notation

/nəʊˈteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /nəʊˈteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /nō-ˈtā-shən/ (ame, mw)

notation — noun

  • notationsingular
  • notationsplural

1. a set of standard written signs or symbols that people agree to use for represen

1.名詞B2
釋義

a set of standard written signs or symbols that people agree to use for representing numbers, musical notes, or other information within a particular field.

例句

Bao learned to read musical notation in his first piano lesson.

collocation: musical notation

The teacher showed how mathematical notation makes long equations easier to understand.

collocation: mathematical notation

同義詞
  • symbolism

    more abstract; notation is a concrete, agreed-upon system of marks

  • script

    usually refers to writing systems for natural languages, not specialized symbols

  • code

    implies secrecy or compression; notation aims to represent information openly and clearly

文法句型

uncountable

notation + noun

用法筆記

Usually uncountable. Use 'a system of notation' or a noun modifier (e.g., musical notation) rather than 'a notation' in most contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I wrote a quick notation in the margin of the book.
✅I wrote a quick annotation in the margin of the book.
💡A 'notation' is a system of symbols, not a brief explanatory comment.

2. the process of writing or recording information by using a system of agreed symb

2.名詞B2
釋義

the process of writing or recording information by using a system of agreed symbols or marks instead of ordinary words.

例句

Yan uses a special notation to mark the sections she plans to rewrite.

collocation: special notation

The engineer's notation on the diagram showed the exact measurements for each part.

collocation: notation on [a drawing]

同義詞
  • recording

    broader meaning; notation specifically emphasises the use of agreed symbols

  • marking

    simpler and more general; notation implies a formal symbolic system

文法句型

uncountable

用法筆記

Common in academic and technical writing to describe how data or steps are recorded using symbols.

常見錯誤

❌She made a notation on the calendar.
✅She made a note on the calendar.
💡For everyday reminders, 'note' is more natural; 'notation' sounds overly technical.