Describes a person who is easily annoyed, argues about small things, and is unpleasant to deal with — someone who says no first and complains while doing it.

Describes a person形容一個人 who is easily annoyed容易生氣, argues about small things為小事爭論, and is unpleasant to deal with不好相處 — someone who says no first一開口就先說不, and complains while doing it一邊做還一邊抱怨

It is a strong word, but a warm-sounding one: it is often used about an old man, a grandfather, a neighbour, or a difficult but loved family member, and it can carry a small smile rather than real anger.

It is a strong word是個很重的詞, but a warm-sounding one但聽起來帶點溫度: it is often used about常常用來形容 an old man老先生, a grandfather爺爺, a neighbour鄰居, or a difficult but loved family member或難搞但大家還是愛的家人, and it can carry a small smile而且可能是帶著微笑說的, rather than real anger不是真的在生氣

Compare grumpy, which is milder and more temporary, and bad-tempered, which is plainer; cantankerous suggests that arguing is the person's settled character, not their mood today.

Compare跟 grumpy「grumpy」比, which is milder and more temporary那個比較溫和也比較一時, and跟 bad-tempered「bad-tempered」比, which is plainer那個講得比較白; cantankerous suggests thatcantankerous暗示的是, arguing is the person's settled character愛爭辯是這個人固定的性格, not their mood today不是今天心情不好

It is a slightly literary, storybook word — common in novels, reviews, and jokes, less common in a serious complaint about a real colleague, where it would sound too colourful. You can also use it of a machine or an animal that will not cooperate: a cantankerous old car, a cantankerous mule.

It is a slightly literary, storybook word是個有點文學、故事書的詞 — common in novels, reviews, and jokes常出現在小說、評論和玩笑裡, less common in a serious complaint about a real colleague比較少用在對真實同事的正經抱怨裡, where it would sound too colourful因為那樣聽起來太花俏了. You can also use it你也可以拿它 of a machine or an animal that will not cooperate形容不聽話的機器或動物: a cantankerous old car一台脾氣古怪的老車, a cantankerous mule一頭脾氣古怪的騾子