fickle

IPA/ˈfɪkl/
KK[fˈɪkəl]IPA/ˈfɪkl/

fickle — 形容詞

  • ficklepositive
  • ficklercomparative
  • ficklestsuperlative

1. A person described as fickle changes their likes, loyalties, or opinions too qui

1.形容詞B2
釋義

善變

指人容易改變想法或喜好，讓人難以信賴

A person described as fickle changes their likes, loyalties, or opinions too quickly and for unclear reasons, making it hard for others to know how they really feel or to rely on them.

例句

Pim was such a fickle supporter that he cheered for whichever team was winning.

Pim 是個善變的球迷，哪隊領先就為哪隊加油。

be a fickle [noun] — describes a person's unreliable loyalty

Daniel's fickle attitude made it hard for his colleagues to trust him on long projects.

Daniel 反覆無常的態度讓同事在長期專案中很難信任他。

fickle [noun] — attributive use before an abstract noun

同義詞
  • capricious

    Stronger emphasis on sudden, impulsive changes driven by whim rather than a pattern of unreliability

  • changeable

    Neutral tone — describes ability or tendency to change without the disapproving judgement that fickle carries

  • inconstant

    More formal and literary; emphasises lack of steadiness in affection or loyalty

反義詞
  • loyal

    Describes someone who stays committed to people or causes over time

  • steadfast

    Stronger and more formal than loyal; suggests unwavering resolve even under pressure

文法句型

a fickle [noun]

be fickle

be fickle about [something]

find [someone] fickle

用法筆記

This sense applies to people and their characteristics, not to external conditions. Frequently used before a noun that names a relationship (friend, fan, customer, lover, supporter). Carries a disapproving tone — it suggests unreliability or shallowness, not merely change.

常見錯誤

❌She is fickle to change her mind so often.
✅She changes her mind so often because she is fickle.
💡Fickle is an adjective describing a person's nature; do not follow it with a to-infinitive as if it expressed willingness or readiness.
❌He has a fickle mood today.
✅He has a fickle nature
💡you never know how he will feel tomorrow.' — Fickle describes a lasting character trait, not a temporary state.

2. Fickle conditions — such as weather, wind, or markets — shift sharply and withou

2.形容詞B2
釋義

多變

指天氣、市場等外在條件突然無預警變化

Fickle conditions — such as weather, wind, or markets — shift sharply and without warning, so that people cannot predict what will happen next or rely on things staying the same.

例句

Elena cancelled the picnic after the weather forecast warned of fickle winds all afternoon.

Elena 看到氣象預報說整個下午風向多變，便取消了野餐。

fickle winds — typical collocation for changeable weather

The fickle spring weather brought warm sunshine one minute and hailstones the next.

多變的春日天氣前一分钟出太陽，下一分钟就下冰雹。

fickle spring weather — attributive use modifying a time-and-weather noun

同義詞
  • unpredictable

    Broader and more neutral; can apply to people, events, or conditions without the disapproving tone

  • erratic

    Emphasises irregular, hard-to-follow patterns of change

  • volatile

    Stronger — suggests sudden, large, and potentially dangerous changes, especially in markets or politics

反義詞
  • stable

    Describes conditions that stay the same over time

  • steady

    Suggests reliable, gradual consistency without sudden shifts

文法句型

fickle [noun: weather, wind, market, conditions]

be fickle

用法筆記

This sense describes external forces or situations, not people or their feelings. Common noun collocates include weather, wind, climate, market, economy, fortune, and conditions. Unlike sense 1, there is no moral judgement — the focus is on unpredictability rather than unreliability.

常見錯誤

❌The weather is fickle today.
✅The weather here is fickle
💡it can change completely within an hour.' — Fickle describes a general characteristic, not a one-day observation.