- 1
A perfunctory action is done in a , careless way, only because someone is supposed to do it. The key is that it was done — the box is ticked — but with no real thought or feeling behind it.
A perfunctory action perfunctory的動作 is done in a hurried, careless way是用匆忙、隨便的方式做的, only because someone is supposed to do it純粹只是因為該做而已。The key is重點是 that it was done它確實做了 — the box is ticked勾選框打勾了 — but with no real thought or feeling behind it但背後沒有真正的想法或感情。
A perfunctory apology, a perfunctory nod, a perfunctory search of your bag, a perfunctory round of applause that stops after four seconds, a perfunctory email reply of two words. It nearly always goes in front of a noun that names an action or a gesture, and it nearly always comes with quiet : the speaker noticed the emptiness.
A perfunctory apology敷衍的道歉, a perfunctory nod敷衍的點頭, a perfunctory search of your bag敷衍地搜你的包包, a perfunctory round of applause敷衍式的鼓掌 that stops after four seconds四秒就停下來, a perfunctory email reply of two words只有兩個字的敷衍電郵回覆。It它 nearly always goes in front of a noun幾乎都放在名詞前面 that names an action or a gesture指動作或姿態的, and it nearly always comes with quiet disapproval而且幾乎都帶著不動聲色的不滿: the speaker noticed the emptiness說話者注意到了那種空洞。
This is exactly the idea of 敷衍 — going through the motions to satisfy someone.
This is exactly這正是 the Taiwanese idea of 敷衍台灣人說的「敷衍」 — going through the motions to satisfy someone做做樣子讓人交代得過去。
Two useful distinctions. It is not 'careless' in the sense of 'made mistakes'; the person may do it perfectly and still be perfunctory, because the fault is in the attention, not the result. And it is not 'brief' — a short warm apology is not perfunctory, while a long empty one can be.
Two useful distinctions兩個實用的區別。It它 is not 'careless'不是「careless」 in the sense of 'made mistakes'（粗心出錯）的意思; the person may do it perfectly一個人可能做得完美無缺 and still be perfunctory卻還是很perfunctory, because the fault is in the attention因為問題出在用不用心, not the result不是結果好不好。And it is not 'brief'它也不是「brief」 — a short warm apology簡短又溫暖的道歉 is not perfunctory不算perfunctory, while a long empty one而冗長卻空洞的 can be反而可能是。
The word is formal and written, common in reviews, reports, and journalism.
The word這個字 is formal and written正式且書面, common in reviews, reports, and journalism常出現在評論、報告、新聞報導裡。
組成From Late Latin perfunctōrius 'careless, done just to get it over with', built on perfungī 'to discharge a duty, get through' — per- 'through' + fungī 'to perform'. So the picture inside the word is a person pushing through a task to reach the end of it.
同家族的字
- functionsame Latin fungī 'to perform a role or job'
- defunctde- + fungī — 'done performing', dead or no longer operating
- functionalsame fungī root
原始詞典資料2 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。
perfunctoryadj/pəˈfʌŋk.t(ə)ɹɪ/
- 1
Done only or merely to conform to a minimal standard or to fulfill a protocol or presumptive duty.
- I caught the gist of what he was saying--which in effect was that he had found and captured this Galu, that she was his and that he defied anyone to question his right of possession. It appeared to me, as I afterward learned was the fact, that I was witnessing the most primitive of marriage ceremonies. The assembled members of the tribe looked on and listened in a sort of dull and perfunctory apathy, for the speaker was by far the mightiest of the clan.
- He then poured some wine for me to taste, and harassed me with perfunctory courtesies that had to be acknowledged.
- 2
Performed in a careless or indifferent manner as a thing of rote.
- He did a perfunctory job cleaning his dad's car, finishing quickly but leaving a few spots still dirty.
- Alternatively it may mean that a perfunctory search is enough to ensure that a purchase is acceptable, so less search is carried out.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。