superficial
gb/sˌupɚfˈɪʃəl/ us/sˌupɚfˈɪʃəl/
B2
Engleză
~ 7200
Sensuri
0 sensuri
adjective
B2
property
1
shallow in character or feelings
Not deep in character or feelings; caring only about looks or simple, easy things.
Tipar de utilizare:
[someone] is superficial
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes confuse "superficial" with "artificial." "Superficial" means shallow or not deep, especially about people or feelings. "Artificial" means not natural or made by people (for example, artificial flowers, artificial light). Learners also sometimes use "superficial" when they only mean "small" or "minor"; it specifically adds the idea of being only on the surface or not truly serious.
Sinonime
shallow (Very common for people and feelings; can sound slightly more negative and judgmental.)
|
surface-level (Informal and descriptive; stresses that someone only looks at what is easy to see.)
Antonime
deep (Describes a person or feeling that is serious and thoughtful, not focused only on appearances.)
|
profound (Stronger and more formal; suggests very serious, thoughtful, or intense feelings or ideas.)
Colocații
a superficial person
|a superficial friendship
|superficial charm
|superficial beauty
|superficial interest
|seem superficial
Teme
character
|relationships
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- He comes across as charming, but his views on relationships are painfully superficial.
- Their connection was mostly superficial, based on parties and photos rather than real conversation.
- The interview felt superficial, with no meaningful questions about her ideas or experience.
- She worries that people will think she is superficial because she talks so much about fashion.
- The movie offers only a superficial look at grief and never explores the characters’ inner lives.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- Many people think he is a superficial man.
- Their friendship is very superficial and not deep.
- I do not want a superficial relationship.
- Her interest in politics is superficial; she only reads headlines.
- He seems nice, but his questions are very superficial.
adjective
C1
property
2
not careful, thorough, or detailed
Looking only at the easy or clear parts of something and not studying it carefully or deeply.
Tipar de utilizare:
a superficial [study/examination/analysis] of [something]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes use "superficial" when they just mean "short" or "simple." A short explanation can still be deep and clear. "Superficial" specifically means that only easy, surface parts are covered and important deeper parts are missed.
Sinonime
cursory (More formal; suggests something was done quickly and with little attention to detail.)
|
shallow (Common and slightly less formal; often used for thinking or understanding that is not deep.)
Antonime
thorough (Stresses that something is careful, complete, and detailed, the opposite of being superficial.)
|
in-depth (Often used before nouns (in-depth study, in-depth report); highlights very detailed treatment.)
Colocații
superficial understanding
|superficial knowledge
|superficial analysis
|superficial examination
|superficial similarity
|superficial changes
Teme
thinking
|education
|work
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- The report offers only a superficial analysis of the problem and ignores its deeper causes.
- At first glance there seems to be a conflict, but a closer look shows that the differences are only superficial.
- Her knowledge of the topic was quite superficial, based on a few online articles.
- The inspector carried out a superficial check of the equipment and missed several serious faults.
- Despite their superficial similarities, the two proposals are based on very different assumptions.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- He has only a superficial understanding of economics.
- Their study was very superficial and did not answer important questions.
- The article gives a superficial view of climate change.
- Our training was superficial, so we still had many questions.
- The changes in the law are mostly superficial and do not fix the real problem.
adjective
B2
property
3
only on the surface (physical)
Only on the top part of something and not deep inside, often about a cut, wound, or mark.
Tipar de utilizare:
a superficial [wound/crack/damage]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes think "superficial wound" means a fake or not real wound. It actually means a real wound that is not deep or serious because it is only on the surface.
Sinonime
shallow (Used for physical things like cuts or holes that do not go deep.)
|
surface (Usually used before nouns (surface damage, surface crack); clearly indicates only the outside is affected.)
Antonime
deep (Describes damage or injuries that go far below the surface.)
|
penetrating (More technical; used for injuries or forces that go deep inside something.)
Colocații
a superficial wound
|superficial damage
|a superficial cut
|a superficial layer
|superficial burn
|relatively superficial
Teme
health
|science
|physical_world
|body
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- The cut on his arm looked serious, but the doctor said it was only superficial.
- The building suffered only superficial damage in the storm.
- These scratches are superficial and can easily be polished out.
- The burn is superficial and affects only the outer layer of skin.
- Although the crack appears long, it is fairly superficial and does not affect the structure.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The dog bit him, but the wound was superficial.
- The car has some superficial damage to the paint.
- Her injuries are mostly superficial cuts and bruises.
- The knife made only a superficial cut on his hand.
- The storm caused superficial damage to the roof.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
superficial
IPA
GB/sˌupɚfˈɪʃəl/
US/sˌupɚfˈɪʃəl/
Silabe și accent
su - per - fi - cial (4 silabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (per)
Forme ale cuvântului
Adjective
- Base: superficial
Familie de cuvinte
Core family
superficially
adverb B2
Related words
surface
noun A2
superficiality
noun
Expresii
on a superficial level
1/ˈɔn ə sˌupɚfˈɪʃəl lˈɛvəl/
fixed phrase
if you look only at the surface
If you look only at the easy, obvious parts of something and not at the deeper or more important parts.
Exemple
- On a superficial level the two plans look the same, but they would lead to very different results.
- The movie seems simple on a superficial level, but it raises serious questions about power and control.
- On a superficial level their lives appear perfect, yet they both feel very lonely.