sensitive
sensitive — 形容詞
1. A person who is sensitive takes even mild criticism or teasing very hard — for e
容易難過的
容易因他人言行而難過或生氣
A person who is sensitive takes even mild criticism or teasing very hard — for example, if a friend jokes about your hairstyle, you might stay upset for the rest of the day.
Renata is very sensitive and cries easily when people criticize her artwork.
Renata 非常敏感，別人批評她的畫作時，她很容易就哭了。
sensitive + about + noun phrase expressing what triggers the feeling
Kabir avoided mentioning the breakup because his brother was still sensitive about it.
Kabir 避免提起分手的事，因為他哥哥對此仍然很敏感。
sensitive about + pronoun referring to a past event
The teacher handled the topic carefully, knowing some teenagers are sensitive about their appearance.
老師小心處理這個話題，因為她知道有些青少年很在意自己的外表。
Making jokes about a colleague's accent can hurt them if they are sensitive about it.
拿同事的口音開玩笑可能會傷害他們，如果他們在那方面特別敏感的話。
- touchy
more informal; implies quickness to anger rather than sadness
- thin-skinned
informal; emphasizes how easily criticism penetrates
- vulnerable
broader — can refer to physical or emotional weakness
- thick-skinned
informal; opposite of easily upset
- tough
implies resilience rather than insensitivity
文法句型
sensitive + about + noun/pronoun
sensitive + to + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used in progressive structures ('He is being sensitive') when the reaction is happening right now.
常見錯誤
2. A sensitive subject, document, or situation requires careful handling because it
敏感的
需要小心處理以免冒犯他人或造成問題
A sensitive subject, document, or situation requires careful handling because it could embarrass people, offend them, or cause serious problems if mishandled — for example, discussing a colleague's salary is a sensitive topic at work.
The company's financial troubles are a sensitive matter that only senior staff may discuss.
公司的財務問題是敏感事項，只有高層主管才能討論。
sensitive matter — collocation for confidential or delicate business topics
The folder contains sensitive information about national security and is kept under lock.
這個資料夾包含與國家安全有關的敏感資訊，必須鎖好保管。
sensitive information — common collocation for classified data
Adina knew religion was a sensitive topic at family dinners, so she changed the subject.
Adina 知道宗教在家庭聚餐時是個敏感話題，所以她轉移了話題。
Hiring decisions are politically sensitive because they affect people's careers and morale.
人事決策在政治上很敏感，因為會影響員工的職涯和士氣。
- delicate
softer tone; suggests the need for tact rather than risk of offence
- controversial
stronger — implies public disagreement rather than personal embarrassment
- touchy
informal; often used for personal subjects people avoid
- safe
a safe topic causes no discomfort
- uncontroversial
no risk of upsetting anyone
文法句型
sensitive + noun (subject/issue/topic/matter)
politically/environmentally + sensitive
用法筆記
Frequently paired with adverbs such as 'politically', 'environmentally', 'culturally', or 'racially' to specify the kind of risk involved.
常見錯誤
3. Being sensitive to other people means you notice and care about their emotions,
體貼的
能體察他人情緒和需求並關懷回應
Being sensitive to other people means you notice and care about their emotions, needs, or problems — for example, a sensitive nurse can tell when a patient is anxious even before the patient speaks.
A good kindergarten teacher is sensitive to the emotional needs of each child.
好的幼兒園老師對於每個孩子的情感需求都很敏銳。
sensitive to + the emotional needs of + someone
Élise is a sensitive friend who always notices when something is bothering you.
Élise 是個體貼的朋友，她總能察覺到你什麼時候有心事。
Leo's sensitive handling of his colleague's grief earned him everyone's respect.
Leo 體貼地處理同事的悲傷，他因此贏得了大家的尊敬。
The novel is praised for its sensitive portrayal of life in a refugee camp.
這本小說因為細膩描寫難民營的生活而廣受好評。
- empathetic
more formal; emphasizes emotional understanding
- perceptive
focuses on the noticing aspect rather than the caring aspect
- thoughtful
broader — includes considerate actions, not just awareness
- insensitive
lacking awareness or concern for others' feelings
- oblivious
unaware; not necessarily uncaring
文法句型
sensitive + to + noun (needs/feelings/wishes)
sensitive + about + noun
用法筆記
This is a positive quality — unlike sense 1 (EASILY UPSET), which is a vulnerability, sense 3 describes empathy and attentiveness as strengths.
常見錯誤
4. If a part of your body or a living thing is sensitive, it reacts strongly to phy
過敏的
身體對溫度、光線、觸摸等反應強烈
If a part of your body or a living thing is sensitive, it reacts strongly to physical things such as touch, light, heat, or chemicals — for example, sensitive skin turns red or itchy when it touches rough fabric.
Rachid's skin is so sensitive that even mild soap gives him a rash.
Rachid 的皮膚非常敏感，連溫和的肥皂都會讓他起疹子。
sensitive skin — very common collocation
A baby's gums are sensitive to hot liquids during the teething period.
嬰兒在長牙期間，牙齦對熱的食物特別敏感。
sensitive to + noun phrase (physical trigger)
The mimosa plant's leaves are sensitive to touch and fold up immediately.
含羞草的葉子對觸摸很敏感，一碰到就會立刻合起來。
Minh's eyes are sensitive to bright sunlight, so she wears tinted lenses outdoors.
Minh 的眼睛對強烈的陽光很敏感，所以她出門時都戴著有色眼鏡。
文法句型
sensitive + to + noun (light/heat/cold/touch/dust)
sensitive + noun (skin/teeth/eyes)
用法筆記
For allergic reactions, 'allergic to' is more specific than 'sensitive to'. This sense covers any strong physical response, not just allergies.
常見錯誤
5. Sensitive equipment or instruments can detect, measure, or record extremely smal
靈敏的
儀器能偵測或記錄極微小的變化
Sensitive equipment or instruments can detect, measure, or record extremely small changes that ordinary devices would miss — for instance, a sensitive microphone picks up footsteps from three floors away.
The laboratory uses sensitive scales that can measure a single grain of salt.
實驗室使用的是高靈敏度的天秤，可以測量到一顆鹽粒的重量。
sensitive scales — instrument capable of detecting tiny differences
Sensitive motion sensors in the museum detect even the slightest vibration from visitors.
博物館內裝設了靈敏的動作感測器，連遊客最輕微的震動都偵測得到。
sensitive motion sensors — specific instrument type
This microphone is sensitive enough to capture a whisper from across the room.
這個麥克風非常靈敏，可以收到房間另一頭的耳語。
The telescope's sensitive camera revealed stars too faint for ordinary observation.
望遠鏡的靈敏攝影機捕捉到肉眼無法觀測的暗淡星光。
- insensitive
unable to detect small changes
- coarse
only able to detect large differences
文法句型
sensitive + instrument noun (scales/sensor/microphone/camera)
sensitive enough + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Often combined with 'highly' for emphasis ('highly sensitive equipment'). Not used for people — only for instruments, tools, and detection systems.
常見錯誤
sensitive — 名詞
1. A sensitive is a person who claims to have special mental powers, such as the ab
靈媒；通靈者
自稱能與亡靈溝通或有特異功能的人
A sensitive is a person who claims to have special mental powers, such as the ability to communicate with spirits of dead people or to see future events.
The village elders consulted a sensitive who claimed to hear messages from beyond the grave.
村裡的長老諮詢了一位自稱能聽見來自陰間訊息的靈媒。
consult a sensitive — collocation for seeking paranormal guidance
Samir visited a sensitive in the hope of making contact with his late grandfather.
Samir 拜訪了一位靈媒，希望能與他已故的祖父取得聯繫。
The Bristol Gazette ran a story about a sensitive who helped police locate a missing hiker in Dartmoor.
「Bristol 公報」報導了一位靈媒協助警方在達特穆爾找到一名失蹤登山客的故事。
Mrs. Okonkwo visited a sensitive every month, though her husband remained skeptical about the visions.
Okonkwo 太太每個月都去拜訪一位靈媒，雖然她先生對那些幻象仍抱持懷疑。
- medium
the most common modern term for someone who channels spirits
- psychic
broader; includes those who read minds or predict the future
- clairvoyant
specifically claims to see future events
文法句型
the + sensitive
a + sensitive
用法筆記
This sense is falling out of everyday use; 'medium' or 'psychic' are more common in modern English.
2. A sensitive is someone whose feelings are easily hurt or who reacts emotionally
易感者
情緒反應特別強烈或容易受傷的人
A sensitive is someone whose feelings are easily hurt or who reacts emotionally more than most people — often used in psychology or self-help contexts to describe a personality trait.
The support group was created for sensitives who struggle with harsh criticism at work.
這個支持團體是為那些在工作上難以承受嚴厲批評的敏感人士創立的。
sensitives — plural noun referring to a type of person
As a sensitive, Tamar feels overwhelmed by loud noises and crowded shopping malls.
Tamar 是個敏感的人，嘈雜的噪音和擁擠的購物中心都讓她感到不堪負荷。
The school made a quiet corner for sensitives who need breaks from the cafeteria noise.
學校設置了一個安靜的角落，讓敏感的孩子在餐廳吵鬧時能有地方休息。
As a sensitive, Christopher finds that harsh criticism leaves him drained for an entire day.
Christopher 是個敏感的人，嚴厲的批評會讓他整整一天都提不起勁。
文法句型
the + sensitive
a + sensitive
sensitives + plural verb
用法筆記
Sometimes found in the phrase 'highly sensitive person' (HSP), a term used in psychology for people with heightened sensory and emotional responsiveness.
sensitive — 字尾
1. This suffix forms adjectives from nouns, describing something that responds chem
對…敏感
對特定物質產生反應
This suffix forms adjectives from nouns, describing something that responds chemically or physically when a certain substance is present — for instance, 'lactose-sensitive' means your body reacts when you consume milk.
Many adults are lactose-sensitive and choose plant-based milk instead of dairy.
許多成人有乳糖敏感問題，選擇植物奶而非乳製品。
lactose-sensitive — reaction to a food substance
The doctor told Wren she is gluten-sensitive and should avoid wheat products.
醫生診斷 Wren 有麩質敏感問題，建議她避免含小麥的食品。
The label warns that this sunscreen is for sun-sensitive skin and should be reapplied often.
標籤上警告這款防曬乳是針對陽光敏感肌膚設計的，需要經常補擦。
Some infants are dairy-sensitive and need special formula instead of regular milk.
有些嬰兒對乳製品敏感，需要喝特殊配方奶粉而非一般牛奶。
文法句型
noun + -sensitive
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'allergic' — '-sensitive' usually means a mild to moderate reaction, not a life-threatening allergy.
2. Added to a noun to mean 'easily influenced or changed by a particular thing' — f
易受影響
易受外部因素影響
Added to a noun to mean 'easily influenced or changed by a particular thing' — for example, a price-sensitive customer shops around for the cheapest deal before buying anything.
The stock market is news-sensitive and often drops sharply on bad economic reports.
股市對新聞很敏感，遇到負面的經濟報告時往往會大幅下跌。
news-sensitive — market behaviour influenced by current events
Mei is pollen-sensitive, so she keeps her windows shut tight before spring bloom begins.
Mei 對花粉敏感，所以她在春天花期開始前就會把窗戶關緊。
Cost-sensitive shoppers compare every price tag before putting anything in their basket.
對價格敏感的消費者會在購買前比較每一個標價。
The investment fund is risk-sensitive and avoids stocks that fluctuate wildly each quarter.
這檔投資基金對風險敏感，會避開每季波動劇烈的股票。
文法句型
noun + -sensitive
用法筆記
More common in technical or business writing than in everyday conversation. 'Price-sensitive' is the most frequent compound in this sense.