a nondescript + noun
形容词义:作定语修饰名词,表示某物普通、没有特色。
They live in a nondescript apartment block.
他们住在一栋毫无特色的公寓楼里。
难以归类的人;不起眼的人
nondescripts — plural of nondescript
先理解核心含义,再看它在真实句子里的用法。
难以归类的人;不起眼的人
a person who is not easily classified and is not very interesting
They live in a nondescript apartment block.
他们住在一栋毫无特色的公寓楼里。
先前未被描述或鉴定的物种或其他类型的生物。
A species or other type of creature that has not been previously described or identified.
平凡、无特色的人或事物。
An undistinguished, unexceptional person or thing.
At the train station, a nondescript in a worn coat waited quietly, but no one gave him a second glance.
在火车站,一个穿着旧外套、不起眼的人静静地等着,但没有人多看他一眼。
The detective asked the clerk to describe the visitor, but the clerk could only say he was just another nondescript.
侦探让店员描述来访者,但店员只能说他又是一个毫不起眼的人。
Among all the finalists, she felt like a complete nondescript, even though her project had won an award.
在所有决赛选手中,她觉得自己完全是个不起眼的人,尽管她的项目还得了奖。
形容词义:作定语修饰名词,表示某物普通、没有特色。
They live in a nondescript apartment block.
他们住在一栋毫无特色的公寓楼里。
形容词义:也可放在 look、be 等系动词后作表语,强调外观或给人的印象。
The building looks nondescript from the outside.
这座大楼从外面看起来很不起眼。
名词义:可数名词,指难以归类或不起眼的人,复数形式是 nondescripts。
He was just a nondescript in the crowd.
他只是人群中的一个不起眼的人。
Not this
The beauty of the scenery was nondescript.
Use this
The beauty of the scenery was indescribable.
受词典释义“莫可名状的”误导,误把 nondescript 当作“无法形容的”。其实 nondescript 表示“普通、不起眼、缺乏特色”,而表达“美得无法形容”应使用 indescribable。
Not this
The twins are nondescript, so I can't tell them apart.
Use this
The twins are indistinguishable, so I can't tell them apart.
词典释义“难以区别的”容易让人误以为 nondescript 等于“难以分辨的”。nondescript 指“毫无特色、不引人注目”;要表达双胞胎几乎一样而无法区分,应用 indistinguishable。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
不起眼的建筑
The office is in a nondescript building on a side street.
办公室位于一条小巷里一栋不起眼的建筑中。
平淡无奇的外表
Despite his nondescript appearance, he was a brilliant scientist.
尽管他外表平平,他却是一位杰出的科学家。
不起眼的衣服
She wore nondescript clothes to avoid being noticed.
她穿着不起眼的衣服以避免引人注意。
平淡无奇的小镇
They passed through a nondescript town without stopping.
他们经过一个平淡无奇的小镇,没有停留。
难以记住的普通面孔
He had a nondescript face that was hard to remember.
他长着一张难以记住的普通面孔。
Use nondescripts naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记忆:non(不)+ descript(描述)→ 平凡得难以描述,毫无特色、不引人注意。
语域:formal 常见场景:formal writing、literary narration 作名词时多用于正式或文学语境,指难以归类或不起眼的人。
这些词都以“-script”结尾,其中 script、manuscript、transcript、postscript 的末尾读音都是 /skrɪpt/。但按所给读音,nondescript 的重音在第一个音节(/ˈnɒndiskrɪpt/),所以末尾的 -script 不是重读音节,不与 script 严格押韵;若按常见读音把重音放在最后音节(/ˌnɒndɪˈskrɪpt/),则与 script 押韵。注意 description 和 prescription 是拼写近似但读音不同的词,它们以 -scription 结尾,读作 /skrɪpʃən/,不是 /skrɪpt/。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.