paradigmatic

IPA/ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk/
IPA/ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk/

paradigmatic — adjective

  • paradigmaticpositive
  • more paradigmaticcomparative
  • most paradigmaticsuperlative

1. describing the way that different linguistic items can take the same place in a

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing the way that different linguistic items can take the same place in a sentence, so that picking one over another changes the meaning.

例句

In class, the students mapped 'whisper', 'shout', and 'murmur' as a paradigmatic set of speaking verbs.

paradigmatic set + listing substitution-class members

Elena saw that 'must', 'should', and 'could' form a paradigmatic set — all go before a main verb.

paradigmatic link + modal verbs as substitution class

同義詞
  • substitutional

    more technical and less common; refers narrowly to the ability to substitute items in a slot

反義詞
  • syntagmatic

    the complementary dimension of language — the sequential ordering of elements in a sentence

文法句型

paradigmatic + noun (relationship / link / axis / choice)

paradigmatic + between + plural noun phrase

用法筆記

In linguistics, paradigmatic relations are contrasted with syntagmatic relations (the linear ordering of elements in a sentence). Commonly used in attributive position: 'paradigmatic axis', 'paradigmatic analysis'.

常見錯誤

❌The paradigmatic between these words is clear.
✅The paradigmatic relationship between these words is clear.
💡'paradigmatic' is an adjective and must modify a noun like 'relationship', 'link', or 'relation'.

2. being a clear and representative example of a particular type, showing the most

2.形容詞B2
釋義

being a clear and representative example of a particular type, showing the most important qualities that define that type.

例句

The Watanabes' move from their village to Tokyo is paradigmatic of Japan's post-war shift.

paradigmatic of + noun phrase describing a social transformation

Dr. Okafor's health programme is paradigmatic of the patient-first model that many hospitals now follow.

同義詞
  • typical

    much more common and less formal; can describe any instance that shares the usual features, not necessarily the clearest or best

  • exemplary

    emphasises that something sets a high standard worth imitating; paradigmatic emphasises representativeness rather than excellence

  • archetypal

    suggests an original pattern or prototype that others are based on; stronger and more literary than paradigmatic

  • model

    less formal; suggests something is an ideal to copy, often used in compounds like 'model student'

反義詞

文法句型

be + paradigmatic + of + noun phrase

paradigmatic + example / case / instance + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Unlike 'typical', which can describe any common instance, 'paradigmatic' implies that something represents the ideal or clearest case of its category. Often followed by 'of': 'paradigmatic of the genre', 'paradigmatic of the era'.

常見錯誤

❌This is a paradigmatic car.
✅This car is a paradigmatic example of German engineering.
💡'paradigmatic' is not used for simple objects on their own; the noun it modifies should name the category or class.