sinful

sinful — 形容詞

1. describing an action, thought, or way of living that breaks religious rules or a

1.形容詞B2
釋義

有罪的

違反宗教或道德規範的

describing an action, thought, or way of living that breaks religious rules or accepted moral standards about right and wrong.

例句

Hoa's grandmother taught her that telling a lie was a deeply sinful act.

Hoa 的祖母教導她，說謊是極為有罪的行為。

collocation: deeply sinful

The priest warned the congregation about the sinful nature of greed and envy.

牧師警告會眾，貪婪和嫉妒具有罪惡的本質。

pattern: the sinful nature of [something]

同義詞
  • wicked

    stronger and more judgmental; suggests deliberate evil rather than a lapse in moral standards

  • immoral

    broader and more secular; does not necessarily invoke religion

  • evil

    much stronger; implies fundamental malevolence or causing serious harm

反義詞
  • virtuous

    having high moral standards; the opposite of sinful behaviour

  • righteous

    morally right or justifiable, especially in a religious sense

文法句型

be sinful

a sinful + noun

用法筆記

Often found in religious or moral discussion; can be modified by degree adverbs such as deeply, truly, or utterly.

常見錯誤

❌She felt sinful for eating the cake.
✅She felt sinful for lying to her parents.
💡When referring to pleasure (especially food), sense 2 (INDULGENT) is more natural; sense 1 (IMMORAL) implies a moral or religious transgression.

2. describing something — especially a rich food, drink, or luxurious experience —

2.形容詞B2
釋義

放縱的

極享受但對健康有害的

describing something — especially a rich food, drink, or luxurious experience — that gives great pleasure but is likely to harm your health, damage your diet, or make you feel guilty afterward.

例句

Maeve ordered a sinful slice of triple-chocolate cake with extra cream.

Maeve 點了一片放縱的三層巧克力蛋糕，上頭還加了鮮奶油。

attributive: sinful + dessert noun

The hotel breakfast buffet offered sinful pastries filled with custard and nuts.

飯店的自助早餐提供了塞滿卡士達和堅果的放縱酥皮點心。

同義詞
  • decadent

    very close in meaning; emphasises richness and luxury more than guilt

  • indulgent

    highlights self-gratification without the religious overtones

  • naughty

    lighter, more playful tone; often used for a small treat rather than a full meal

反義詞
  • healthy

    good for your body; the opposite of a sinful indulgence

  • light

    low in calories or fat; contrasts with rich, heavy sinful foods

文法句型

a sinful + food/drink noun

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used in a playful or self-deprecating tone, not a serious moral judgment. The most common collocates are food nouns (cake, dessert, pasta, chocolate, brunch).

常見錯誤

❌He committed a sinful crime.
✅He ordered a sinful dessert.
💡Sense 2 only works with pleasurable things (food, drink, treats, experiences); use sense 1 for actual wrongdoing.