词性:adj
音标:[ˈɑːrbɪtreri]
释义:任意的,随机的,不按照规定,规矩的,武断的,专政的。Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
Synonyms: capricious, random, chance
Something that’s arbitrary seems like it’s chosen at random instead of following a consistent rule. Team members would dislike their coach using a totally arbitrary method to pick starting players.
Even though arbitrary comes from a word meaning “judge” (arbiter), that doesn’t mean judges are always fair. Calling a decision-maker arbitrary is usually a negative thing, suggesting the person is making rules based on whim rather than justice. A coach who selects starting players arbitrarily isn’t strictly applying a rule; he could just be picking names out of a hat.
“The company’s arbitrary termination of employees without any notice was deemed illegal.”(公司无故解雇员工,被认为是非法的。)
“The arbitrary enforcement of the rules led to widespread dissatisfaction among the students.”(规则的任意执行,引起了学生们的广泛不满。)
口语中的用法:
在口语中,“arbitrary”的使用稍显随意,但通常用来描述某些决定是没有任何逻辑或理由的。
例如:
“Why did you choose this restaurant? It seems so arbitrary.”(你为什么选择这家餐厅?看起来毫无理由。)
“The teacher’s grading system is so arbitrary.”(老师的评分系统太随意了。)
例句分析:
“You’re too arbitrary, commander.”(你太武断了,指挥官。)——来自电影《Forbidden Planet》(1956)
“It’s too arbitrary. It’s unreasonable.”(这太武断了,不合情理。)——来自《Malcolm in the Middle》(2000)
“So you’re suggesting that the author just arbitrarily made fun of Sarah Jessica Parker for no reason.”(所以你是说作者毫无理由地拿Sarah Jessica Parker开涮?)——来自《South Park》(1997)
“Look at Planck’s constant. People say that’s arbitrary.”(看看普朗克常数。有人说那是任意的。)