詞
  • friendly

    the direct opposite; warm and pleasant toward others

  • kind

    focuses on caring and helpful behavior

  • warm

    suggests genuine affection and openness

用法筆記

Commonly followed by 'to' or 'toward' to indicate the target of the behavior (e.g. 'unfriendly to visitors', 'unfriendly toward strangers').

常見錯誤

❌My boss was unfriendly with me this morning.
✅My boss was unfriendly to me this morning.
💡Use 'to' or 'toward', not 'with', to indicate the person affected.

2. said about a place, climate, or natural setting that is harsh and makes it diffi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

said about a place, climate, or natural setting that is harsh and makes it difficult for living things to survive or grow

例句

Nothing grows on the mountain's unfriendly slopes except a few hardy plants.

collocation: unfriendly slopes / terrain / soil

Rafael described the Arctic coast as an unfriendly place for any living creature.

unfriendly place for + [living thing]

同義詞
  • inhospitable

    the closest synonym; directly interchangeable in this sense

  • harsh

    broader in meaning but commonly used for severe climates and terrain

  • unfavorable

    less strong; suggests conditions that are not helpful rather than actively dangerous

反義詞
  • hospitable

    the direct opposite; describes a place that welcomes and supports life

  • welcoming

    more personal in tone, but used for environments that feel pleasant and safe

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used for physical environments (climate, terrain, region) and rarely for people. It is the opposite of 'hospitable' in the environmental sense.

常見錯誤

❌The hotel staff were unfriendly.' (using sense-2 meaning for people)
✅The hotel staff were unfriendly to us.' (use sense 1 'hostile' meaning for people)
💡Sense 2 describes places and environments, not people.