instability

instability — 名詞

1. a condition in which a system, situation, or set of conditions is not secure or

1.名詞B2
釋義

不穩定

可能突然變動而產生的不確定局面

a condition in which a system, situation, or set of conditions is not secure or steady and could change or fail at any time

例句

Political instability in the country made Ishaan's family think about moving away.

該國的政治不穩定讓 Ishaan 一家考慮搬到別處。

collocation: political instability

When the economy showed signs of instability, Quan decided to save more money.

當經濟出現不穩定的跡象時，Quan 決定存更多錢。

同義詞
  • uncertainty

    broader term — can refer to a mental state of doubt, not just an external condition prone to change

  • volatility

    more dramatic and intense; often implies rapid and extreme swings, especially in markets or prices

  • insecurity

    focuses on the feeling of being unsafe or at risk rather than on the condition itself

反義詞
  • stability

    the direct opposite — a steady and secure condition with no risk of sudden change

  • security

    emphasises safety and protection from threats or loss

文法句型

adjective + instability

instability + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly used with adjectives that describe the area affected by instability, such as political, economic, financial, or social. Frequent verb partners include cause, create, lead to, and face.

常見錯誤

❌The country is going through a period of economic unstability.
✅The country is going through a period of economic instability.
💡The correct spelling is in-sta-bil-i-ty; the prefix is in-, not un-.

2. a condition in which a person's moods, emotions, or behaviour changes rapidly an

2.名詞B2
釋義

情緒波動

情緒或行為突然變化的傾向

a condition in which a person's moods, emotions, or behaviour changes rapidly and unpredictably, making their mental state feel unsteady

例句

The doctor explained that Marco's mood instability needed careful treatment.

醫生解釋說，Marco 的情緒不穩定需要仔細治療。

collocation: mood instability

Sumin struggled with emotional instability after losing her job last year.

Sumin 在去年失業後，一直與情緒不穩定奮鬥。

同義詞
  • unpredictability

    focuses on the outcome (you cannot predict how the person will react) rather than the internal state

  • volatility

    more dramatic; suggests intense and explosive emotional swings

  • unsteadiness

    more physical in origin, but can also describe a shaky or fragile emotional state

反義詞
  • stability

    the direct opposite — a steady, balanced emotional state

  • balance

    emphasises emotional equilibrium and self-control

文法句型

adjective + instability

instability + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often modified by adjectives such as emotional, mental, mood, or psychological. Used in both clinical settings and everyday contexts to describe patterns of unpredictable emotional reactions.

常見錯誤

❌She has an instability of mood.
✅She has mood instability.
💡In natural English, the modifier comes before instability, not after it with the preposition of.