cherished

cherished — verb

1. to feel deep love for someone or something and to show that love by treating the

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to feel deep love for someone or something and to show that love by treating them with special care and kindness

例句

Mei-Lin cherished her grandmother's hand-painted teacup and kept it on a shelf away from the kitchen.

cherish + treasured object

The old photographs were cherished by the entire family, who passed them down through three generations.

passive: be cherished by [someone]

同義詞
  • treasure

    stronger emotional attachment, often for objects or memories

  • adore

    more intense love, usually for people or pets

  • prize

    focuses on the high value you place on something, not necessarily emotional warmth

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to care for someone or something properly

  • disregard

    to treat something as unimportant

文法句型

cherish + noun phrase (person or thing)

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive form (be cherished) when describing how a person or object is treated by a group. Subject is usually a person, pet, or personal belonging.

常見錯誤

❌I cherished my phone because it was expensive.
✅I valued my phone because it was expensive.
💡'cherish' is for things you love emotionally, not just things you think are worth money.

2. to give regular time and attention to a relationship, skill, or quality so that

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to give regular time and attention to a relationship, skill, or quality so that it grows stronger or develops fully

例句

The choir director cherished each singer's natural talent and helped them improve week by week.

cherish + talent / skill

Fatima and Elena cherished their friendship by meeting for tea every Sunday without fail.

cherish + relationship

同義詞
  • cultivate

    more deliberate and effort-focused; often used for skills or friendships

  • nurture

    emphasises helping something develop over time

  • foster

    implies encouraging growth in someone else, often a child or beginner

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to give enough attention to something

  • abandon

    to stop caring for something entirely

文法句型

cherish + noun phrase (relationship, talent, quality)

用法筆記

The object is usually an intangible thing — a relationship, a skill, a habit, or a quality — rather than a person. Distinguish from sense 1, where the object is a person or treasured belonging.

常見錯誤

❌She cherished her new laptop by keeping it clean.
✅She took good care of her new laptop by keeping it clean.
💡'cherish' in this sense is for relationships and personal qualities, not routine care of objects.

3. to keep a pleasant memory, a hope, or a belief alive in your thoughts over time

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to keep a pleasant memory, a hope, or a belief alive in your thoughts over time because it gives you comfort, strength, or happiness

例句

Hana still cherished the memory of building sandcastles on the beach with her cousins every summer.

cherish + memory of [event]

The displaced families cherished the hope that one day they would return to their village.

cherish + hope that [clause]

同義詞
  • hold dear

    less common in modern speech; more formal

  • treasure

    overlaps significantly, but 'treasure' can also apply to objects

  • harbour

    slightly more formal; can imply holding a feeling secretly

反義詞
  • discard

    to throw away a memory or idea deliberately

  • forget

    to let a memory fade from your mind

文法句型

cherish + memory / hope / dream / ideal

用法筆記

Object is always an abstract idea — a memory, hope, belief, or dream — never a person or physical object. This sense focuses on keeping something mentally present, not on physical care.

常見錯誤

❌I cherished the idea that I might get a promotion, so I told everyone about it.
✅I held on to the hope that I might get a promotion.
💡'cherish' in this sense is about quietly keeping something dear in your mind, not about announcing it.