Word · CEFR B1 · Frequency #9633
improper
不合适的；不恰当的
Not suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose or situation.
- 1.
Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
不适合需要或情况的；不恰当的；不合适的。
- 2.
not suitable or right or appropriate
不合适的；不正确的；不恰当的
- 3.
Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest.
不符合传统道德或礼貌的；不雅的或不端庄的。
- 4.
not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention
不符合法律、道德或社会习俗的
- 5.
Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous.
不符合事实的；不准确的或错误的。
- 6.
not appropriate for a purpose or occasion
不适合某目的或场合的
- 7.
Not consistent with established facts; incorrect.
与既定事实不符的；不正确的。
- 8.
Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction.
命名不当的。
- 9.
Of a complex random variable, correlated with its conjugate.
(指复随机变量)与其共轭相关的。
不道德的；不雅的；不合法的；不正确的；错误的；（数学）假分数的；（复随机变量）与其共轭相关的；不适合需要或情况的；不恰当的；不合适的。
In use
It is considered improper to wear shorts in a formal setting.
Calling elders by their first names is improper.
His rude comments at the meeting were improper.
slightly improper to dine alone with a married man
improper medication
improper attire for the golf course
improper banking practices
be improper to do sth
It is improper to whisper during a meeting.
开会时窃窃私语是不适当的。
Connections
Collocations
- improper conduct
- 不当行为
- The employee was fired for improper conduct.该员工因不当行为被解雇。
- improper behavior
- 不得体的举止
- Such improper behavior will not be tolerated.这种不得体的举止是不会被容忍的。
- improper use
- 不当使用
- Improper use of the equipment may cause injury.不当使用设备可能导致受伤。
- improper attire
- 不恰当的着装
- Guests in improper attire will be refused entry.着装不当的客人将被拒绝入场。
- improper disposal
- 不当处置
- Improper disposal of waste harms the environment.废物处置不当会危害环境。
Synonyms
Learner notes
Memory Tip
对比proper（适当），im-为否定前缀，所以improper即“不适当、不得体”。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：social etiquette、professional conduct、legal/moral contexts 通常用于正式场合，指行为、言语或衣着不得体，多带有负面评价，但在日常对话中也常见。
Pronunciation & Spelling
Words ending in '-opper' (as in 'chopper', 'stopper', etc.) share the same stressed vowel /ɒ/ and ending /p.ə/ with 'improper'. Note that 'opera' (/ˈɒp.ər.ə/) is a common lookalike but does not rhyme due to the extra syllable.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.