内向还是外向?你是哪一种?

Introvert¹ or Extrovert². Which one are you? 内向还是外向?你是哪一种?

You are invited to a large party. Loud music is playing, and lots of people are dancing. Groups of people are mingling³ with each other, making small talk about many different topics.

What do you do? Do you mingle⁴ all night and talk to as many people as you can? Later, you cannot fall asleep -- you want more conversation!

Or do you prefer to have one-on-one conversations with just a few people? Maybe you find a quiet corner and people-watch. Or perhaps you cannot wait to go home early and relax by yourself.

Which of these people sound most like you? Person A, who tries to talk to everyone and stays late? Or Person B, who prefers to talk to only a few people and leaves early?

If you said Person A, you are probably more extroverted⁵. If you said Person B, you are probably more introverted. Or perhaps you are Person C and fall somewhere in the middle.   

Introvert vs. extrovert

Introvert and extrovert are two commonly used words to describe a person’s personality. And they are also commonly misused⁶ and misunderstood.

Introverts⁷ may be viewed as quiet, shy and timid. They may be called “wallflowers,” meaning they are so quiet they blend in with flowers on the wallpaper.

Extroverts⁸ may be viewed as bold, confident, loud and full of energy. They are often called “alpha,” meaning a leader of the group.

Introverted and extroverted people may fit those descriptions. But these same descriptions do not define introversion⁹ and extroversion¹⁰ properly.

Introverts and extroverts use their brains differently, and they get their energy differently. Introversion is the state of being mostly concerned with one's own mental life. Extroversion is the opposite. Extroversion is the state of being mostly concerned with what is outside oneself.

People who consider themselves introverts may say they “need to be alone to “charge their batteries” or that being in large crowds makes them tired. However, introverts may still love being social and going to parties. But such activities require time to prepare and time to repair.

Extroverts may say, “I don’t need ‘alone time.’ I feel more relaxed being around other people.” Even so, extroverts can still feel unsure or not confident among other people.  

The power of introverts

Susan Cain is the author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts.”

In an article published in Psychology¹¹ Today, she explains that shyness is often considered a synonym¹² of introversion. It is not. Shyness is having a fear of being judged poorly by others. Introverts just prefer being in quiet environments.

For example, Bill Gates, the inventor of Microsoft, is quiet and bookish, she writes. But Gates does not care about the opinions other people may have of him. He is an introvert, writes Cain, but he is not shy.

The famous singer and actor Barbra Streisand has an outgoing, larger-than-life personality, adds Cain. But Barbra Streisand, she writes, also has a paralyzing case of stage fright. This is a commonly used fixed¹³ expression. Performers who suffer from stage fright can quite literally¹⁴ be frozen or paralyzed on stage.

Cain considers Babara Streisand a shy extrovert.

In other words, there are nervous introverts and calm extroverts. And there are also shy extroverts and bold introverts. And there are many other combinations in between.

Words in This Story

mingle – v. to move around during a party, meeting, etc., and talk informally with different people

small talk – n. informal, friendly conversation about unimportant subjects : also called “chit-chat”

introvert – n. Psychology : a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings

extrovert – n. Psychology : a person concerned primarily with the physical and social environment

charge your batteries idiomatic¹⁵ expression to rest in order to get back your strength and energy A week away would give you time to rest and recharge your batteries.

shy – adj. feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people

timid – adj. feeling or showing a lack of courage or confidence

bold – adj. very confident in a way that may seem rude or foolish

confident – adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something

wallflowers informal : a person who is shy or unpopular and who stands or sits apart from other people at a dance or party

synonym – n. a word that has the same meaning as another word in the same language

bookish – adj. more interested in reading books and studying than doing more physical activities (such as sports)

larger-than-life – adj. of the sort legends are made of  <larger–than–life heroes>

stage fright – n. a nervous feeling felt by someone who is going to appear in front of an audience : fixed expression : paralyzing case of stage fright

1 introvert   

n.性格内向的人

参考例句：

• You are very much an introvert.你是一位地道的内向性格者。
• The same conversation that energizes the extravert also drains the introvert.同样的交谈能让外向者荣光焕发，却让内向者精神颓靡。

2 extrovert   

n.性格外向的人

参考例句：

• A good salesman is usually an extrovert,who likes to mingle with people.一个好的推销员通常很外向，喜欢和人们交往。
• Do you think you're an extrovert or introvert?你认为你是个性外向的人还是个性内向的人？

3 mingling   

adj.混合的

参考例句：

• There was a spring of bitterness mingling with that fountain of sweets. 在这个甜蜜的源泉中间，已经掺和进苦涩的山水了。
• The mingling of inconsequence belongs to us all. 这场矛盾混和物是我们大家所共有的。

4 mingle   

vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往

参考例句：

• If we mingle with the crowd,we should not be noticed.如果我们混在人群中，就不会被注意到。
• Oil will not mingle with water.油和水不相融。

5 extroverted   

a.性格外向的

参考例句：

• Do you think you are introverted or extroverted? 你认为你性格内向还是外向？
• Are you introverted or extroverted? 你个性内向还是外向？ 来自轻松英语会话---联想2000词(上)

6 misused   

v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 introverts   

性格内向的人( introvert的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Extroverts tend to lack self-discipline while introverts lack courage. 性格外向的人缺乏自我约束力，而性格内向的人则缺乏勇气。
• I an introvert and introverts get drawn in. 我是个内向的人而且内向是天生的。

8 extroverts   

性格外向的人( extrovert的名词复数 )； 活跃、愉快、爱交际的人

参考例句：

• In the second half, the students were criticized. Extroverts were unfazed. 在后半部分，举不动时学生要受批评，外向性格的学生表现出不满。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 大脑与疾病
• Extroverts prefer lively conversation to brooding on the meaning of life. 性格外向的人喜欢高谈阔论，而不愿思索人生的意义。

9 introversion   

n. [心理]内向性, 内省性

参考例句：

• The contrast between extroversion and introversion is entirely superficial. 在外向和内向之间所作的对比完全是表面的。
• The oft-drawn contrast extroversion and introversion is entirely superficial. 在外向和内向之间通常所作的对比完全是表面的。

10 extroversion   

n. [心理]外向，[医]外翻 =extraversion

参考例句：

• The contrast between extroversion and introversion is entirely superficial. 在外向和内向之间所作的对比完全是表面的。
• The oft-drawn contrast extroversion and introversion is entirely superficial. 在外向和内向之间通常所作的对比完全是表面的。

11 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

12 synonym   

n.同义词，换喻词

参考例句：

• Zhuge Liang is a synonym for wisdom in folklore.诸葛亮在民间传说中成了智慧的代名词。
• The term 'industrial democracy' is often used as a synonym for worker participation. “工业民主”这个词常被用作“工人参与”的同义词。

13 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

14 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

15 idiomatic   

adj.成语的，符合语言习惯的

参考例句：

• In our reading we should always be alert for idiomatic expressions.我们在阅读过程中应经常注意惯用法。
• In his lecture,he bore down on the importance of idiomatic usage in a language.他在演讲中着重强调了语言中习惯用法的重要性。