vicious
意味一覧 (5件)
悪質な
解説 Definition
行為・情報・状況の性質が、被害を生んだり広げたりするほど質が悪いこと。vicious rumor, vicious cycle, vicious attack のように、個体の性格よりも、攻撃・中傷・悪循環・嵐などの有害さや激しさを評します。
Vicious means very cruel, violent, or deliberately harmful. It can also describe something extremely severe or intense, such as a vicious attack, comment, or cycle. The word has a strong negative meaning.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
このエントリの vicious は、人物の残忍さそのものではなく、発言・噂・攻撃・循環・天候などが人に被害を与えるほど「たちが悪い」ことを表します。vicious rumor は人を傷つける噂、vicious cycle は害が次の害を呼ぶ悪循環です。基本義の「残忍な」と別に、抽象的な対象にも広がる用法として、harmful, damaging, nasty に近い働きを意識すると整理しやすいです。
Remember `vicious` through the phrase `vicious cycle`. That phrase shows the word is often about something harmful that keeps causing damage, not only about a violent person or animal. Keep it separate from `ferocious`, which is more about wild physical aggression.
例文
The vicious attack shocked the entire community.
その激しい攻撃はコミュニティ全体に衝撃を与えました。
He made vicious comments about his rival.
彼はライバルについて悪質なコメントをしました。
The vicious storm damaged many buildings.
その激しい嵐は多くの建物に被害をもたらしました。
凶暴な
(意味 2)解説 Definition
人や動物が激しく攻撃的で、相手に危害を加えそうなときに使います。特に犬や犯人などについて、荒々しく危険であるという強い印象を与える語です。
Vicious describes a person or animal that is violently aggressive and likely to hurt someone. It is often used for dangerous dogs, criminals, or attacks that feel cruel and hard to stop. The word can also describe words, actions, or situations that are not only severe but also harmful or malicious. In phrases like "vicious cycle," it shows the idea of a bad pattern that keeps causing more harm.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
violent が「暴力的」なら、vicious はそこに「残酷さ・悪意」が乗る語だと覚えると整理しやすい。物理的に荒いだけでなく、性格・言葉・状況まで「ひどくて有害」なら使える。vicious dog, vicious attack, vicious rumor, vicious cycle が定番。特に vicious circle / cycle は「悪循環」で超頻出。単なる強さではなく、相手を傷つける嫌な激しさまで含むのがポイント。
If violent means "using force," vicious adds the idea of cruelty or malice. Use it when something is not only rough or strong, but also nasty and harmful. Common phrases like vicious dog, vicious attack, and especially vicious cycle can help you remember this wider meaning. The key idea is unpleasant aggression that hurts others.
例文
Be careful of that dog; it can become vicious when strangers come near the gate.
あの犬には気をつけて。知らない人が門に近づくと凶暴になることがある。
The police described it as a vicious attack that left two people seriously injured.
警察はそれを、2人が大けがを負った凶暴な襲撃だと説明した。
Online, a vicious rumor spread quickly and damaged her reputation.
ネット上では悪意あるひどいうわさが急速に広まり、彼女の評判を傷つけた。
意地悪な
(意味 3)解説 Definition
人の性格や発言、態度が人を傷つけるほど冷たく不親切なときに使います。単なる失礼ではなく、悪意や嫌らしさを感じさせる強めの表現です。
Vicious describes a person, comment, or attitude that is cruel in a way that can really hurt someone. It is stronger than simply being rude or unfriendly, because it suggests real meanness or bad intention. It is often used when someone says or does something in a cold, nasty, and harmful way.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
vicious はラテン語 vitium「欠陥・悪徳」に由来し、性格や行為に悪意があり人を傷つける「意地悪な」を表します。vicious attack や vicious rumor のように、単なる unkind より攻撃性が強い語です。vice「悪徳」と同じ根なので、心の欠陥が外へ鋭く出るイメージで覚えます。
Lunchtime is made from lunch + time, but in school or at work it often means the midday break, not only the meal itself. Just as break time means a time to rest, lunchtime often suggests a block of free time around noon. Think of phrases like at lunchtime, during lunchtime, and after lunchtime, and imagine part of your daily routine when you can eat, go outside, talk with friends, or finish small tasks.
例文
She gave me a vicious look after I answered the question.
彼女は私がその質問に答えたあと、意地悪な目つきを向けてきた。
His vicious comments made the new student feel unwelcome.
彼の意地悪な発言のせいで、その新しい生徒は歓迎されていないと感じた。
The article was criticized for its vicious tone toward the actress.
その記事は、その女優に対する意地悪な口調で批判された。
激しい
(意味 4)解説 Definition
攻撃、競争、嵐、痛みなどが非常に強く激烈であることを表します。人や動物の性格ではなく、出来事や作用の強さを述べるときの意味です。
Vicious describes something that is extremely strong, harsh, and harmful, such as an attack, a storm, competition, or pain. It often suggests not only intensity but also a cruel or damaging effect on others. In common use, it can describe words, actions, or situations that feel severe and hard to escape, as in a vicious rumor or a vicious cycle.
例文
The country suffered a vicious storm that destroyed hundreds of homes.
その国は何百もの家を壊す激しい嵐に見舞われた。
She launched a vicious attack on her opponent during the debate.
彼女は討論で相手に激しい攻撃を浴びせた。
Many families were trapped in a vicious cycle of debt and stress.
多くの家族が借金とストレスの激しい悪循環に陥っていた。
残忍な
(意味 5)解説 Definition
人や動物、行為が、相手を傷つけることをためらわないほど冷酷で暴力的な様子を表します。vicious dog や vicious criminal のように、危険で攻撃的な性質を強く示す場面で使われます。
Vicious describes a person, animal, or action that is dangerously violent and shows no hesitation about hurting others. It is often used for things like a vicious dog or a vicious criminal to show strong aggression and a real risk of harm. The word suggests cruelty as well as violence, not just simple anger.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
vicious は cruel「残酷な」や violent「暴力的な」と近く、人・動物・行為が相手を傷つける方向に向かう強い形容詞です。語尾 -ous は dangerous, poisonous のように「その性質を持つ」を作ります。ferocious は野生的な激しさ、brutal は乱暴で容赦ない感じが強め。vicious には別に「悪質な」という抽象的な用法もありますが、基本は噛みつく犬や冷酷な人物の危険さから押さえると覚えやすいです。
Think of vicious as close to cruel and violent, especially for a dangerous dog, a ruthless person, or a harmful act. The ending -ous, like in dangerous or poisonous, means "having that quality." Ferocious often sounds more wild, and brutal feels more rough and merciless, but vicious is a strong basic word for something likely to hurt others.
例文
The police warned people to stay away from the vicious dog.
警察は人々にその残忍な犬に近づかないよう警告した。
He was known as a vicious criminal who attacked anyone who got in his way.
彼は邪魔する相手は誰でも襲う残忍な犯罪者として知られていた。
The movie shows how a vicious act can destroy many lives.
その映画は、残忍な行為が多くの人生を壊してしまう様子を描いている。
vicious の語源・成り立ち Etymology
vicious は古フランス語を経て、ラテン語 vitium「欠点・悪徳」から派生した vitiosus に由来します。語幹 viti-/vit- に形容詞語尾 -ous がつき、vice や vitiate も同根なので、「欠陥に満ちた」が悪質なの意味へ強まった語です。
Vicious comes through Old French from Latin vitiosus, based on vitium meaning "fault," "defect," or "moral failing." It first described something full of faults or corruption. Over time the sense grew stronger, leading to the modern idea of cruelty or serious moral badness; related words include vice and vitiate.
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