■ disinterested 与 uninterested

两者意义上有差别。

Uninterested 相当于 not interested。

• ... but the greater part of the young gentlemen having no particular parents to speak of, were wholly uninterested in the thing. (Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby)…但是这些年青人大多数谈不上有自己的父母，对这件事情完全不感兴趣。

disinterested 则是“不图实利的”。

• Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the life-blood of real civilization. (G. M. Trevelyan, English Social History)不图实利的求知欲，是真正文明所依赖的血脉。
• His choice is disinterested, at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 46)至少他选中这个对象不是为了有利可图，因为他一定知道父亲没有一个钱给她。

disinterested 也可以有“不置可否”、“超然”的意义。

• A clergymen cannot be disinterested about theology, nor a soldier about war. (Bertrand Russell, Education and The Good Life)一个牧师不可能超然于神学，一个军人也不能超然于战争。

但是 disinterested 有时候也向 uninterested 靠拢。

• When I grow tired or disinterested in anything, I experience a disgust. (Jack London, Letter, Feb. 24, 1914)我感到疲倦，对任何事情都不感兴趣的时候，我就感到厌恶。
• Those spotted are usually taught so slowly they grow disinterested and quit. (The New York Times, June 25, 1967)那些被看中注意的人，受到的教导往往很缓慢，因此就冷淡下来，退出了。