attain

/əˈteɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈteɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈtān/ (ame, mw)

attain — 動詞

1. to manage to get something you have worked hard for over a long time, such as a

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

達成；獲得

經長期努力後得到目標、資格或地位

to manage to get something you have worked hard for over a long time, such as a qualification, position, or important goal.

例句

After ten years of training, Mei finally attained the rank of black belt in karate.

經過十年的訓練，美終於獲得空手道黑帶的等級。

attain + [rank/position] noun phrase

Few students attain such high marks in the national chemistry exam.

很少學生能在全國化學考試中獲得這麼高的分數。

attain + [marks/score] noun

同義詞
  • achieve

    more neutral and far more common in everyday writing

  • accomplish

    stresses completing a difficult task rather than gaining a status

  • obtain

    focuses on getting something concrete; less about long effort

反義詞
  • fail

    to not reach the goal or standard one was aiming for

  • miss

    informal counterpart for falling short of a target

文法句型

attain + noun

用法筆記

Formal register; sounds stiff in everyday speech. Object is usually something seen as valuable or earned through effort: a goal, qualification, rank, standard, or recognition. Distinguish from sense 2, which simply marks reaching a point of age or level without the idea of struggle.

常見錯誤

❌I attained the bus just before it left.
✅I caught the bus just before it left.
💡'attain' is not used for physically reaching a vehicle or place; use 'catch' or 'reach'.
❌She attained to her dream of becoming a doctor.
✅She attained her dream of becoming a doctor.
💡in modern English 'attain' is transitive and takes a direct object, not 'attain to'.

2. to arrive at a certain point in age, speed, or condition over time, through grow

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

達到

經時間或成長到達某年齡、程度或狀態

to arrive at a certain point in age, speed, or condition over time, through growth or gradual development.

例句

Sea turtles can attain an age of more than eighty years in the wild.

野生海龜可以活到八十歲以上的年齡。

attain + an age of [number]

On the test track, the new electric car attained a top speed of 250 kilometres per hour.

在試車道上，這款新型電動車達到每小時兩百五十公里的最高時速。

attain + a [top] speed of

同義詞
  • reach

    the everyday equivalent; works in spoken and written English

  • arrive at

    used for both points in time and stages of thinking

  • achieve

    fits with levels and standards, less natural with ages

文法句型

attain + [age/level/state] noun

用法筆記

Subject is typically a living thing, vehicle, or system that develops or moves toward a measurable point. Common in scientific, legal, and technical writing. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply struggle or worthy effort, only that a level or stage has been reached.

常見錯誤

❌The plane attained at the airport on time.
✅The plane arrived at the airport on time.
💡'attain' is not used for arriving at a place; use 'arrive' or 'reach'.
❌He attained twenty years old last week.
✅He turned twenty last week.' / 'He attained the age of twenty last week.
💡in everyday speech use 'turn'; 'attain' needs the formal pattern 'attain the age of X'.