rich
/rɪtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [rˈɪtʃ] /rɪtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [rˈɪtʃ] /ˈrich/ (ame, mw) · /-rɪtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [rˈɪtʃ] /-rɪtʃ/ (ame, ipa)
rich — noun
1. people who have a lot of money and valuable things, thought of as one group in s
people who have a lot of money and valuable things, thought of as one group in society
The rich in Naoko's neighbourhood have started a fund for the local library.
the rich + plural verb (have started)
The rich ought to pay more tax to support public schools, a recent survey found.
the rich + ought to [modal obligation]
The prime minister's new plan would require the rich to pay an additional five percent.
In many countries, the rich enjoy better access to quality education and health care.
The rich often face criticism when they spend money on private jets and large yachts.
- the wealthy
very similar in meaning; 'the wealthy' is slightly more formal and emphasises financial assets rather than disposable income
- the affluent
more formal register; often describes people with comfortable upper-middle-class lifestyles rather than extreme wealth
- the privileged
focuses on social advantages and opportunities rather than money alone; can imply unfairness
文法句型
the rich + plural verb
the + rich
用法筆記
Always requires the definite article 'the' and takes a plural verb. Cannot be used in the singular form — do not write 'a rich' to mean a rich person.
常見錯誤
rich — adjective
- richpositive
- richercomparative
- richestsuperlative
1. Someone who is rich owns a large amount of money, property, or other things of g
Someone who is rich owns a large amount of money, property, or other things of great value.
Sora's family is not rich, but they save enough money for one holiday each year.
not rich — common negative structure
The company made its directors rich by selling shares at a very high price.
make + [someone] + rich
Amihan dreams of becoming rich so that she can help her parents buy a house.
Some of the richest people in the world started their businesses from home.
A rich person does not always live a happier life than someone with less money.
- poor
direct opposite; having very little money or property
文法句型
someone + be + rich
rich + noun
get + rich
用法筆記
When used before a noun (a rich country), it describes the general wealth of society, not necessarily every individual within it.
常見錯誤
2. When a place or area is rich in a natural resource, it contains very large amoun
When a place or area is rich in a natural resource, it contains very large amounts of that resource inside it, such as oil beneath the ground or trees covering the land.
The region is rich in coal, and mining provides jobs for thousands of local workers.
rich in [natural resource]
Countries rich in oil often depend on its price to support their national income.
The forests of the north are rich in valuable types of wood used for furniture.
Esme's country is rich in minerals, but the government has not yet opened any mines.
The richest fishing waters lie where cold and warm ocean currents meet.
- abundant in
can describe both natural and non-natural resources
- resource-rich
a compound adjective; indicates general wealth of resources
- poor in
opposite pattern: poor in natural resources
文法句型
[place] + be + rich + in + [natural resource]
用法筆記
Frequently used with the preposition in to specify which resource. The subject is typically a country, region, or geological area.
常見錯誤
3. If something is rich in a good quality or useful feature, it contains plenty of
If something is rich in a good quality or useful feature, it contains plenty of that thing, such as vitamins in food or historical detail in a book.
Oranges are rich in vitamin C, which helps your body fight colds.
rich in [nutrient]
The museum's library is rich in historical documents from the eighteenth century.
This part of the country is rich in wildlife, with many birds and deer.
Yi-ling's garden is rich in herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary.
A diet rich in vegetables and fruit can help keep your heart healthy.
- abundant
more formal; does not require a following preposition phrase
- packed with
informal; suggests a very high density of something
- full of
common and neutral in register
- low in
opposite pattern for nutrients and features: low in fat, low in detail
- deficient in
formal; suggests not enough of something needed
文法句型
[something] + be + rich + in + [good quality/feature]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 refers to valuable natural resources (coal, oil, minerals), while sense 3 covers any good or useful quality (nutrients, features, wildlife).
常見錯誤
4. Rich soil or land contains the minerals and nutrients that help plants grow well
Rich soil or land contains the minerals and nutrients that help plants grow well and produce large harvests.
The rich soil in the valley helps farmers grow large harvests of rice every year.
rich soil / rich land
Maja's grandmother always said that rich earth is the secret to a beautiful garden.
After the river flooded, it left behind rich mud that made the crops grow strong.
Farmers look for rich land when they want to grow vegetables or fruit trees.
This area has the richest farmland in the country, perfect for wheat and corn.
- fertile
more common than rich for this sense; also used for creative minds
- productive
focuses on the output rather than the quality of the soil itself
文法句型
rich + [soil/land]
[soil/land] + be + rich
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used for soil, land, or agricultural areas. Do not use for bodies of water (use nutrient-rich or fertile instead for underwater environments).
常見錯誤
5. When added to a noun as a suffix in compound words, -rich shows that a person or
When added to a noun as a suffix in compound words, -rich shows that a person or thing contains a large amount of that particular substance or quality.
People who eat a protein-rich diet often feel full for longer after meals.
compound: [noun]-rich
The oil-rich country earns most of its money from selling petroleum abroad.
Cyrus follows a fibre-rich diet that includes beans, oats, and fresh vegetables.
Calcium-rich milk helps children build strong teeth and bones.
The iron-rich waters of the lake support a unique type of red algae.
- -poor
opposite suffix pattern: resource-poor, nutrient-poor
文法句型
[noun] + -rich
用法筆記
This is a productive suffix pattern in modern English. Common in science, nutrition, and business writing. The compound is usually written with a hyphen (protein-rich, oil-rich).
常見錯誤
6. A rich life, story, or experience includes many exciting, meaningful, or varied
A rich life, story, or experience includes many exciting, meaningful, or varied events that make it very interesting and rewarding.
Lakshmi has lived a very rich life, travelling to over thirty countries for her work.
rich life / rich experience
The novel tells a rich story of friendship and adventure across three generations.
At the party, Carlos told rich stories about his travels through Southeast Asia.
The city offers a rich cultural life, with concerts and museums open every month.
A short visit to the old market is a rich experience of colours and smells.
文法句型
rich + [life/experience/story]
[something] + be + rich
用法筆記
Do not confuse with sense 3 (ABUNDANT IN). Sense 6 describes the quality of an experience or story being full of interesting variety, while sense 3 describes a measurable quantity of a good substance or feature.
常見錯誤
7. An interior or object with a rich look has a lot of fine decoration, costly mate
An interior or object with a rich look has a lot of fine decoration, costly materials, and elaborate details.
The restaurant had rich red curtains and gold-painted walls.
collocation: rich [colour] + [material] for interiors
Valentina bought a rich carpet with flowers woven into the pattern.
The old palace is famous for its rich ceiling covered in painted scenes.
Tariro chose a rich fabric with layers of silk for the wedding dress.
用法筆記
Used to describe visual decoration and expensive-looking design; often collocates with 'fabric', 'carpet', 'curtains', and 'decoration'.
8. Used to describe a colour that is deep and bright, a sound that is full and warm
Used to describe a colour that is deep and bright, a sound that is full and warm, or a smell or flavour that is strong and pleasant.
Maya painted the kitchen walls a rich shade of yellow that felt warm.
rich + colour word
A rich smell of fresh bread and coffee came from the bakery door.
rich + smell + source
The singer's voice had a rich, deep tone that filled the theatre.
The soup had a rich tomato flavour from the slow-cooked ingredients.
Lakan prefers a rich red wine with a strong fruity taste.
用法筆記
Covers four sensory domains: colour (deep, vivid), sound (full, mellow), smell (strong, pleasant), and flavour (intense, satisfying). The exact opposite sense varies by domain: 'pale' for colour, 'thin' for sound, 'weak' for flavour.
9. A rich material such as silk, velvet, or gold thread is beautiful, of very high
A rich material such as silk, velvet, or gold thread is beautiful, of very high quality, and costly.
The bride wore a dress made of rich white silk and lace.
rich + material type
Élise bought cushions covered in a rich velvet fabric for the sofa.
The royal coat was made of rich gold cloth with jewels sewn on.
Rich materials like cashmere and wool cost more than synthetic ones.
用法筆記
Restricted to materials and fabrics; do not confuse with sense 7 (ornamented style). Rich materials have inherent quality and cost, while an ornamented room has decorative details added to it.
常見錯誤
10. People say food is rich when it has plenty of butter, cream, oil, or eggs, givin
People say food is rich when it has plenty of butter, cream, oil, or eggs, giving it a strong taste that feels heavy.
The chocolate mousse was so rich that Yuna could only eat half.
so + rich + that + result clause
Eli made a rich pasta sauce with cream and parmesan cheese.
Rich food is fine for celebrations but too heavy for everyday meals.
This butter cake is very rich, so I like it with a cup of tea.
用法筆記
Rich food is typically associated with desserts, creamy sauces, and fatty dishes. Do not use 'rich' for spicy/hot food (use 'spicy' instead) or sour food. Often followed by 'so…that' to describe the effect.
常見錯誤
11. Said about a criticism that is unfair or surprising because the person making th
Said about a criticism that is unfair or surprising because the person making the criticism has the same fault they are pointing out in someone else.
"You spend too much money!" "Oh, that's rich coming from the person who buys new shoes every week!"
fixed phrase: That's rich coming from [someone]
My brother called me lazy — that's pretty rich, considering he never helps at home.
Her brother called her messy, and Tara just said, "That's rich coming from you!"
My uncle said I drive too fast — rich coming from a man with three tickets.
- ironic
broader; describes any situation where the opposite of what is expected happens
- hypocritical
stronger; claims the person is acting unfairly, not just that the remark is surprising
文法句型
That's rich (coming from/talking about + person)
That's rich, considering…
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'That's rich' or 'a bit rich'; always occurs after the verb 'be'. The critical part must have a named referent for the comparison — 'coming from him/her/you' or 'considering [fact]'.
常見錯誤
rich — suffix
1. when you add this suffix to a noun with a hyphen, you make an adjective that mea
when you add this suffix to a noun with a hyphen, you make an adjective that means 'providing a lot of that valuable thing' — an oil-rich area provides a lot of oil, and a nutrient-rich meal contains plenty of nutrients.
The oil-rich region attracted many international companies looking for new resources.
hyphenated compound before a noun
Mira follows a nutrient-rich diet that includes lots of fresh vegetables and fish.
compound modifier before a noun
Farmers prefer mineral-rich soil because it helps crops grow without chemical fertilisers.
The coastal waters near Valentina's village are iron-rich, giving the sand a reddish colour.
- abounding in
much more formal; used before a noun with 'in' (abounding in minerals)
- full of
less precise; does not imply high value of the substance
文法句型
[noun] + -rich
X-rich + [noun]
be + X-rich
用法筆記
Used as a suffix or combining form. Always hyphenated when appearing before a noun (an oil-rich region). May also follow a linking verb without hyphenation after the noun (the soil is iron rich), but the hyphenated form is recommended in both positions for clarity.