stuffy

IPA/ˈstʌfi/
KK[stˈʌfi]IPA/ˈstʌfi/

stuffy — 形容詞

  • stuffypositive
  • stuffiercomparative
  • stuffiestsuperlative

1. A room, building, or enclosed space that feels warm and uncomfortable because ai

1.形容詞B1
釋義

悶熱；不通風

空氣不流通、悶熱難受的

A room, building, or enclosed space that feels warm and uncomfortable because air is not able to flow in and out freely.

例句

The hotel room felt so stuffy that Manuela opened both windows wide.

飯店的房間感覺太悶熱了，Manuela 只好把兩扇窗戶都大開。

so + adjective + that-clause showing result

After three hours in the stuffy conference room, Selim stepped outside for fresh air.

在悶不通風的會議室待了三小時後，Selim 走到外面去呼吸新鮮空氣。

attributive use: stuffy + noun (conference room)

同義詞
  • airless

    more neutral — simply means no air movement, not necessarily warm

  • stifling

    stronger — so hot and airless that breathing is difficult

  • close

    British English, less common; describes heavy, unpleasant air in a room

反義詞
  • airy

    having plenty of fresh air moving through

  • well-ventilated

    designed to let fresh air circulate freely

文法句型

stuffy + noun (attributive)

feel + stuffy

too + stuffy + to-infinitive

用法筆記

This sense almost always describes a place — typically a room, vehicle, or indoor space — not a person. The feeling of discomfort comes from stale air, not just heat.

常見錯誤

❌I ate too much and feel stuffy.
✅I ate too much and feel stuffed.
💡'Stuffy' describes air quality, not being full of food.
❌The stuffy weather made me sweat.
✅The humid weather made me sweat.
💡'Stuffy' describes indoor spaces, not outdoor weather.

2. Describes a person, rule, event, or atmosphere that is so serious, formal, and o

2.形容詞B2
釋義

古板；守舊

過於嚴肅正式、乏味守舊的

Describes a person, rule, event, or atmosphere that is so serious, formal, and old-fashioned that people feel uncomfortable rather than relaxed or welcome.

例句

Asher found the bank manager too stuffy and switched to a more casual credit union.

Asher 覺得那位銀行經理太古板了，於是轉去一家比較隨和的信用合作社。

find + noun + too stuffy

The dinner party was so stuffy that Saira wished she had stayed home in her pyjamas.

那場晚宴太正式乏味了，Saira 恨不得自己穿著睡衣待在家裡。

so + stuffy + that-clause (criticism)

同義詞
  • old-fashioned

    broader — can be neutral or positive; 'stuffy' is always negative

  • stodgy

    similar but suggests heavy, slow, and dull rather than formal

  • prim

    fussy about correct behaviour, especially in a self-satisfied way

反義詞
  • relaxed

    easy-going and informal in atmosphere

  • casual

    not requiring formal dress or behaviour

  • lively

    full of energy and interesting activity

文法句型

stuffy + noun (people, rules, meeting, atmosphere)

too + stuffy

find + noun + stuffy

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (WITHOUT AIR): this sense applies to people, rules, and social atmospheres. If you call a person 'stuffy', you mean they are too formal and old-fashioned — not that they have a blocked nose.

常見錯誤

❌My boss is very stuffy about deadlines — he never gives extensions.
✅My boss is very strict about deadlines.
💡'Stuffy' means formal/old-fashioned, not strict.
❌She wore a stuffy black dress to the funeral.
✅She wore a formal black dress to the funeral.
💡'Stuffy' carries criticism; 'formal' is neutral.

3. Describes a condition where nasal congestion from a cold, flu, or allergies make

3.形容詞A2
釋義

鼻塞的

因感冒或過敏而鼻子不通的

Describes a condition where nasal congestion from a cold, flu, or allergies makes breathing through the nose difficult.

例句

Eleni could not taste her soup properly because her nose was so stuffy from the cold.

Eleni 因為感冒鼻子塞住了，喝湯時根本嘗不出味道。

so stuffy + from + cause (cold)

Paul bought a steam inhaler to relieve his stuffy nose during allergy season, after days of sneezing and poor sleep.

Paul 因為連續幾天打噴嚏又睡不好，於是買了一台蒸氣吸入器來緩解過敏季節時的鼻塞問題。

attributive: stuffy nose + [purpose]

同義詞
  • blocked

    more general — can describe any passage that is not clear

  • congested

    slightly more formal, often used in medical contexts

  • bunged up

    informal, mainly British English

反義詞
  • clear

    able to breathe freely through the nose

文法句型

stuffy nose

nose + feels + stuffy

have + a stuffy nose

用法筆記

Only the nose is described as 'stuffy' in this sense — not the ears, throat, or chest. For a blocked ear, use 'clogged' or 'blocked'. For a blocked chest, use 'congested'.

常見錯誤

❌A coin got stuck in his nose and made it stuffy.
✅A coin got stuck in his nose and blocked it.
💡'Stuffy' describes congestion from illness, not a physical object.
❌My ears feel stuffy on the airplane.
✅My ears feel blocked on the airplane.
💡Only the nose is described as 'stuffy'.