symptoms

/ˈsɪmp.təm/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈɪmptəmz] /ˈsɪmp.təm/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈɪmptəmz] /ˈsim(p)-təm/ (ame, mw)

symptoms — noun

  • symptomssingular
  • symptomsesplural

1. a feeling or change in your body that tells you a particular illness or disease

1.名詞B1
釋義

a feeling or change in your body that tells you a particular illness or disease is present

例句

Nora went to the clinic because her cold symptoms had lasted more than a week.

symptoms + last/duration pattern

Common symptoms of the flu include a high fever, body aches, and a sore throat.

common symptoms of [disease] — collocation

同義詞
  • indication

    more neutral and broader; used both medically and non-medically

  • sign

    very close overlap in everyday use, though in strict medical terms a sign is observable by others

  • manifestation

    more formal; often used in medical writing to describe how a disease shows itself

文法句型

symptom(s) of [disease]

symptom(s) include [description]

symptom(s) such as [list]

用法筆記

In medicine, a symptom is felt or noticed by the patient (such as pain or tiredness), while a sign is something a doctor can see or measure (such as a rash or fever).

常見錯誤

❌The symptom of a heart attack is chest pain, and the doctor can see it on the monitor.
✅Chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack; changes on the monitor are signs.
💡Symptoms are felt by the patient; signs are observed by the doctor.
❌Smoking causes symptoms of lung cancer.
✅Smoking is a cause of lung cancer; a persistent cough is a symptom of lung cancer.
💡A symptom is an effect of the disease, not its cause.

2. a problem or bad situation that is a sign of a much more serious or hidden probl

2.名詞B2
釋義

a problem or bad situation that is a sign of a much more serious or hidden problem

例句

Lukas saw the frequent arguments as a symptom of deeper problems within the team.

symptom of deeper problems — figurative use

The empty storefronts along Main Street are a symptom of the town's struggling economy.

singular: a symptom of [large problem]

同義詞
  • sign

    more general; 'symptom' carries a stronger implication that the underlying problem is negative or harmful

  • indicator

    more neutral and technical; commonly used in business and social analysis

  • warning sign

    stronger sense of danger ahead; more urgent than 'symptom'

文法句型

a/the symptom of [problem]

用法筆記

This figurative sense is nearly always used in the singular (a symptom of…) and is followed by a noun phrase or a clause naming the larger problem. Unlike sense 1, it does not describe a physical change in the body.

常見錯誤

❌The low sales were symptoms of bad management.
✅The low sales were a symptom of bad management.
💡In the figurative sense, 'symptom' is almost always singular.
❌High staff turnover is a symptom, not a reason itself.
✅High staff turnover is a symptom, not a cause itself.
💡A symptom is the result or indicator of a cause; do not confuse symptom with cause.