benign
gb/bɪnˈaɪn/ us/bɪnˈaɪn/
B2
英語
~ 9200
語義
0件の語義
adjective
formal
B2
property
1
gentle, kind, and harmless in manner
Gentle and kind, and not likely to hurt or worry anyone.
用法パターン：
[someone]/[something] is benign
よくある間違い：
Learners often confuse "benign" with "benevolent." Both can describe a kind person, but "benevolent" stresses actively wanting to do good, while "benign" stresses being gentle and not harmful. Also, some learners use "benign" to describe strong positive emotions (e.g., *a benign love*), which sounds unnatural; use "deep" or "strong" instead.
類義語
kind (More common and general; lacks the slightly formal or calm nuance of "benign".)
|
gentle (Focuses more on softness of behavior; "benign" also suggests an absence of threat.)
対義語
hostile (Suggests active unfriendliness or threat, the opposite of a calm, harmless attitude.)
|
menacing (Emphasizes a threatening, dangerous feeling, opposite of "benign" calmness.)
コロケーション
benign smile
|benign expression
|benign manner
|benign presence
|benign influence
テーマ
character
|relationships
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
例文
- He gave her a benign smile and stepped aside to let her pass.
- Despite his size, the dog’s nature was completely benign.
- Under her benign leadership, the team felt relaxed and supported.
- The old man had a benign expression that put everyone at ease.
- They saw the company as a mostly benign influence on the local community.
学習者向け例文
- The teacher was strict but also very benign with new students.
- Her benign smile made the shy child feel safe.
- My grandfather has a benign manner and never gets angry.
- The manager is firm but basically benign to his workers.
- The dog looks scary, but it is actually quite benign.
adjective
B2
property
2
not harmful or dangerous
Not harmful or dangerous; gentle or mild in how it acts.
用法パターン：
[something] is benign for/to [someone/something]
よくある間違い：
Learners sometimes use "benign" for things that are simply positive or good (e.g., *a benign opportunity*), which sounds odd. "Benign" means "not harmful" or "mild," not necessarily strongly good. In everyday speech, "harmless" is usually more natural.
類義語
harmless (More informal and very common; "benign" often sounds a bit more formal or scientific.)
|
mild (Stresses low intensity, especially for weather or reactions; "benign" adds a sense of safety.)
対義語
harmful (Direct opposite in terms of causing damage or negative effects.)
|
malignant (Often used in medical and figurative contexts to mean actively dangerous or spreading harm.)
コロケーション
benign environment
|benign effects
|benign climate
|benign conditions
|benign substance
|seemingly benign
テーマ
safety
|environment
|science
|core_vocabulary
例文
- At first the chemicals appeared benign, but later studies showed serious risks.
- The country enjoys a mostly benign climate with warm summers and mild winters.
- What looked like a benign comment quickly sparked a heated argument online.
- The new policy is not perfect, but its overall impact has been fairly benign.
- Doctors assured residents that the leak posed only a benign level of radiation.
学習者向け例文
- The drug is safe and mostly benign for healthy adults.
- This plant is benign and will not hurt your pets.
- The storm was weak and quite benign for this time of year.
- The change in law had a benign effect on small shops.
- The gas is not dangerous; in small amounts it is benign.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
noncancerous (especially of a tumor)
Used in medicine to say that a tumor or growth is not cancer and does not spread to other parts of the body.
用法パターン：
[tumor/growth/condition] is benign
よくある間違い：
Learners may think "benign" always means completely safe or unimportant. In medicine, a benign tumor is not cancer, but it can still cause problems by growing or pressing on organs. Also, some learners mistakenly say *"a benign cancer"*; this is wrong—use "benign tumor" or "benign growth," not "cancer."
類義語
noncancerous (Plain, technical medical description; slightly less formal-sounding than "benign" in many contexts.)
対義語
malignant (Standard medical opposite of "benign"; describes cancerous growths that can invade and spread.)
コロケーション
benign tumor
|benign growth
|benign condition
|benign lesion
|benign mass
|histologically benign
テーマ
medicine
|health
|science
例文
- Fortunately, the biopsy confirmed that the tumor was benign.
- The scan showed a small benign growth that they will continue to monitor.
- Although the lump is benign, it may be removed if it causes discomfort.
- Most skin moles are benign and do not require treatment.
- The doctor explained that a benign condition can still need surgery if it presses on nearby organs.
学習者向け例文
- The doctor told her that the tumor was benign, not cancer.
- Tests showed that the growth in his neck was benign.
- A benign tumor does not spread to other parts of the body.
- The scan found a benign mass near his spine.
- She felt relieved when she heard the word "benign" from the doctor.
文法
表現
benign neglect
1/bɪnˈaɪn nɪɡlˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
formal
deliberate non-interference as a policy
A planned choice to give little or no attention to a problem, person, or group, usually because you believe they will develop or solve things better without help.
例文
- Critics accused the government of practicing benign neglect toward poor neighborhoods.
- Some parents believe in a kind of benign neglect, allowing children a lot of freedom to learn from mistakes.