核心畫面

One way to hold it: a scale that does not tip. The word is built from 'in-' (not) + 'different' — literally 'making no difference between things'. Picture someone looking at two options and feeling no pull toward either one. From that flat, position come both modern meanings: a person who is not pulled toward caring, and a thing that is not good enough to pull anyone's attention.

一個不會傾斜的天平。這個字拆開來是 in-(不)加 different(有差別),字面上就是「兩邊沒有差別」——把兩更多收起一個不會傾斜的天平。這個字拆開來是 in-(不)加 different(有差別),字面上就是「兩邊沒有差別」——把兩樣東西放上去,天平動也不動。這個「不動、不偏、沒有拉力」的姿態,是後面兩個意思共同的底。用在人身上,就是心裡不被拉動、不被牽引;用在東西身上,就是它本身沒有任何值得被拉過去的地方。

From the word’s history

From Latin 'indifferens' = 'not differing, making no difference' (in- 'not' + differens, present participle of differre 'to differ, carry apart'). The sense of 'showing no preference between two things' is the literal reading, and both modern uses stay close to it.

來自拉丁文 indifferens,字面是「不構成差別的」:in-(不)加上 differre(有差異、分開)。所以最原始的意思是「這兩邊對我來說沒有差別」——不偏向、不選邊。從這個字面義往外走一步,就是人心裡毫無偏好、毫無牽動(冷漠);再往東西身上走一步,就是它既不突出也不糟糕,落在誰都不會多看一眼的中間地帶(平庸)。

Etymonline / Oxford English Dictionary entry for 'indifferent' (< Latin indifferens 'not differing, of no consequence')

Two branches

人不被牽動:冷漠

天平不傾斜的畫面放在人心上:別人的處境擺在眼前,卻沒有在他心裡造成任何差別,所以他不動。

uninterested, uncaring · adjective · C2

Not interested in someone or something, and often not caring about their feelings or problems.

冷漠

東西沒有亮點:平庸

同一個不傾斜的天平換到物品或表現上:它既不好到讓人稱讚、也不壞到讓人抱怨,所以停在中間,誰也不會被它拉過去。

mediocre · adjective · C2

Not very good, but not terrible either; only of ordinary quality.

平庸

原始詞典資料11 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法,原文照列,我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的;有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

indifferentadj/ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/

  • 1

    Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.

    • He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn’t affect him, either way.
    • “I must not hope to be ever situated as you are, in the midst of every dearest connexion, and therefore I cannot expect that simply growing older should make me indifferent about letters.” / “Indifferent! Oh! no—I never conceived you could become indifferent. Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very positive curse.”
  • 2

    Indicating or reflecting a lack of concern or care.

    • She responded with an indifferent shrug.
    • Donald appeared not to see her at all, and answered her wise little remarks with curtly indifferent monosyllables […]
  • 3

    Mediocre (usually used negatively in modern usage).

    • The long distance and the indifferent roads made the journey impossible.
    • The Blue Jays' performance has been indifferent this season.
  • 4

    Having no preference.

    • I am indifferent between the two plans.
    • Let Guilt or Fear / Disturb Man’s Rest: Cato knows neither of ’em, / Indiff’rent in his Choice to sleep or die.
  • 5

    datedUnbiased, impartial, judging fairly.

    • On October 7, 1640, the Massachusetts General Court attempted to solve the problem by a law stating that property seized for debts was to be assessed "at such prizes [prices] as the same shalbee valewed [shall be valued] at by 3 understanding and indifferent men, to bee chosen, the one by the creditor, another by the debtor, and the third by the marshall […]"
  • 6

    Not making a difference; without significance or importance.

    • Even if one appliance consumes an indifferent amount of energy when left on stand-by overnight, together they can represent 10% of the electricity demand of a household.
    • […] But I am arm’d, / And dangers are to me indifferent.
  • 7

    engineeringmechanical-engineeringmechanicsBeing in the state of neutral equilibrium.

  • 8

    obsoleteNot different; matching.

    • […] let their heads be sleekly comb’d, their blue coats brush’d and their garters of an indifferent knit

indifferentnoun/ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/

  • 1

    A person who is indifferent or apathetic.

indifferentadv/ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/

  • 1

    obsoleteTo some extent, in some degree (intermediate between very and not at all); moderately, tolerably, fairly.

    • The face of the Moon appearing to me to be full of indifferent high mountains.
    • Get thee [to] a Nunry, why wouldst thou be a breeder of ſinners, I am my ſelfe indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse mee of ſuch things, that it were better my Mother had not bourne mee […]
  • 2

    obsoleteWithout distinction or preference for some over others.

    • Newton. My Maſters, you that be the chiefeſt of the rout, The King intreats you kindly here by me, To come and ſpeake with him a word or two. Iacke Straw. Sirra, if the King would any thinge with vs, Tell him the way is indifferent to meete vs. Newton. You are too many to be talkt with all, […]

資料來源:英文維基詞典 English WiktionaryCC BY-SA 4.0)。 原文照列,未經改寫。