hardness 指“硬度;坚硬程度”,常用于描述材料抵抗压痕、刮擦或形变的能力;也可引申为“严厉、冷酷”的程度(较少见)。
/ˈhɑːrdnəs/
The hardness of the steel makes it suitable for cutting tools.
钢的硬度使它适合用作切削工具。
Although he admired her strength, he struggled with the hardness in her voice when she refused to forgive him.
尽管他钦佩她的坚强,但当她拒绝原谅他时,她声音里的那种冷硬让他难以承受。
hardness 由形容词 hard(硬的)+ 名词后缀 -ness(表示“……的状态/性质”)构成,字面意思就是“硬的状态/性质”。hard 源自古英语 heard,有“坚硬、强壮、严厉”之意。