形容對他人動機或事物價值抱持懷疑、不信任的負面態度。
對人性動機的懷疑
EN: believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest
翻譯: 認為人們的行為完全出於自私自利。
對真誠或價值的蔑視
EN: contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives
翻譯: 對人性和動機抱持輕蔑的不信任。
出於自私的算計
EN: selfishly calculating or manipulative in actions
翻譯: 指行為是出於自私的算計或操控。
對理想或承諾的嘲諷
EN: doubting the sincerity or goodness of ideals or promises
翻譯: 對理想或承諾的真誠與良善表示懷疑。
小提醒：注意：cynical 主要形容一種負面、不信任的態度或動機，與單純的「懷疑」(skeptical) 程度不同，後者較為中性，指需要證據才相信。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Cynical" from YouTube Videos
How Do You Convince Someone to Join Your Startup? - Dalton Caldwell
Y Combinator
“if you just can't get it out of your head, if you immediately are cynical about it and you're negative on it and you're just not that excited about it, that's a sign that you're not convinced.”
1. believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity
認為人的行為皆出於自私；不相信人的真誠或正直
He has a cynical view of politicians and their promises.
他對政治人物及其承諾抱持著憤世嫉俗的看法。
After being betrayed, she became deeply cynical about friendship.
在被背叛之後，她對友誼變得極度不信任。
2. contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives
對人性和動機抱持輕蔑的不信任
His cynical laughter made it clear he didn't believe a word of her story.
他嘲諷的笑聲清楚表明他根本不相信她的說詞。
The novel is filled with cynical observations about society.
這本小說充滿了對社會的冷嘲熱諷。
3. concerned only with one's own interests and disregarding accepted standards, especially in a manipulative way
只顧自身利益而無視公認標準，尤指以操縱手段達成
The company's cynical exploitation of the crisis for profit angered the public.
該公司為牟利而對危機的冷血利用激怒了公眾。
It was a cynical ploy to gain votes just before the election.
那是在選舉前為獲取選票的卑劣手段。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cynical + about + noun/gerund | 對…感到憤世嫉俗的 | He is cynical about politics. (他對政治感到憤世嫉俗。) |
| cynical + view/outlook/attitude | 憤世嫉俗的觀點/看法/態度 | She has a cynical view of human nature. (她對人性抱持著憤世嫉俗的觀點。) |
| cynical + remark/comment/smile | 諷刺的言論/評論/微笑 | He made a cynical remark about their motives. (他對他們的動機發表了諷刺的言論。) |
| cynical + use/exploitation/manipulation | 出於私利而冷嘲熱諷地利用/剝削/操縱 | The cynical exploitation of the tragedy angered the public. (對這場悲劇出於私利的冷嘲熱諷式剝削激怒了公眾。) |
| It is cynical to + V | 做…是憤世嫉俗的 | It is cynical to assume everyone is selfish. (認為每個人都是自私的，這很憤世嫉俗。) |
| grow/become cynical | 變得憤世嫉俗 | After years of disappointment, he grew cynical. (經過多年的失望後，他變得憤世嫉俗了。) |
EN:It would be cynical to dismiss all their efforts as purely self-serving.
翻譯:若將他們所有的努力都貶低為純粹的自私行為，那就太憤世嫉俗了。
描述對某事的懷疑態度時，建議使用「cynical about + 名詞/V-ing」的結構。
cynical vs skeptical
「cynical」強調因自私動機而對人性或真誠抱持負面、不信任的態度；「skeptical」則指對特定主張或事實抱持懷疑、要求證據的態度，不必然帶有負面情感。
cynical vs pessimistic
「cynical」核心在於對他人動機的不信任與嘲諷；「pessimistic」則是對事情結果普遍抱持負面、悲觀的預期。
cynical vs sarcastic
「cynical」描述一種根深蒂固的負面世界觀或態度；「sarcastic」則是一種用於嘲諷、挖苦的言語表達方式。
cynical vs jaded
「cynical」主動抱持對人性與動機的負面信念；「jaded」則因過度經歷而感到疲倦、厭倦，導致興趣或熱情消退。
在引述他人或媒體的負面評論時，常用來表示「他們就是這麼說的，但我未必完全同意」。 EN: He gave a cynical take on the charity event, saying it was all for publicity. 翻譯: 他對那場慈善活動給了一個很憤世嫉俗的看法，說那全都是為了宣傳。
EN:"That's just a cynical ploy to win votes," she quoted from the editorial.
翻譯:「那只是一個為了贏得選票的憤世嫉俗伎倆，」她引述了社論的內容。
用來加強語氣，表達對某事動機不純或過於現實的強烈不滿或嘲諷。 EN: Oh, that's just cynical! They don't care about the environment at all. 翻譯: 喔，那真是太憤世嫉俗了！他們根本不在乎環境。
EN:I know it sounds cynical, but I really think they're only in it for the money.
翻譯:我知道這聽起來很憤世嫉俗，但我真的認為他們只是為了錢才參與。
在句子開頭或中間作為停頓填充，緩和接下來要說的負面或現實觀點，讓聽者有心理準備。 EN: To be cynical for a moment, what's the actual success rate of these initiatives? 翻譯: 說句憤世嫉俗的話，這些倡議的實際成功率到底有多少？
EN:It was a, well, cynical move, but you have to admit it was effective.
翻譯:那是一個，嗯，有點憤世嫉俗的舉動，但你得承認它很有效。
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式商業寫作中，應避免將 "cynical" 用於上述口語的停頓或隨意引述中。建議使用更精確、客觀的詞彙來描述動機或態度，例如 "skeptical"、"pragmatic"、"calculating" 或 "driven by self-interest"，以維持專業且中立的語氣。
a cynical attempt
adj. + n.
一種憤世嫉俗/自私的企圖
a cynical view
adj. + n.
一種憤世嫉俗的觀點
cynical about
adj. + prep.
對…感到憤世嫉俗/不信任
a cynical smile
adj. + n.
一抹譏諷/憤世的笑
deeply cynical
adv. + adj.
極度憤世嫉俗的
cynical exploitation
adj. + n.
憤世嫉俗的剝削利用
a cynical remark
adj. + n.
一句憤世嫉俗/諷刺的評論
×He is cynical about the result.
✓He is skeptical about the result.
「Cynical」指對人性或動機抱持自私、不信任的負面態度，而非單純的懷疑或不確定。當只是表示懷疑時，應使用「skeptical」或「doubtful」。
×She gave a cynical smile because she was very happy.
✓She gave a genuine smile because she was very happy.
「Cynical smile」指帶有譏諷、不相信或輕蔑意味的微笑，並非表達快樂。描述真誠、快樂的微笑應使用「genuine」、「warm」或「happy」。
×I feel very cynical today.
✓I feel very pessimistic (or skeptical) today.
「Cynical」主要描述一種長期、對人性不信任的態度或觀點，而非短暫的情緒。描述暫時的負面情緒應使用「pessimistic」、「skeptical」或「down」。
×This is a cynical plan to improve the company.
✓This is a cynical plan to exploit public sympathy.
「Cynical」修飾事物時，通常指該行為或計畫的動機是自私、虛偽或利用他人的，帶有負面道德評價。不能簡單用於描述任何「計劃」。
×He is a cynical person who always helps others.
✓He is a compassionate person who always helps others.
「Cynical」描述的人通常不信任他人的動機，認為人本自私，因此與「樂於助人」的語義矛盾。形容樂於助人應使用「compassionate」、「kind-hearted」或「altruistic」。