flaw

flaw

基本释义

[noun] a mark, fault, or other imperfection that mars a substance or object
[名词] 损坏物质或物体的污点、缺陷或其他瑕疵

深入解读

Flaw 是一个与熟词 floor （英 [flɔː(r)] 美 [flɔːr] ）发音较为相似的单词，比较简单好记，就是在熟词 law 前面多加了一个字母 F 。

该词与小站之前在 熟词僻义 | 你的英语热情 flag 了没？ 中提到的作铺路、铺小径等用的“石板、扁石、板石”之义的 flag 同源，都是源自古北欧语 flaga （石板、石层），14世纪初进入英语后原作“雪花”，并在中古英语时期表示“火花、尖碎片”。

等到了16世纪80年代后， flaw 大概是从碎片破裂这个概念出发， 开始发展出今义先是指人性格上的“缺点、缺陷、弱点”，即一个人性格中所具有的某种不受欢迎的品质，比如：

• 看到他皱起眉头，她赶紧解释。他性格中的唯一缺点好像就是脾气急。
  She saw his frown and hastened to explain. The only flaw in his character seemed to be a short temper.

随后到了17世纪后， flaw 又被用来形容物质、物体的“裂痕、裂隙、裂缝”以及“缺陷、瑕疵”，多指某种损害事物整体性、一致性的缺陷或瑕疵，可能损害完美表面或者导致结构薄弱，比如：

• 这块布料有瑕疵。退或者不退，我把这件事留给你自己斟酌决定。
  The material has a flaw in it. Return it or not, I’ll leave it up to you to use your discretion.

除此之外， flaw 也可以用来指“错误、谬误”，即计划、理论、论点、法律文件等中存在的错误缺陷，会导致失败或不那么有效，比如：

• 她发表了富有说服力的演讲，呼吁采取行动。但她的论点充满根本性的错误。
  She made an eloquent appeal for action. But her argument was full of fundamental flaws.

权威用例

制度的结构性缺陷导致美国种族不平等日益加剧。
Structural flaws in its system have led to increasing racial inequality in the United States.

出自《2021年美国侵犯人权报告》（The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021）。

外刊例句

• Instead of chasing this chimera, ordinary investors should use technology to correct for their innate flaws.
  普通投资者应该运用科技来矫正他们的固有缺陷，而不是水中捉月。
  ——《经济学人》
• But if the flaws diminished what Maradona was, they burnished what he represented to those who watched him, those who adored him.
  但就算这些缺陷损害了曾经的马拉多纳，对关注他、崇拜他的人来说，它们仍擦亮了他所代表的东西。
  ——《纽约时报》

详细用法

1. Fatal flaw – 致命缺陷

• His lack of attention to detail proved to be his fatal flaw in the project. (他对细节的不注意成为了他在项目中的致命缺陷。)

2. Character flaw – 人格缺陷

• Jealousy is one of his character flaws that often leads to conflicts with others. (嫉妒是他的一个人格缺陷，常常导致与他人发生冲突。)

3. Flawed logic – 有缺陷的逻辑

• His argument is based on flawed logic and cannot be considered valid. (他的论点基于有缺陷的逻辑，不能被视为有效。)

4. Inherent flaw – 固有缺陷

• The system has an inherent flaw that makes it vulnerable to cyber attacks. (该系统存在固有缺陷，使其容易受到网络攻击。)

5. Major flaw – 重大缺陷

• The design has a major flaw that compromises the structural integrity of the building. (这个设计存在一个重大缺陷，危及了建筑物的结构完整性。)

6. Hidden flaw – 隐蔽缺陷

• The used car had a hidden flaw that the seller failed to disclose. (这辆二手车存在一个隐蔽缺陷，卖家没有披露。)

7. Flawed reasoning – 有缺陷的推理

• His flawed reasoning led him to wrong conclusions about the problem. (他有缺陷的推理导致他对问题做出了错误的结论。)

8. Systematic flaw – 系统性缺陷

• The company discovered a systematic flaw in their quality control process. (公司发现了他们质量控制过程中的一个系统性缺陷。)

9. Structural flaw – 结构性缺陷

• The bridge collapsed due to a structural flaw that was overlooked during construction. (这座桥因为在建造过程中被忽视的结构性缺陷而倒塌。)

10. Inherent flaw – 内在缺陷 – There is an inherent flaw in the software that causes it to crash frequently. (这个软件存在一个内在缺陷，导致它经常崩溃。)

11. Flawed assumption – 有缺陷的假设 – His argument is based on flawed assumptions that are not supported by evidence. (他的论点建立在有缺陷的假设上，这些假设没有得到证据的支持。)

12. Design flaw – 设计缺陷 – The product failed due to a design flaw that affected its functionality. (这个产品由于设计缺陷而失效，影响了其功能性。)

13. Flawless performance – 无瑕疵的表现 – The actor delivered a flawless performance in the play, impressing the audience. (这位演员在戏剧中表现得无瑕疵，给观众留下了深刻的印象。)

14. Flawed experiment – 有缺陷的实验 – The results of the study were inconclusive due to flawed experimental procedures. (由于实验程序有缺陷，这项研究的结果不确定。)

15. Flawed strategy – 有缺陷的策略 – The company’s flawed marketing strategy led to a decline in sales. (公司有缺陷的营销策略导致销售额下降。)

16. Flawed implementation – 有缺陷的实施 – The project failed due to a flawed implementation of the proposed plan. (由于对提议计划的实施有缺陷，项目失败了。)

17. Flawless beauty – 无瑕疵的美丽 – The model’s flawless beauty captivated everyone on the runway. (模特的无瑕疵美丽吸引了舞台上的每个人。)

18. Flawed concept – 有缺陷的概念 – The artist’s painting was criticized for its flawed concept and lack of originality. (这位艺术家的绘画因概念有缺陷和缺乏原创性而受到批评。)

19. Flawed interpretation – 有缺陷的解释 – The flawed interpretation of the data led to incorrect conclusions. (对数据的有缺陷解释导致了错误的结论。)

20. Flawless execution – 无瑕疵的执行 – The project was completed with flawless execution, meeting all the requirements and deadlines. (该项目在无瑕疵的执行下完成，满足了所有的要求和期限。)

21. Flawed system – 有缺陷的系统 – The company’s flawed payment system caused numerous errors and delays. (公司有缺陷的支付系统导致了许多错误和延迟。)

22. Flawless reputation – 无瑕疵的声誉 – The company has built a flawless reputation for delivering high-quality products and services. (该公司以提供高质量的产品和服务建立了无瑕疵的声誉。)

23. Flawed technique – 有缺陷的技术 – The athlete’s flawed technique resulted in poor performance during the competition. (运动员有缺陷的技术导致了比赛中表现不佳。)

24. Flawless design – 无瑕疵的设计 – The architect’s flawless design won the admiration of both professionals and the public. (建筑师无瑕疵的设计赢得了专业人士和公众的钦佩。)

25. Flawed judgment – 有缺陷的判断 – His flawed judgment led him to make the wrong decision in a critical situation. (他有缺陷的判断导致他在关键时刻做出了错误的决定。)

26. Flawless grammar – 无瑕疵的语法 – The writer’s flawless grammar and syntax made the book a pleasure to read. (作家无瑕疵的语法和句法使这本书成为了一种愉快的阅读体验。)

27. Flawed experiment – 有缺陷的实验 – The flawed experimental design compromised the reliability of the study’s findings. (实验设计有缺陷，影响了研究结果的可靠性。)

28. Flawless performance – 无瑕疵的表现 – The musician’s flawless performance left the audience in awe. (音乐家无瑕疵的表现让观众惊叹不已。)

29. Flawed argument – 有缺陷的论证 – The speaker’s flawed argument failed to convince the audience of his point of view. (演讲者有缺陷的论证未能说服观众接受他的观点。)

30. Flawless accuracy – 无瑕疵的准确性 – The scientist’s research was praised for its flawless accuracy and attention to detail. (这位科学家的研究因其无瑕疵的准确性和对细节的关注而受到赞扬。)

同近义词

defect: a shortcoming, imperfection, or lack
blemish: a small mark or flaw which spoils the appearance of something
fault: an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature, especially in a piece of work or in a person’s character