Cool MateDelicate vs He’s a sensitive kid
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Delicate
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
He’s a sensitive kid
Top 2,000 (common)
| Delicate | He’s a sensitive kid | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsɛnsɪtɪv//🇺🇸 //ˈsɛnsɪtɪv// |
| Meaning | Easily broken or damaged; fragile. | He feels emotions a lot. |
| Example | The delicate porcelain vase shattered when it fell from the shelf. | He’s a sensitive kid who often cries during movies. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very | sensitive issue, sensitive information, sensitive personality, sensitive hearing |
| Antonyms | sturdy, robust, strong | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'delicious' — they sound similar but have different meanings., Using 'delicate' to describe something strong or resilient., Omitting context; remember 'delicate' usually refers to physical or emotional sensitivity. | Confused with 'sensitive' vs 'sensual'., Using 'sensitive' to mean emotionally strong., Misplacing the emphasis on the negative connotation. |
| Usage notes | Use 'delicate' to describe things that require careful handling, like fine china or fragile emotions. It’s generally appropriate in a variety of contexts but avoid using it in overly casual speech. | Use 'sensitive' to describe someone who is easily affected by feelings. Appropriate in friendly or caring contexts. Avoid using it sarcastically. |
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Frequently asked questions: Delicate vs He’s a sensitive kid
What's the difference between Delicate and He’s a sensitive kid?
Delicate: Easily broken or damaged; fragile. He’s a sensitive kid: He feels emotions a lot.
Can you show an example of each?
Delicate: The delicate porcelain vase shattered when it fell from the shelf. He’s a sensitive kid: He’s a sensitive kid who often cries during movies.
Can I use Delicate and He’s a sensitive kid interchangeably?
Not always. Delicate and He’s a sensitive kid are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.