Borderline Meaning(定義、用法、例句與發音)

borderline

adjective

快速理解

What does "Borderline" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Borderline"?

形容處於邊界或極限狀態,或指勉強合格、接近不合格的情況。

  1. 1

    邊界上的

    EN: on or near a border or dividing line.

    翻譯: 位於邊界或分界線上的。

  2. 2

    勉強合格的

    EN: barely acceptable in quality or legality; on the edge of a standard.

    翻譯: 品質或合法性勉強達標;處於標準邊緣的。

  3. 3

    接近極限的

    EN: very close to an extreme state, condition, or category.

    翻譯: 非常接近某種極端狀態、情況或類別的。

小提醒:注意 borderline 作形容詞時,常帶有負面或勉強的含義,例如 borderline pass(勉強及格),而非正面肯定。

發音(How to Pronounce "Borderline" in English

How to pronounce "Borderline" in English?"Borderline" US vs UK pronunciation

點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。

Real-life Examples of "Borderline" from YouTube Videos

暫無 YouTube 示例,重新生成該詞頁可自動補上 1 條。

Definitions(定義)

What are the definitions of "Borderline"?How does "Borderline" change by context?

1. barely acceptable in quality or amount; on the boundary between two categories

品質或數量勉強可接受的;處於兩個類別之間的邊界上的

His behavior was borderline rude, but he managed to avoid a direct confrontation.

他的行為近乎粗魯,但他設法避免了直接衝突。

The patient's test results were borderline, so the doctor ordered more tests.

病人的檢測結果處於臨界值,所以醫生安排了更多檢查。

2. having or showing symptoms of a personality disorder marked by instability in emotions, self-image, and relationships

表現出邊緣型人格障礙症狀的(情緒、自我形象和人際關係不穩定)

She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

她被診斷出患有邊緣型人格障礙。

The therapist specializes in treating patients with borderline traits.

這位治療師專門治療具有邊緣型特質的病人。

3. almost but not quite reaching a certain quality or standard

幾乎達到但未完全符合某種品質或標準的

The food was borderline cold by the time it was served.

食物端上來的時候幾乎是冷的。

His excuse for being late was borderline believable.

他遲到的藉口勉強可信。

4. a boundary or dividing line

邊界或分界線

The river forms the borderline between the two countries.

這條河形成了兩國之間的邊界線。

There's a fine borderline between confidence and arrogance.

自信和傲慢之間只有一線之隔。

Grammar & Patterns(句型)

What are common sentence patterns for "Borderline"?How to make natural sentences with "Borderline"?
PatternMeaningExample
borderline + adjective接近於某種狀態的,勉強算得上的His behavior was borderline obsessive. (他的行為近乎強迫症。)
borderline + noun處於邊緣的,難以界定的She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. (她被診斷出患有邊緣型人格障礙。)
be borderline處於邊界線上,難以歸類The test results are borderline; we need to run it again. (檢測結果處於臨界值,我們需要再測一次。)
a borderline case一個難以界定/邊緣的案例Whether this qualifies as art is a borderline case. (這是否算得上是藝術,是一個難以界定的案例。)

用法說明

How is "Borderline" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Borderline"?

borderline + adjective vs borderline + noun

  • borderline + adjective 用於描述某種狀態、品質或特質處於可被接受的邊緣,幾乎要變成另一種狀態。例如:borderline acceptable(勉強可接受)、borderline offensive(近乎冒犯)。
  • borderline + noun 則用於指稱處於兩個類別、狀態或診斷邊緣的具體事物或人。例如:a borderline case(邊緣案例)、a borderline personality(邊緣型人格)。
  • 當形容詞本身已帶有負面或極端含義時(如 ridiculous, dangerous),使用 borderline + adjective 會加強其程度,意指「幾乎可說是…」。
  • 在較正式的或醫學/心理學語境中,borderline 作為名詞的修飾語(如 borderline patient)比作為形容詞的修飾語更為常見。 EN: His behavior during the meeting was borderline rude. 翻譯: 他在會議中的行為近乎無禮。

EN:The patient was diagnosed as a borderline case.

翻譯:該患者被診斷為邊緣型案例。

EN:The weather conditions made the drive borderline dangerous.

翻譯:天氣狀況讓這趟車程近乎危險。

EN:She specializes in treating borderline personalities.

翻譯:她專精於治療邊緣型人格。

總結建議

一般描述時多用「borderline + 形容詞」結構來強調程度;在特定領域或指具體個案時,則使用「borderline + 名詞」結構。

易混淆對比

What is the difference between "Borderline" and similar words?How to choose "Borderline" vs alternatives?

borderline vs marginal

「borderline」強調處於界線邊緣,可能符合或不符合標準;「marginal」則強調剛好達到最低標準或重要性很低。

borderline vs dubious

「borderline」描述處於界線邊緣的狀態,較為中性;「dubious」則帶有懷疑、不確定或可疑的負面含義。

borderline (adj) vs threshold (n)

「borderline」作為形容詞,描述「處於邊界的」狀態;「threshold」是名詞,指具體的「門檻、界限、起始點」。

口語用法

How is "Borderline" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Borderline"?

引述

在口語中,常用來引述或轉述他人對某事的模糊評價,暗示其處於灰色地帶。 EN: He said my work was borderline acceptable, which felt like a backhanded compliment. 翻譯: 他說我的工作勉強及格,感覺像是拐彎抹角的稱讚。

EN:The reviews called the movie borderline boring, so we decided to skip it.

翻譯:評論說那部電影近乎無聊,所以我們決定不看了。

語氣強調

用於強調某事物極度接近某種狀態,帶有誇張或加強語氣的效果。 EN: After running the marathon, I was borderline delirious from exhaustion. 翻譯: 跑完馬拉松後,我累得幾乎神智不清了。

EN:That joke was borderline offensive, don't you think?

翻譯:那個笑話有點冒犯人了,你不覺得嗎?

停頓填充

在猶豫或思考如何精確描述時,作為一個填充詞,表示「差不多是」、「有點像」。 EN: Her reaction was... borderline... hysterical, I guess? 翻譯: 她的反應嘛…有點…歇斯底里,我想?

EN:The whole situation felt borderline surreal, you know?

翻譯:整個情況感覺有點超現實,你懂吧?

正式寫作注意:在學術、法律或正式商業報告中,應避免使用 borderline 這種模糊的口語詞彙。建議改用更精確的術語,如 marginally acceptableapproaching the threshold ofnearlyon the verge of,以確保表述的嚴謹性。

常見短語

What common collocations use "Borderline"?What fixed phrases with "Borderline" should I remember?

borderline case

borderline + noun

難以界定或歸類的案例;處於臨界狀態的情況

borderline offensive

borderline + adjective

近乎冒犯的;遊走在冒犯邊緣的

on the borderline

on the borderline (of/between)

處於邊界上;在…的臨界點

be borderline

be + borderline

處於臨界狀態;勉強合格或幾乎不合格

borderline personality

borderline personality (disorder)

邊緣型人格(障礙)

borderline level

borderline level/range

臨界水準/範圍

常見錯誤

What are common mistakes with "Borderline"?Which "Borderline" sentences look correct but are wrong?

×He is in the borderline of the two groups.

He is on the borderline between the two groups.

「borderline」作名詞時,表示「邊界線」,常與介系詞「on」和「between」搭配,表示「在...之間的邊界上」。使用「in」是錯誤的。

×It was a borderline situation.

It was a borderline case.

「borderline」作形容詞時,常與特定名詞搭配,如「case」、「personality」、「genius」、「offensive」。使用「situation」雖然語意上可能通順,但並非最常見或地道的搭配。

×He is a border line genius.

He is a borderline genius.

「borderline」作為複合形容詞修飾名詞時,應寫成一個單字或使用連字號(border-line,但單一字更常見)。分開寫成兩個字是錯誤的。

×His behavior was nearly unacceptable.

His behavior was borderline unacceptable.

雖然「nearly」和「borderline」都有「幾乎」的意思,但「borderline」更強調處於一個類別或狀態的臨界點,帶有模糊、難以界定或勉強可接受的含義,常用於主觀評價。在這種語境下,「borderline」更為地道。

×The test result was very borderline.

The test result was borderline.

「borderline」本身已表示「處於邊緣的」、「勉強的」極限狀態,通常不再用「very」這類程度副詞修飾。可以說「absolutely borderline」來強調,但「very borderline」並不常見。

×He is a genius borderline.

He is a borderline genius.

在英文中,複合形容詞「borderline」應置於所修飾的名詞之前。將它放在名詞之後是錯誤的語序。

詞形變化

What are the word forms of "Borderline"?What are tense/participle forms of "Borderline"?