disadvantage
disadvantage — 名詞
1. An aspect or circumstance that creates difficulty and makes it harder for someon
缺點；不利
造成問題、阻礙成功的特點或情況
An aspect or circumstance that creates difficulty and makes it harder for someone or something to succeed compared with others.
One big disadvantage of wooden furniture is that it scratches easily.
木製家具的一大缺點是很容易刮傷。
pattern: disadvantage of + noun phrase
Leila weighed the advantages and disadvantages before choosing a university.
Leila 在選擇大學之前仔細權衡了優缺點。
common phrase: advantages and disadvantages
Living far from the station has the disadvantage of longer travel times each day.
住得離車站遠的缺點是每天通勤時間更長。
Poor internet access was a serious disadvantage for students in rural villages.
網路連線不佳對農村學生來說是一個嚴重的劣勢。
The system's main disadvantage is that it takes too long to process payments.
該系統的主要缺點是處理付款所需時間過長。
文法句型
disadvantage + of + noun phrase / gerund
常見錯誤
2. A state in which someone has less chance of success or benefit than other people
劣勢；不利
比他人更難成功的處境
A state in which someone has less chance of success or benefit than other people in the same situation.
Children who do not have books at home start school at a disadvantage.
家裡沒有書籍的孩子在入學時就已處於劣勢。
phrase: at a disadvantage
Theo's lack of work experience put him at a disadvantage during the hiring process.
Theo 缺乏工作經驗，這讓他在招聘過程中處於劣勢。
phrase: put [someone] at a disadvantage
Small farms operate at a disadvantage compared to large agricultural companies.
小型農場與大型農業公司相比處於不利地位。
Not speaking the local language left Hana at a clear disadvantage in meetings.
不會說當地語言讓 Hana 在會議中處於明顯劣勢。
- advantage
The opposite state — being in a better position to succeed.
文法句型
at a disadvantage
at a disadvantage to + noun phrase
put / place + noun phrase + at a disadvantage
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'at a disadvantage' or 'at a disadvantage to someone'. It describes a relative position, not a permanent quality of a person or thing.
常見錯誤
disadvantage — 動詞
1. To make it harder for a person, group, or activity to succeed by putting them in
妨礙；使不利
使處於較不利的位置
To make it harder for a person, group, or activity to succeed by putting them in a less favorable position than others — for example, when a policy or system creates uneven access to resources.
Critics say the new policy disadvantages older workers looking for jobs.
批評者認為新政策對年長求職者不利。
transitive: disadvantage + noun phrase
Students from low-income families are disadvantaged by the exam fee system.
來自低收入家庭的學生因考試收費制度而處於不利地位。
passive: be disadvantaged by
The lack of street lighting disadvantages people who walk home at night.
缺乏路燈照明對夜間步行回家的人不利。
Rural communities are often disadvantaged when it comes to access to hospitals.
農村社區在就醫方面往往處於劣勢。
- benefit
The opposite — to help or improve someone's chances of success.
文法句型
disadvantage + noun phrase
be disadvantaged by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically used in formal or semi-formal contexts about systems, policies, or structural conditions. Not used for everyday personal inconveniences — 'the rain disadvantaged our picnic' would sound unnatural.