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Inconstant

“Inconstant” 是 “constant”(恒定的、忠实的)的反义词。它通常用于文学或正式语境中,形容一个人的性格或心情像天气一样阴晴不定。它也常指在爱情或友谊中的不忠诚。

  1. “His inconstant nature made it hard for him to keep a steady job.” (他那反复无常的性格让他很难维持一份稳定的工作。)
  2. “The poet complained about his inconstant lover who changed her mind every day.” (诗人抱怨他不忠的情人,她每天都改变主意。)
  3. “We cannot rely on the inconstant winds for our journey across the sea.” (在跨海航行中,我们不能依赖反复无常的风。)

“Inconstant” 源自 “constant”。

  • 前缀: “in-” 意为“不”。
  • 词根: “-st-” 来源于拉丁语 “stare”,意为“站立”(如 “stand”, “status”, “station”)。
  • “Constant” 字面意思是“站在一起不动”的。
  • 后缀: “-ant”,形容词后缀,表示“处于……状态的”。

在莎士比亚的戏剧《罗密欧与朱丽叶》中,朱丽叶曾对罗密欧说:“O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb.”(噢,别对着月亮发誓,那善变的月亮,它在圆缺循环中每月都在改变。)在这里,月亮成为了 “inconstant”(易变、善变)的永恒象征。

  • 名词形式: “inconstancy” (反复无常,不忠实)。
  • 副词形式: “inconstantly” (反复无常地)。
  • 反义词: “constant” (恒定的,忠实的)。

联想 “stand”(站立)。一个 “constant” 的人能稳稳站住,而一个 “inconstant” 的人则总是从一个地方跳到另一个地方,完全站不住,也就是“易变”的。

“Leo was an inconstant friend. One week he would be your best buddy, and the next week he would ignore your calls. People soon learned that they couldn’t count on him for important things. Eventually, Leo found himself lonely, realizing that true friendship requires a constant heart, not an inconstant one.” (利奥是个反复无常的朋友。这一周他会是你最好的哥们,下一周他就会不接你的电话。人们很快就明白,重要的事情不能指望他。最终,利奥发现自己很孤独,他意识到真正的友谊需要一颗恒久的心,而不是一颗善变的心。)