/kəˈpriːs/
突然的、无理由的想法或行为变化;任性,反复无常。指一个人心血来潮、没有明确理由就改变主意或行为的倾向。
She bought the expensive dress on a caprice, without even trying it on.
她一时兴起买了那条昂贵的裙子,连试都没试。
The director was known for his artistic caprice, often changing the entire script days before filming began, leaving the cast scrambling to memorize new lines.
这位导演以其艺术上的任性著称,常常在开拍前几天就把整个剧本改掉,让演员们手忙脚乱地背新台词。
该词源自意大利语 capriccio,最初的意思是"惊恐、毛骨悚然",由 capo(头)和 riccio(刺猬)组合而成,字面意思是"像刺猬一样竖起头发",形容人因惊吓而头发竖立的样子。后来词义逐渐演变,从"突然的惊恐"转为"突然的念头",最终变成今天"任性、反复无常"的意思。该词于17世纪经法语传入英语。