attribute
/ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈa-trə-ˌbyüt/ (ame, mw) · /əˈtrɪbjuːt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈtrɪbjuːt/ (ame, ipa)
attribute — 名詞
1. a part of someone's or something's nature that helps describe what they are like
特質；特徵
人或事物具有的性質
a part of someone's or something's nature that helps describe what they are like
Patience is one of Mei's best attributes in the classroom.
耐心是 Mei 在教室裡最好的特質之一。
one of + possessive + best attributes
Speed and strong brakes are useful attributes in a mountain bike.
速度和強力煞車是登山車很實用的特徵。
before noun: useful attributes
Honesty remained his strongest attribute during the police interview.
在警方偵訊時，誠實仍是他最突出的特質。
The job ad listed patience, clear speech, and other key attributes.
那則徵才廣告列出耐心、口齒清楚等重要特質。
For many parents, kindness is the most important attribute in a teacher.
對許多家長來說，善良是老師最重要的特質。
- quality
the broadest everyday word for a characteristic.
- trait
often used for a person's habitual or natural qualities.
- feature
often used for things, products, or visible parts.
- characteristic
slightly more formal and often used in descriptions.
文法句型
an attribute of somebody/something
a useful attribute
personal attributes
用法筆記
Often used for qualities that matter in work, study, leadership, or products. It is more formal than trait or quality and often appears in lists of strengths or features.
常見錯誤
attribute — 動詞
1. to judge that an event, result, or change happened because of a particular cause
歸因於
認為由某原因造成
to judge that an event, result, or change happened because of a particular cause
Doctors attributed Mia's fever to the dirty water at camp.
醫師把 Mia 發燒歸因於營地的髒水。
attribute + result + to cause
The coach attributed the loss to two late mistakes.
教練把這場失利歸因於最後兩次失誤。
After the lights failed, neighbors attributed the fire to bad wiring.
停電後，鄰居把那場火災歸因於老舊電線。
Many fans attributed the singer's silence to stress after the tour.
很多歌迷把歌手的沉默歸因於巡演後的壓力。
The crack in the wall was first attributed to heavy rain.
牆上的裂縫起初被歸因於豪雨。
- ascribe
very close in meaning but usually more formal.
- explain
broader and does not always take a cause after to.
- put down to
more informal and common in speech.
文法句型
attribute something to something
be attributed to something
用法筆記
Usually followed by to when naming the cause. Common with results, damage, illness, success, or change. Distinguish from sense 2, where you identify the person behind a work, remark, or act.
常見錯誤
2. to state or decide that a work, remark, idea, or action came from a particular p
歸於某人
認定某作品或行為出自某人
to state or decide that a work, remark, idea, or action came from a particular person
The museum attributed the small portrait to a student of Rembrandt.
博物館把那幅小肖像畫歸於林布蘭的一名學生。
attribute a work to a person
Reporters attributed the angry message to a former staff member.
記者把那則憤怒訊息歸於前員工。
For years, the song was attributed to a blind street musician.
多年來，那首歌一直被歸於一名失明街頭樂手。
Police attributed the bomb threat to a sixteen-year-old boy.
警方把炸彈恐嚇歸於一名十六歲男孩所為。
That line in the letter is often attributed to Queen Victoria.
信中的那句話常被歸於維多利亞女王。
文法句型
attribute something to somebody
be attributed to somebody
用法筆記
Frequently used when people discuss authorship, responsibility, or origin, especially in art, history, journalism, and police reports. Distinguish from sense 1: here the noun after to is the person or group behind something, not the cause of it.
常見錯誤
3. to think someone or something has a particular quality, power, or feature
認為具有
認為某人或某物具有某特質
to think someone or something has a particular quality, power, or feature
Some voters attribute wisdom to gray hair too quickly.
有些選民太快把智慧歸於灰白頭髮。
attribute a quality to appearance
Children often attribute feelings to dolls and stuffed bears.
孩子常把感情歸於洋娃娃和玩具熊。
common with human qualities
The coach attributed calm strength to his oldest defender.
教練認為隊上最資深的後衛沉著又有韌性。
Many customers attribute magical powers to the face cream.
很多顧客把神奇功效歸於那款面霜。
During the interview, the panel attributed honesty to Ella's quiet voice.
面試時，評審覺得 Ella 安靜的嗓音給人誠實的感覺。
文法句型
attribute a quality to somebody/something
attribute courage to somebody
attribute power to something
用法筆記
The object is usually an abstract quality such as courage, honesty, intelligence, or power. Distinguish from sense 2, which identifies who produced something, and from sense 1, which explains what caused something.