Word · Frequency #20396
improperly
不适当地；不正确地
in an improper way
- 1.
In an improper manner; not properly.
不恰当地；不适当地。
不恰当地；不适当地。；不适当地
In use
He was fired for improperly handling customer data.
The machine stopped working because it had been installed improperly.
She complained that the report was improperly translated.
be improperly + past participle
常用于被动语态，强调行为不合规范。
The report was improperly prepared.
这份报告准备得不恰当。
handle sth improperly
作方式副词时通常放在动词后；若动词带宾语，则放在宾语后，如 handled it improperly。
The manager handled the complaint improperly.
经理没有妥善处理投诉。
Common mistakes
He behaved improper during the interview.He behaved improperly during the interview.
behave 是实义动词，须用副词修饰；improper 是形容词，只能修饰名词或作表语，不能修饰动词，所以应改为副词 improperly。
It is improperly to speak loudly in a library.It is improper to speak loudly in a library.
It is + 形容词 + 不定式 句型中，表语位置需要形容词；improperly 是副词，不能作表语，须用形容词 improper。
Connections
Collocations
- behave improperly
- 行为不当
- He was fired for behaving improperly at the company party.他因在公司聚会上行为不当而被解雇。
- dress improperly
- 穿着不当
- She felt improperly dressed for the formal dinner.她觉得穿着不当，不适合出席正式晚宴。
- install improperly
- 安装不当
- The smoke detector was improperly installed and failed to work.烟雾探测器安装不当，未能正常工作。
- obtain improperly
- 不当获取
- The evidence was improperly obtained and cannot be used in court.该证据系不当获取，不能在法庭上使用。
- handle improperly
- 处理不当
- The chemicals were improperly handled, causing a minor explosion.化学品处理不当，造成轻微爆炸。
Synonyms
Learner notes
Memory Tip
im（不）+ proper（恰当）+ ly（副词）：做事情不按恰当方式，就是不适当地。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：正式语篇、技术说明、合同条款 improperly 表示“不适当地；不正确/不得体地”，为中性偏正式用词。它多用于书面语或正式场合（如技术说明、合同条款），日常口语中比较少见，此时更常说 wrongly 或 badly。
Pronunciation & Spelling
美式发音中，improperly (/ɪmˈprɑːpərli/) 与 properly (/ˈprɑːpərli/) 押韵。拼写相近但读音不同：property (/ˈprɑːpərti/)、proper (/ˈprɑːpər/) 的 -pro- 读 /prɑː/；appropriate (/əˈproʊpriət/) 的 -pro- 读 /proʊ/；improve (/ɪmˈpruːv/) 的 -pro- 读 /pruː/。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.