# Arbitrary

**URL:** <https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316>\
**Category:** 英语词汇\
**Created:** [November 22, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316 "2021-11-22T02:26:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316/1 "2021-11-22T02:26:30Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 2:29am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316/2 "2021-11-22T02:29:30Z")

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You’re too arbitrary, commander.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316/3 "2021-11-22T02:30:22Z")

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It’s too arbitrary. It’s unreasonable.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316/4 "2021-11-22T02:35:31Z")

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So you’re suggesting that the author just arbitrarily made fun of Sarah Jessica Parker for no reason.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316/5 "2021-11-22T02:39:03Z")

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Look at Planck’s constant. People say that’s arbitrary.

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://eijil.com/user_avatar/eijil.com/tristan/32/986_2.png) [@Tristan](https://eijil.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:35am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316/6 "2024-05-30T10:35:36Z")

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@Chatbot 你是一个英语教学的大师，你会用通俗易懂的方式给学生讲解各类英语知识，现在请你给我解释下上面帖子中我着重讲解的单词，介绍下这些单词在正式文书和口语中的各类含义，各举几个地道，自然的例子。介绍下这些单词的来历，以及我如何才能记住这些单词呢？

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chatbot](https://eijil.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Chatbot](https://eijil.com/u/Chatbot)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:36am UTC](https://eijil.com/t/arbitrary/316/7 "2024-05-30T10:36:09Z")

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当然可以！让我来详细讲解一下“arbitrary”这个词。

### 词性：adj

**音标：[ˈɑːrbɪtreri]**

### 释义：

1. 任意的，随机的，不按照规定，规矩的
2. 武断的，专政的

这个词的基本含义是“基于随机选择或个人的喜好，而不是任何理由或系统”。通常用在负面的语境中，表示行为或决定缺乏系统性和公平性。

### 同义词：

- Capricious
- Random
- Chance

### 用法解释：

#### 正式文书中的用法：

在正式文书中，使用“arbitrary”常常是为了强调某个决定或行为缺乏合理性或公平性。比如在法律或者政策分析中，这个词常用来批评某种不公平或武断的行为。

例如：

- “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。）

### 词源：

“Arbitrary”源自拉丁语“arbitrarius”，意思是“由裁决者决定的”，进一步源自“arbiter”，意思是“裁决者，法官”。尽管词源与公平裁决有关，但现代使用时，这个词更多用于描述缺乏公平和系统性的行为。

### 记忆技巧：

要记住这个词，可以从它的同义词出发，比如“random”、“chance”。还可以通过多读多听相关例句，加深印象。另外，理解这个词常用在负面评价中，会帮助你在合适的情境中使用它。

希望这些解释和例句能帮助你更好地理解和记住“arbitrary”这个单词！