/ɪmˈpɛtʃuəs/
形容词,指做事冲动、鲁莽、不经深思熟虑就行动的。形容一个人容易凭一时的情绪或热情做出决定,而不考虑后果。
She made an impetuous decision to quit her job without having another one lined up.
她冲动地决定辞职,却没有找好下一份工作。
His impetuous nature often led him into trouble, but it also gave him the courage to seize opportunities that others would hesitate to take.
他冲动的性格常常让他陷入麻烦,但也赋予了他抓住别人犹豫不决的机会的勇气。
源自拉丁语 impetuous,由 impetus(冲力、猛攻)派生而来。impetus 本身由前缀 **in-**(向内、朝向)和 petere(追求、攻击)组成。该词经由古法语 impetueux 进入英语,最初用来形容风暴或河流等自然力量的猛烈,后来引申为形容人的性格冲动、鲁莽。