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7ouD Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Indulge and obsess

Hi

These two words " indulge" and " obsess" are quite similar to each other to me. As a chinese, those are translated into SAME WORD in lots of article or passage. When i check the online dictionary " Macmilian dictionary"

I found the defination as follow:

indulge - http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=allow http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=someone http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=do http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=what http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=they http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=want http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=enjoy

- http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=become http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=involved http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=approve

obsess - http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=if http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=obsesses http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=you, http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=are http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=so http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=important http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=always http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=thinking http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=about http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=them, http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=way http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=seems http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=extreme

1: Is it possible to say " Nowadays teenagers are obsessed with computer games" which i mean they spend much of their time on playing computer games.

or should i change it to " Nowadays teenagers indulge in computer games"

Million thanks.
  

Top answer

7ouD " Nowadays teenagers are obsessed with computer games" Yes, that is a good description. These games are addictive. When I am trying to lose weight, I stop eating sweets.

— AlpheccaStars

  • 7ouD " Nowadays teenagers are obsessed with computer games" Yes, that is a good description.
  • These games are addictive.
  • When I am trying to lose weight, I stop eating sweets.
  • But sometimes I indulge in a small piece of chocolate candy.
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7 Answers
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7ouD" Nowadays teenagers are obsessed with computer games"
Yes, that is a good description. These games are addictive.

When I am trying to lose weight, I stop eating sweets. But sometimes I indulge in a small piece of chocolate candy.
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"To be obsessed with something" is much stronger than "to indulge in something." If you indulge in computer games, you might play them occasionally as a special treat. If you are obsessed with them, you find it difficult to stop playing them or stop thinking about them.
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Thanks. But can i ask if both words carry a negative meaning ?

How about the comparision between "obsessed" and " addictive"?

Addictive is much stronger?
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7ouDHow about the comparision between "obsessed" and " addictive"?
People can be obsessed - by an idea or with another person, or with a behaviour.

Games, cigarettes, drugs, etc. are addictive. Additive substances probably change the addict's brain in some way, so that it is very difficult for them to quit abusing.
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that means obsessed and indulge do not carry a negative meaning !?

i am quite frustrated when reading the translation. Three words are translated into the same Chinese word.
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Indulge is not in itself negative. Obsess can be a little negative, like crazy and out of control.
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Thanks for teaching.
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