insubstantial
実体のない
解説 Definition
実体や中身がなく、薄っぺらで頼りない様子。根拠が乏しいこと。
Insubstantial means not solid, strong, real, or important enough. It can describe something physical that seems slight or weak, or something abstract like evidence, profit, or an argument that lacks weight or value.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず substantial を「かなりの・中身のある」と押さえると、in- が付いた insubstantial はその反対で「中身がない、実体が薄い」と取りやすいです。substance「中身・実質」が見えない状態だと考えると定着しやすい語。議論・証拠・説明なら「根拠が弱い」、人や物の見た目なら「薄く頼りない」という感覚で使えます。subtle のような『繊細で目立たない』とは違い、こちらは『実質不足』に注意。
See the base word `substantial` first: it suggests something solid, serious, or with real content. Then `insubstantial` becomes easier to remember as "not substantial." Use `substance` as your anchor word, so you connect it with weak evidence, thin arguments, or something that seems almost unreal.
例文
The evidence presented was too insubstantial to support a conviction.
提示された証拠は有罪判決を裏付けるにはあまりにも実体がなかった。
The ghostly figure appeared insubstantial, as though made of mist.
その幽霊のような姿は霧でできたかのように実体がなく見えた。
His argument was insubstantial and failed to convince anyone.
彼の議論は中身がなく、誰も納得させることができなかった。
insubstantial の類義語・関連語
類義語
紛らわしい語
insubstantial の語源・成り立ち Etymology
中世ラテン語 insubstantialis に由来し、in-「ない」+ substantial から成ります。substance はラテン語 substantia（sub-「下に」+ stare「立つ」）で「下で支えるもの」→「実体・本質」、だから insubstantial は「実体が伴わない」。関連語は substance, substantial。
Insubstantial comes from Medieval Latin insubstantialis, made from in- "not" and substantial. The root substance goes back to Latin substantia, from sub- "under" and stare "to stand," with the sense of something that stands underneath and supports. Because of that, insubstantial came to mean lacking real substance, solidity, or firm reality.
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