sensitise
sensitise — 動詞
- sensitisepresent simple I / you / we / they
- sensitises3rd person singular
- sensitising-ing form
- sensitisedpast simple
1. to cause a person, animal, or biological system to become more reactive to a par
使敏感
讓身體或情緒對某物反應變強
to cause a person, animal, or biological system to become more reactive to a particular substance, physical condition, or type of experience than it was before
Repeated falls on the ice sensitised the horse to any slippery surface beneath its feet.
在冰上反覆摔倒後，那匹馬對腳下任何光滑的表面都變得敏感。
active: sensitise + [organism] + to + [stimulus]
Years of harsh chemicals sensitised Dario's skin, so even mild soap now burned his hands.
多年接觸強效化學物質使 Dario 的皮膚變得敏感，連溫和的肥皂都會讓他的雙手感到灼痛。
sensitise + body part + to [substance]
The rescue dog's hearing was sensitised by years of listening for sounds under the rubble.
那隻搜救犬的聽力因為多年聆聽瓦礫下的聲音而變得敏銳。
Shanti's therapist said the trauma might have sensitised her nervous system to loud noises.
Shanti 的治療師說，那件創傷可能使她的神經系統對大聲響變得敏感。
The fungus exposure sensitised the laboratory mice, and they reacted with a strong allergic response.
接觸黴菌使實驗室老鼠產生敏感反應，並出現強烈的過敏症狀。
- hypersensitise
stronger — implies an extreme or excessive reaction; more technical
- render susceptible
more formal and clinical; used mainly in medical reports
- prime
broader — can mean preparing a system to respond, not only to a negative stimulus
- desensitise
the opposite process — making someone or something less reactive to a stimulus
文法句型
sensitise + person/body/animal + to + stimulus
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice (be/get sensitised to something). This sense frequently appears in medical, veterinary, and psychological writing about how the body or mind becomes more responsive after repeated contact with a trigger.
常見錯誤
2. to help a person or group become more aware of a problem, difficult situation, o
喚醒意識
讓人認識到問題或困境的嚴重性
to help a person or group become more aware of a problem, difficult situation, or injustice so that they understand its seriousness and their own connection to it
A short film about ocean pollution sensitised children to the damage from plastic waste.
一部關於海洋污染的短片，讓孩子們意識到塑膠垃圾造成的破壞。
sensitise + [person] + to + [issue]
Community leaders held meetings to sensitise residents to the needs of elderly neighbours living alone.
社區領袖召開會議，讓居民們更了解獨居老年鄰居的需求。
Volunteering at a refugee centre sensitised Ife to the daily struggles of asylum seekers.
在難民中心擔任志工的經歷，讓 Ife 體會到尋求庇護者每天面臨的困境。
The campaign aims to sensitise young people to how social media affects their mental health.
這項活動旨在喚醒年輕人對於社群媒體如何影響心理健康的意識。
Asher had never considered food waste until a school project sensitised him to it.
Asher 以前從未想過食物浪費的問題，直到學校的專題活動讓他正視了這個現象。
- raise awareness among
more common and less formal; 'sensitise' suggests a deeper emotional shift
- educate about
broader — focuses on knowledge; 'sensitise' emphasises empathy and understanding
- alert to
sudden or urgent; 'sensitise' is gradual and process-oriented
- desensitise
opposite process — making someone less emotionally affected by a troubling issue
- numb to
informal; suggests emotional indifference rather than lack of awareness
文法句型
sensitise + person/group + to + issue/problem
用法筆記
The object of the preposition 'to' is usually an abstract noun naming a problem, injustice, or need (e.g., issues, difficulties, challenges, conditions). The subject is typically a campaign, programme, experience, or educational effort. This sense is rarely used for simple factual information — it implies a shift in the person's emotional understanding, not just their knowledge.