textual

IPA/ˈtekstʃuəl/
KK[tˈɛkstʃˌuəl]IPA/ˈtekstʃuəl/

textual — adjective

  • textualpositive
  • more textualcomparative
  • most textualsuperlative

1. relating to the actual words that make up a piece of writing — the written conte

1.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to the actual words that make up a piece of writing — the written content of a book, document, article, or similar material, as opposed to pictures, design, audio, or video.

例句

The research team performed a detailed textual analysis of the ancient poem to find its original author.

textual analysis — study of written content

Modern textbooks include colourful images, but the textual information is still the core of each lesson.

textual information — written content vs. visuals

同義詞
  • written

    everyday equivalent; less formal and more common than 'textual'

  • printed

    specifically about material produced on a printing press or printer

  • script-based

    technical; used when contrasting with image-based or audio content

反義詞
  • visual

    relating to images rather than words

  • audio

    relating to sound rather than the written word

  • pictorial

    consisting of or expressed in pictures

文法句型

textual + noun

用法筆記

Attributive only — this sense almost always appears before a noun (textual analysis, textual evidence, textual content). It has no comparative form (❌ more textual).

常見錯誤

The doctor gave me a textual explanation of the illness' (meaning written).
The doctor gave me a written explanation of the illness.
💡'textual' is formal/academic; use 'written' for everyday situations with people.

2. relating to the particular style, choice of words, and structural organisation o

2.形容詞C1
釋義

relating to the particular style, choice of words, and structural organisation of a piece of writing — how something is expressed rather than what it is about.

例句

A careful textual comparison of the two drafts shows that the author simplified her vocabulary in the final version.

textual comparison — comparing style and wording

The reviewer praised the novel for its textual richness and clever use of metaphors on every page.

同義詞
  • stylistic

    more specific to writing style; used in literary analysis

  • rhetorical

    focuses on persuasive techniques and figures of speech

  • verbal

    broader; can refer to spoken language as well

反義詞
  • thematic

    relating to subject matter rather than how it is expressed

  • conceptual

    relating to ideas rather than their wording

文法句型

textual + noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (WRITTEN CONTENT): sense 1 asks 'what does the text say?', while sense 2 asks 'how is it written?'. Common in literary criticism and academic writing about style.

常見錯誤

The textual meaning of the law is clear from the document.' (the speaker means 'what the words literally say', which is sense 1 WRITTEN CONTENT, not sense 2).
The textual features of the contract
💡such as its frequent use of passive constructions — make it hard for a layperson to understand.' — 'textual features' correctly refers to writing style and word-choice choices (sense 2).