petulance(名词):任性、急躁、爱发脾气(尤指因小事而不耐烦的情绪或行为)。常用于描述一种不成熟的恼怒或孩子气的怨气。(也可泛指“无礼、放肆”,但现代常用义多指“闹脾气般的不耐烦”。)
/ˈpɛtʃʊləns/
Her petulance disappeared once she realized there had been a misunderstanding.
当她意识到只是误会后,她的闹脾气就消失了。
The manager tried to stay calm, but the employee’s petulance during the meeting undermined the team’s trust and slowed down the discussion.
经理努力保持冷静,但那位员工在会议上的任性与急躁削弱了团队信任,也拖慢了讨论进度。
源自拉丁语 petulantia,与 petulans(“冲动的、鲁莽的、放肆的”)相关,原本强调“冒失、放肆”的气质;进入英语后逐渐更常用于描述因不顺心而表现出的不耐烦、闹情绪,带有“孩子气”的评价色彩。