unsteady
unsteady — 形容詞
1. moving or shaking slightly so that a person or object may fall or lose its posit
搖晃的
身體或物體搖擺、可能跌倒的
moving or shaking slightly so that a person or object may fall or lose its position
The old wooden ladder felt unsteady under Nicholas's weight.
那架舊木梯在 Nicholas 踩上去時感覺搖搖晃晃。
collocation: feel unsteady / look unsteady / seem unsteady
After the long boat ride, Sayaka's legs were still unsteady on dry land.
坐了很長時間的船之後，Sayaka 在陸地上走路時雙腿仍然搖晃不穩。
Bao held the unsteady tray with both hands to keep the glasses from falling.
Bao 用雙手穩住那個搖晃的托盤，以免杯子摔落。
The patient took a few unsteady steps before the nurse helped her sit down.
病人搖搖晃晃地走了幾步，然後護士扶她坐了下來。
Hugo's voice was unsteady as he described what he had witnessed.
Hugo 描述他所目睹的情景時，聲音顫抖不穩。
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with body parts (legs, hands, voice, steps) or objects that can wobble (ladder, chair, table).
常見錯誤
2. not fixed or reliable in level, amount, or direction; likely to vary and therefo
不穩定的
容易變動、令人擔憂的
not fixed or reliable in level, amount, or direction; likely to vary and therefore cause worry
The country's unsteady economy worried many small business owners.
該國不穩定的經濟讓許多小企業老闆感到憂心。
collocation: unsteady economy / unsteady market / unsteady growth
Talia found it difficult to plan a wedding during those unsteady months at work.
Talia 發現在那段工作不穩定的時期很難籌劃婚禮。
Relations between the two nations remained unsteady after the border dispute.
邊界爭議之後，兩國之間的關係仍然不穩定。
Noor described the peace talks as unsteady because neither side would compromise.
Noor 認為和談很不穩定，因為雙方都不願意妥協。
An unsteady flow of tourists made it hard for the hotel to keep staff year-round.
觀光客人數不穩定，讓這家飯店一年到頭都很難留住員工。
- unstable
stronger sense of potential crisis or breakdown
- uncertain
focuses on the lack of predictability rather than variation itself
- fluctuating
suggests regular up-and-down changes
用法筆記
Used primarily of abstract nouns: economies, relationships, markets, political situations. Not used for physical objects.
常見錯誤
3. not even or uniform in speed, rhythm, or pattern; moving in a way that lacks a c
不勻的
速度、節奏或形態不規則的
not even or uniform in speed, rhythm, or pattern; moving in a way that lacks a consistent beat or tempo
Chiara could hear the unsteady rhythm of her own heartbeat in the silent room.
Chiara 在寂靜的房間裡可以聽見自己不規則的心跳聲。
collocation: unsteady rhythm / unsteady beat / unsteady pulse
The old car's engine made an unsteady sound, then stopped completely.
那輛舊車的引擎發出不規律的聲音，然後就完全停了。
Élise tried to write quickly but her unsteady handwriting made the letters hard to read.
Élise 想快點寫，但她歪歪扭扭的字跡讓人很難辨認。
The machine produced an unsteady flow of glue, sometimes too much and sometimes too little.
機器擠出的膠水流量不均勻，有時候太多，有時候太少。
用法筆記
Distinguish from Sense 1 (PHYSICAL INSTABILITY): this sense describes unevenness in a pattern or output, not a risk of falling. Distinguish from Sense 2 (LIKELY TO CHANGE): this sense is about irregular patterns in movement or operation, not about abstract uncertainty.
unsteady — 動詞
1. to cause someone or something to lose physical balance or become less stable in
使搖晃
使人或物失去平衡
to cause someone or something to lose physical balance or become less stable in position
The sudden jolt unsteadied the cyclist and nearly knocked him off the road.
突如其來的震動讓自行車騎士失去平衡，差點摔到路邊。
transitive: [event] unsteadies [person]
Jason tried to lift the box, but its uneven weight unsteadied him.
Jason 試著抬起箱子，但箱子重量不平均讓他站不穩。
A strong wave unsteadied the small fishing boat for a moment.
一道大浪讓那艘小漁船搖晃了好一會兒。
The news unsteadied Isabela so much that she sat down on the nearest chair.
那則消息讓 Isabela 心神不寧，她只好在最近的椅子上坐了下來。
- unbalance
more common; can refer to both physical and mental stability
- destabilise
more formal, often used for systems or structures
- shake
broader meaning, can be physical or emotional
- steady
to make stable or balanced
文法句型
unsteady + object
用法筆記
This verb is rare in everyday conversation. It is more common in literary or descriptive writing. The figurative sense (emotionally unsettling someone) exists but is very uncommon.