inferior

将“inferior”与“in-fer-i-or”这一结构相结合，记忆方法是：“in”代表向下，“fer”与“infer”相似，可以联想为将某物放下，而“ior”表示比较级。整体记忆为：将某物向下放置，代表比...低级。

inferior 低等的

来自拉丁语infra,在下面的，低的，词源同nether,-ior,比较级后缀。即更下的，更低的，引申词义低等的。

inferior

inferior: see under

inferior (adj.)

early 15c., of land, "low, lower," from Latin inferior "lower, further down" (also used figuratively), comparative of inferus (adj.) "that is below or beneath," from infra "below" (see infra-). Meaning "lower in degree, rank, or importance" is from 1530s; also in an absolute sense, "of low quality or rank."

inferior (n.)

"person inferior to another in rank, etc.," early 15c., from inferior (adj.).

1. He preferred the company of those who were intellectually inferior to himself.

他喜欢与那些智力水平不如他的人共处。

2. Joseph made sure that he was never palmed off with inferior stuff.

约瑟夫确保自己从不会被骗买一些次等原料。

3. Most career women make me feel inferior.

大部分职业女性让我感到自己不如她们。

4. to make sb feel inferior

使某人自惭形秽

5. I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.

我不愿花这么多钱买次品.

【minor, inferior, secondary, subordinate】
这组词都有“次等”的意思，其区别是：
minor: a较少的，较小的，较次要的，常含有轻微的但并非不重要的意思。
• We agreed on everything in the contract, even minor points. 我们对合同中的一切问题，甚至是细枝末节都达成了一致。
inferior: a.次等的，较劣的，差的，当"下级"讲时，强调职位的高低；当"次等"讲时，指素质、质量等的低劣。
• Most wine from Switzerland is inferior to wine from France. 产于瑞士的葡萄酒多数要比法国的差。
secondary: a.第二等的，次要的，强调在重要性或顺序上处于第二位。
• My job is of secondary importance to my health. 我的工作比起身体来说不那么重要。
subordinate: a.次要的，从属的，下级的，强调主次地位或支配和隶属的关系。
• He was always friendly to his subordinate officers. 她对下级官员一向和蔼可亲。