background
/ˈbækɡraʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbækɡraʊnd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbak-ˌ(g)rau̇nd/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbæk.ɡraʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbæk.ɡraʊnd/ (ame, ipa)
background — 名詞
1. whatever sits further from the viewer in a picture, photo, or scene — the surfac
背景畫面
圖片、照片中位於主體後方的部分
whatever sits further from the viewer in a picture, photo, or scene — the surface or area that frames whoever or whatever is the main subject.
In Camille's wedding photo, snowy mountains rise in the background.
在 Camille 的婚紗照裡，雪山就矗立在背景中。
phrase: in the background
The artist painted Tariq against a deep red background.
畫家以深紅色背景襯托 Tariq 的肖像。
pattern: against a [colour] background
You can just see Quinn waving in the background of this photo.
你可以看到 Quinn 在這張照片的背景裡揮手。
The studio used a plain white background for all the staff portraits.
攝影棚拍員工肖像時都用純白背景。
- foreground
the part of a picture nearest the viewer
文法句型
in the background
against a [colour] background
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'in the background' and after prepositions like 'against'. Contrast with sense 7 (computer wallpaper) and sense 5 (low-attention position).
常見錯誤
2. quieter sounds, especially music or voices, that you can hear while something lo
背景音樂
比主要聲音更小聲的背景聲響
quieter sounds, especially music or voices, that you can hear while something louder or more important is happening.
Soft jazz played in the background while the diners chatted.
用餐者聊天時，柔和的爵士樂在背景中流淌。
collocation: play in the background
I could hear a baby crying in the background of Quinn's phone call.
我可以聽到 Quinn 通電話的背景裡有嬰兒在哭。
The cafe always has the radio on quietly in the background.
這家咖啡店總是把收音機開得小小聲當作背景音。
Background music in the shop made it feel calm and welcoming.
店裡播放的背景音樂讓人覺得放鬆又舒服。
- ambient sound
more technical, used in audio production
- backing track
specifically a recorded music layer behind a singer
文法句型
in the background
用法筆記
Often forms compound nouns: 'background music', 'background noise', 'background chatter'. Distinguish from sense 1 (visual) — this sense is purely auditory.
常見錯誤
3. earlier events and surrounding conditions that explain why a particular situatio
事件背景
事情發生前的條件與來龍去脈
earlier events and surrounding conditions that explain why a particular situation developed the way it did.
The journalist explained the political background to the protests in Hong Kong.
記者向觀眾說明了香港抗爭活動的政治背景。
pattern: background to [event]
Against this background of rising prices, many families cut back on travel.
在物價上漲的背景下，許多家庭減少了出國旅遊。
phrase: against a/the background of
To understand the war, you need to know its historical background.
要了解這場戰爭，你必須先了解它的歷史背景。
The report described the background of the company's sudden collapse.
報告詳述了該公司突然倒閉的背景。
- context
more general; can apply to any situation, not just history
- circumstances
focuses on conditions surrounding the event
文法句型
the background to/of [event]
against a/the background of
用法筆記
Used with prepositions 'to' and 'of' to link to a specific event. Distinguish from sense 4 (general explanatory information not tied to one event) and sense 6 (a person's life history).
常見錯誤
4. the basic facts about a topic that someone needs to know in order to understand
背景資訊
幫助別人理解某主題的基本說明
the basic facts about a topic that someone needs to know in order to understand it properly.
Dr. Una gave us some background on the experiment before we began.
在我們開始實驗之前，Una 博士先給了我們一些背景說明。
pattern: background on [topic]
The article provides useful background for readers new to the subject.
這篇文章為剛接觸這個主題的讀者提供了實用的背景資訊。
Could you send me a bit of background before tomorrow's meeting with the client?
可以在明天和客戶開會前，先傳一些背景資料給我嗎？
The teacher offered background information on the novel's author and time period.
老師介紹了這本小說作者以及時代的背景資訊。
文法句型
background on [topic]
background information
用法筆記
Often paired with 'information', 'reading', or 'briefing'. Differs from sense 3 in scope: sense 3 explains a specific event's causes, while this sense supplies general orientation on a topic.
常見錯誤
5. a position where a person or thing is not the focus of attention — for example,
幕後位置
不是注意焦點、退居其次的位置
a position where a person or thing is not the focus of attention — for example, a quiet team member at a meeting, or an issue people have stopped paying attention to.
The CEO prefers to stay in the background and let her managers speak.
這位執行長偏好留在幕後，讓主管們出面發言。
phrase: stay in the background
The privacy debate has faded into the background since the election.
選舉過後，隱私議題就慢慢退到幕後不再受到關注。
phrase: fade into the background
Quinn is happy to work in the background while his partner takes the credit.
Quinn 樂於在幕後做事，把功勞讓給合夥人。
Older issues like roads and schools dropped into the background during the campaign.
選戰期間，道路與學校這類舊議題都被擠到了幕後。
- behind the scenes
stresses doing work others do not see
- out of the spotlight
stresses avoiding public attention
文法句型
in the background
stay/remain/fade into the background
用法筆記
Almost always in fixed phrases with verbs of motion or staying: stay / remain / fade / slip / drop into the background. Subject is usually a person, role, or topic — not a physical object.
常見錯誤
6. the kind of family someone grew up in, plus their school history, jobs, and life
個人背景
家庭、教育與工作經歷的總和
the kind of family someone grew up in, plus their school history, jobs, and life experience.
Tariq comes from a working-class background in northern Taiwan.
Tariq 來自台灣北部的勞工階級背景。
pattern: from a ... background
The school welcomes children from many different cultural backgrounds.
這所學校歡迎來自各種文化背景的孩子。
collocation: cultural / ethnic background
Tell us a little about your background and previous jobs, Mr. Singh.
Singh 先生，請和我們聊聊您的背景與過去的工作。
Pia has a strong background in software engineering.
Pia 在軟體工程領域有很扎實的背景。
Her musical background made her perfect for the choir director job.
她的音樂背景讓她非常適合擔任合唱團指揮。
- upbringing
focuses on how a person was raised by their family
- history
broader; covers more than just family and education
文法句型
a [adj] background
from a ... background
用法筆記
Common adjective + background pairs: family, cultural, ethnic, educational, working-class, musical. Use 'background in [field]' for professional experience.
常見錯誤
7. the picture or colour shown on a phone or computer screen, behind any icons, app
桌布；桌面圖
螢幕上圖示後方的底圖
the picture or colour shown on a phone or computer screen, behind any icons, apps, or open windows.
Camille set a photo of her dog as the background on her laptop.
Camille 把愛犬的照片設成筆電桌布。
collocation: set as the background
You can change the background by long-pressing on the home screen.
你可以在主畫面上長按來更換桌布。
collocation: change the background
The default background on the new phone is a blue mountain scene.
新手機預設的桌布是一張藍色山景照。
Quinn picked a dark background so the icons would stand out.
Quinn 選了深色桌布，讓圖示更顯眼。
- wallpaper
more common in phone settings menus
- desktop image
specifically the picture on a computer desktop
文法句型
change/set the background
用法筆記
Synonymous with 'wallpaper' in everyday speech, especially on phones. Distinguish from sense 8 (background tasks/processes).
8. an app, task, or program that keeps running on a device while the user is busy w
後台運行
在使用者操作之外仍持續執行的程式
an app, task, or program that keeps running on a device while the user is busy with something else on the screen.
The music app keeps playing in the background while Tariq checks his email.
Tariq 收信時，音樂 App 還在後台繼續播放。
phrase: run in the background
Too many background apps were draining Quinn's phone battery.
太多 App 在後台執行，把 Quinn 的手機電力都耗光了。
compound noun: background apps
The file is uploading in the background, so you can keep working.
檔案正在後台上傳，所以你可以繼續工作。
While Tariq edited photos, his antivirus app quietly ran as a background process the whole time.
Tariq 在修圖時，他的防毒 App 都安靜地以後台程序的形式持續運作。
- background process
the technical term used by operating systems
- foreground
the app or task currently shown on screen
文法句型
run in the background
background app/task/process
用法筆記
Usually appears with verbs like 'run', 'play', 'sync', or 'upload' plus 'in the background'. Distinguish from sense 7, which refers to the visible image, not active tasks.
常見錯誤
background — 形容詞
1. describing something you do or read in advance to prepare yourself for a bigger
預備的
為後續任務先做的準備性工作
describing something you do or read in advance to prepare yourself for a bigger task that follows.
Dr. Una asked the students to do some background reading before the seminar.
Una 博士要學生在研討會前先做一些背景閱讀。
compound: background reading
The reporter spent two weeks on background research before writing the story.
記者花了兩週做背景研究才動筆寫這篇報導。
compound: background research
Most companies now run a background check on every new employee.
現在大多數公司都會對每位新員工做背景調查。
Tariq took a few background notes so he could ask better questions later.
Tariq 先做了一些背景筆記，這樣稍後才能問出更好的問題。
- preparatory
more formal; broader, not tied to fixed compounds
- preliminary
stresses 'first stage', not necessarily for self-preparation
文法句型
background + noun (reading, research, check)
用法筆記
Almost always in fixed compounds: 'background reading', 'background research', 'background check', 'background notes'. The adjective sits directly before the noun and is not used after a verb (no 'the reading is background').
常見錯誤
background — 動詞
1. to place a coloured surface, image, or scene behind something so that it stands
襯托
在後方放置背景使主體突顯
to place a coloured surface, image, or scene behind something so that it stands out more clearly.
The designer backgrounded each product photo with a soft grey panel.
設計師為每張產品照都襯上一塊柔和的灰色背板。
transitive: background + noun + with [colour]
Tariq's wedding portrait was backgrounded by tall pine trees and a misty lake.
Tariq 的婚紗肖像以高聳的松林與霧氣繚繞的湖泊作背景襯托。
passive: be backgrounded by
The museum backgrounded the gold coins with deep red velvet.
博物館用深紅色絲絨襯托這些金幣。
Stagehands backgrounded the singer with a starry night scene.
舞台工作人員用一片星空場景襯托這位歌手。
- set against
more common in everyday writing
- frame
stresses surrounding all sides, not just behind
文法句型
background + noun
be backgrounded by/with
用法筆記
Rare and chiefly used in design, photography, and theatre contexts. The 'backdrop' is introduced with 'with' (the material) or 'by' (in the passive).
常見錯誤
2. to treat a topic, fact, or person as less important than they really are by givi
淡化處理
刻意減少對某事的關注或強調
to treat a topic, fact, or person as less important than they really are by giving them little space or attention.
Critics said the documentary backgrounded the role of women in the war.
評論家認為這部紀錄片淡化了女性在戰爭中的角色。
transitive: background + noun
The newspaper backgrounded the economic risks and stressed the political win.
這份報紙淡化處理了經濟風險，反而強調政治勝利。
Director Maria's own achievements were quietly backgrounded by the studio throughout awards season.
在頒獎季期間，導演 Maria 自己的成就都被製片公司悄悄淡化處理。
The textbook backgrounds local cultures and focuses on European history.
這本教科書淡化了在地文化，把重點放在歐洲歷史。
- downplay
much more common in everyday English
- marginalise
stronger; suggests pushing to the edge of importance
- foreground
to give special prominence to something
- highlight
to draw attention to
文法句型
background + noun
用法筆記
Often appears alongside a contrasting verb such as 'foreground', 'highlight', or 'stress', showing what the writer chose to emphasise instead.