B2 adjective 중립

tense

/tens/

Describes a person who is nervous, anxious, and unable to relax, often accompanied by physical stiffness. It also refers to a situation, relationship, or atmosphere characterized by strain, potential conflict, or extreme pressure.

예시

3 / 5
1

I always feel incredibly tense before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.

I always feel incredibly nervous and stressed before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.

2

Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained tense for several months.

Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained strained for several months.

3

You need to relax; you're way too tense about this minor problem.

You need to relax; you're way too stressed about this minor problem.

어휘 가족

명사
tension
Verb
tense
부사
tensely
형용사
tense
관련
tenseness
💡

암기 팁

Think of a 'Tense Tennis' player. Before a high-stakes serve, their muscles are 'tense' (tight) and the atmosphere is 'tense' (strained).

빠른 퀴즈

The air in the room was ____ as everyone waited for the election results to be announced.

정답!

정답은: tense

예시

1

I always feel incredibly tense before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.

everyday

I always feel incredibly nervous and stressed before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.

2

Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained tense for several months.

formal

Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained strained for several months.

3

You need to relax; you're way too tense about this minor problem.

informal

You need to relax; you're way too stressed about this minor problem.

4

The researcher noted a tense dynamic between the control group and the experimental subjects.

academic

The researcher noted a strained dynamic between the control group and the experimental subjects.

5

The atmosphere in the boardroom became tense when the merger was suddenly cancelled.

business

The atmosphere in the boardroom became filled with pressure when the merger was suddenly cancelled.

어휘 가족

명사
tension
Verb
tense
부사
tensely
형용사
tense
관련
tenseness

자주 쓰는 조합

tense atmosphere a feeling of strain or nervousness in a specific environment
tense muscles physical tightness in the body caused by stress or effort
grow tense to gradually become more nervous or strained
tense silence a quiet moment filled with anxiety or unspoken conflict
tense situation a scenario that is likely to lead to trouble or an outburst

자주 쓰는 구문

tense up

to make one's muscles or body rigid due to fear or stress

a tense standoff

a situation where two opponents are waiting for the other to act, filled with pressure

break the tension

to do something to make a strained situation more relaxed

자주 혼동되는 단어

tense vs intense

Intense refers to an extreme degree, depth, or strength (e.g., intense heat), while tense refers to a state of mental or physical strain.

tense vs verb tense

Grammatical 'tense' (past, present) is a noun, whereas 'tense' as an adjective describes emotional or physical state.

📝

사용 참고사항

Use 'tense' to describe both people (internal feelings) and environments (external vibes). It often implies that something is 'stretched' to its limit and might break or explode.

⚠️

자주 하는 실수

Learners sometimes use 'intense' when they mean 'tense'—remember that 'tense' is about stress/tightness, while 'intense' is about power/degree.

💡

암기 팁

Think of a 'Tense Tennis' player. Before a high-stakes serve, their muscles are 'tense' (tight) and the atmosphere is 'tense' (strained).

📖

어원

Derived from the Latin word 'tensus', the past participle of 'tendere', meaning 'to stretch'.

문법 패턴

Commonly used after linking verbs: 'to feel tense', 'to look tense', 'to become tense'. Can be used as a causative verb: 'to tense one's shoulders'.

빠른 퀴즈

The air in the room was ____ as everyone waited for the election results to be announced.

정답!

정답은: tense

관련 단어

pale

A1

Describes something that has very little color or is much lighter than usual. It is often used to describe a person's face when they are ill or a color that is mixed with a lot of white.

lung

A1

The lungs are two organs inside your chest that you use to breathe. They bring oxygen into your body and remove carbon dioxide when you breathe out.

tropical

A1

Relating to the hot regions of the Earth near the equator. It describes weather that is very warm and wet, or plants and animals that come from these areas.

trader

A1

A trader is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods, stocks, or other items for profit. They can work in a small local market or on large international financial exchanges.

indoor

A1

Describes something that is located, happens, or is used inside a building rather than outside. It is an adjective used before a noun to talk about activities or objects protected from the weather.

threshold

A1

A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.

tribute

A1

A tribute is something that you say, do, or give to show your respect and admiration for someone. It is often a public act used to honor a person's life, work, or memory.

elder

A1

Used to describe a person who is older than another, especially within a family. It is also used to refer to people who have a high status or more experience because of their age.

russian

A1

Relating to Russia, its people, its language, or its culture. It describes things that come from or are connected to the largest country in the world.

southeastern

A1

Located in or coming from the direction between south and east. It describes a place, a region, or a wind that is in the corner between the bottom and the right on a map.

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