lumpen

lumpen — 形容詞

1. describes a person or group that others view as lacking intelligence and educati

1.形容詞C1
釋義

愚昧麻木的

形容無知且不求上進

describes a person or group that others view as lacking intelligence and education, and also having no wish to change their situation or learn anything new

例句

The Evening Standard described the factory workers as a lumpen mass unmoved by the new safety law.

《旗幟晚報》將這些工廠工人描述為一群愚昧麻木的群眾，對新的安全法規無動於衷。

collocation: lumpen mass / lumpen masses

Tamar refused to attend the training course, which her manager saw as a lumpen attitude.

Tamar 拒絕參加培訓課程，她的主管認為這是愚昧麻木的態度。

lumpen + attitude / lumpen + approach

同義詞
  • ignorant

    focuses only on lack of knowledge, not on unwillingness to improve

  • apathetic

    focuses on lack of interest but does not carry the same judgment about intelligence

  • coarse

    emphasises rough manners rather than the combination of ignorance and apathy

反義詞

文法句型

lumpen + noun

intensifier: rather lumpen / most lumpen

用法筆記

Often appears in political or social commentary. Can be offensive if aimed directly at a person because it combines judgments about intelligence with judgments about motivation.

常見錯誤

❌The workers were lumpen because they had no access to education.
✅The regime portrayed the workers as a lumpen class with no desire to learn.
💡'lumpen' describes an outsider's dismissive view, not a neutral fact about someone's circumstances.

2. describes an object, a piece of furniture, or a part of the body that is unattra

2.形容詞C1
釋義

笨重的

體積沉重且難以優雅移動

describes an object, a piece of furniture, or a part of the body that is unattractively large and heavy, making it difficult to move or handle gracefully

例句

Indra moved her lumpen suitcase up the stairs one slow step at a time.

Indra 拖著她笨重的行李箱一次一格慢慢走上樓梯。

lumpen + heavy object

The old wooden table was beautiful but lumpen, and the movers groaned under its weight.

那張舊木桌很漂亮但笨重，搬運工人抬得苦不堪言。

同義詞
  • bulky

    neutral term for something taking up space; lacks the disapproval of 'lumpen'

  • clumsy

    focuses on awkward movement rather than size and weight

  • ungainly

    similar judgment of awkwardness, often used for movement

  • ponderous

    emphasises slowness and weight; more formal

反義詞
  • sleek

    smooth and gracefully shaped

  • dainty

    small and delicate in appearance

文法句型

lumpen + noun

用法筆記

Always describes physical appearance or build. Never used to describe weight in a neutral or positive tone — the word always implies ugliness or inconvenience.

常見錯誤

❌The bag was lumpen because it was full of groceries.
✅The bag was lumpen and awkward to carry up the narrow stairs.
💡'lumpen' implies ungainly size or shape, not simply being full.

lumpen — 名詞