Word · Frequency #18835
unsavoury
道德败坏的；令人厌恶的
morally offensive
- 1.
a morally offensive；s not pleasing in odor or taste
没有味道的；没有香味的
难吃的；难闻的；没有味道的；没有香味的；难吃的；难闻的
In use
He got involved with some unsavoury characters at the bar.
The politician's unsavoury past was exposed by the journalists.
She told me to avoid that part of town because of its unsavoury reputation.
unsavoury + noun
unsavoury 常用于名词前，修饰行为、交易、名声等，表示“道德上令人反感的”。
He was involved in some unsavoury dealings.
他卷入了一些不正当的交易。
find + noun + unsavoury
该结构表示“觉得某事物令人不快”，侧重个人感受。
Many people find the smell of durian unsavoury.
许多人觉得榴莲的气味很难闻。
become/be + unsavoury
系表结构强调状态变化；也可用 be unsavoury 表示持久特征。
The conversation quickly became unsavoury.
谈话很快就变得令人不快了。
Common mistakes
This soup is unsavoury because it has no salt.This soup is tasteless because it has no salt.
unsavoury 主要指道德上令人厌恶或气味、味道令人不悦，而这里想表达的是“没有味道/淡而无味”，应改用 tasteless。
The old ladder looks unsavoury; don't climb it.The old ladder looks unsafe; don't climb it.
unsavoury 表示令人厌恶的、不道德的，不表示“不安全的”；描述有危险时应用 unsafe。
He is an unsavoury who cheats everyone.He is an unsavoury person who cheats everyone.
unsavoury 是形容词，不能直接作名词指人；需要搭配 person 或 character 等名词。
Connections
Collocations
- unsavoury reputation
- 坏名声；不光彩的名声
- The restaurant had an unsavoury reputation for serving spoiled food.这家餐馆因供应变质的食物而声名狼藉。
- unsavoury character
- 品行不端的人；不光彩的品性
- She kept company with some unsavoury characters.她和一些不三不四的人混在一起。
- unsavoury business
- 不光彩的事情；肮脏勾当
- The journalist uncovered an unsavoury business involving bribery.记者揭露了一桩涉及贿赂的肮脏勾当。
- unsavoury details
- 令人不快的细节
- The report spared no unsavoury details about the scandal.这份报告毫不避讳地披露了丑闻令人不快的细节。
- unsavoury smell
- 难闻的气味
- An unsavoury smell drifted from the drain.一股难闻的气味从下水道飘出来。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
un（不）+savoury（美味）→ 既不美味也不体面，令人反感。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：character or behavior、taste or smell 该词为中性语域，通常用于书面语，描述人物品行令人厌恶或食物、气味令人不快；日常口语中较少使用，可用 bad 或 disgusting 代替。
Pronunciation & Spelling
真正押韵的有 savoury、bravery、slavery（均含 /eɪvəri/ 音）。注意 flavour、honour 虽都有 -our，但结尾分别读 /ər/，与 unsavoury 的 /əri/ 不同，不押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT.