🇬🇧🇨🇳 superficial - 浅 : English Lesson

Meaning of "superficial" ("浅"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

If something is superficial, it only has to do with the top or outside layer and not what’s deep inside. It can also mean that someone only cares about looks or small, unimportant things instead of what really matters.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Tom gave his room a superficial cleaning by shoving everything under the bed and calling it “modern interior design.”

Her interest in space was superficial; she just wanted to know if aliens delivered pizza faster than humans.

My study session was superficial; I just stared at the book until the book probably learned more about me than I learned about it.

His apology was superficial, because he said, “I’m sorry you saw me steal your fries,” instead of, “I’m sorry I stole your fries.”

The crack on the phone screen was superficial, but my panic was not—I screamed so loudly that Siri tried to call a therapist.

She painted a superficial shine over the old bench, hiding a superficial crack. He touched the wood and felt a superficial warmth, then a deeper rot under paint. Her smile stayed superficial during their superficial talk; he put a bandage on the superficial scrape and hugged her. They both sighed softly.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.