feeble

IPA/ˈfiːbl/
KK[fˈibəl]IPA/ˈfiːbl/

feeble — 形容詞

  • feeblepositive
  • feeblercomparative
  • feeblestsuperlative

1. having very little physical strength or energy, often because of age, illness, o

1.形容詞B2
釋義

虛弱

身體缺乏力氣或精力，常因年老或生病

having very little physical strength or energy, often because of age, illness, or tiredness

例句

After three weeks in hospital, Iris felt too feeble to walk to the bathroom alone.

住院三週後，Iris 感到太過虛弱，無法獨自走到浴室。

predicative: feel too feeble + to-infinitive

The old dog's feeble legs could no longer carry him up the stairs.

老狗虛弱的雙腿再也無法帶牠爬上樓梯。

collocation: feeble legs

同義詞
  • weak

    the general term; feeble suggests a more extreme, pitiful kind of weakness

  • frail

    emphasises a thin, delicate build that is easily harmed

  • infirm

    formal; used almost always for elderly people in poor health

反義詞
  • strong

    having great physical power

  • vigorous

    full of energy and physical strength

用法筆記

Often describes elderly people, patients recovering from illness, or very young animals. The word carries a tone of sympathy.

常見錯誤

❌I felt feeble after the gym.
✅I felt weak after the gym.
💡Feeble describes extreme, lasting weakness, not normal tiredness after exercise.

2. not strong enough to achieve its purpose, to convince people, or to be taken ser

2.形容詞B2
釋義

無力

缺乏效果、說服力或權威的

not strong enough to achieve its purpose, to convince people, or to be taken seriously

例句

Rafael offered a feeble excuse about his dog eating the homework.

Rafael 給了一個蒼白無力的藉口，說他的狗把作業吃掉了。

collocation: feeble excuse

The comedian's feeble jokes made the audience shift in their seats.

喜劇演員無力的笑話讓觀眾在座位上坐立不安。

collocation: feeble jokes

同義詞
  • ineffective

    more neutral; feeblem adds a note of pity or disappointment

  • unconvincing

    used specifically when something fails to make people believe it

  • lame

    informal; used for excuses or jokes that are embarrassingly bad

反義詞

用法筆記

Commonly modifies nouns that name things expected to have force or quality — excuse, joke, attempt, argument, response. Distinguish from sense 1 (PHYSICALLY WEAK): this sense describes the quality of actions or communications, not bodily condition.

常見錯誤

❌His maths skills are feeble.
✅His maths skills are weak.
💡Feeble describes unconvincing or ineffective actions (excuses, arguments, attempts), not a person's ability level.