Word · CEFR C2 · Frequency #25289
constrained
拘谨的；不自然的
lacking spontaneity; not natural
- 1.
lacking spontaneity; not natural
缺乏自发性；不自然
缺乏自发性；不自然；被强迫的；被约束的；不舒服的
In use
Her constrained smile during the meeting made everyone feel uneasy.
He gave a constrained answer, as if he was afraid to say what he really thought.
The conversation felt constrained because they were both trying too hard to be polite.
a constrained smile
feel constrained
feel constrained 后常接由 in 引导的介词短语说明场合。
She felt constrained in the formal setting.
她在正式场合感到拘束。
be constrained by sth
常用于被动结构，by 引出限制因素。
The artist was constrained by the strict rules of the competition.
这位艺术家被比赛的严格规则所限制。
constrained to do sth
约束力较强，暗示不情愿。
He felt constrained to accept the offer.
他感到被迫接受了这个提议。
Common mistakes
I feel constraint in social situations.I feel constrained in social situations.
错误使用了名词形式'constraint'代替形容词'constrained'。在表达‘感到不自在’时，英语需要用形容词作表语，因此应改为过去分词用作形容词的'constrained'。
He was constrained with the formal dress code.He was constrained by the formal dress code.
错误使用了介词'with'，正确的搭配是'constrained by'，表示‘被...所约束’。
Connections
Collocations
- a constrained smile
- 拘谨的笑容
- She gave a constrained smile and looked away.她勉强地笑了笑，然后把目光移开。
- a constrained manner
- 拘谨的举止
- His constrained manner made the interview awkward.他拘谨的举止使面试变得尴尬。
- constrained laughter
- 不自然的笑声
- I heard constrained laughter from the audience.我听到观众席传来不自然的笑声。
- a constrained atmosphere
- 拘谨的气氛
- The meeting had a constrained atmosphere.会议气氛拘谨。
- a constrained tone
- 不自然的语气
- She spoke in a constrained tone.她用不自然的语气说话。
- constrained behavior
Learner notes
Memory Tip
con（一起）+ strain（拉紧）→ 人被拉紧拘束，显得拘谨不自然、缺乏自发性。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：文学评论、正式写作、风格描述 该义项（不自然、拘谨的）多用于正式或书面语境，例如文学评论中对作品风格或人物言谈的描写；日常口语中较少使用。
Grammar Note
注意：constrained 是形容词，常与 by 或 to 连用，表示被动约束。
Pronunciation & Spelling
与 constrained 押韵的常用词包括 rained、trained、feigned、pained、stained，它们都以 /eɪnd/ 结尾；注意 strand 拼写相似，但读作 /strænd/，并不押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WORDNET.