backward
/ˈbækwəd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbækwərd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbak-wərd/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbæk.wəd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbæk.wɚd/ (ame, ipa)
backward — 形容詞
1. used for something that points, faces, or moves toward the back instead of ahead
向後的
朝後方或面向後方的
used for something that points, faces, or moves toward the back instead of ahead
The train has backward-facing seats near the last door.
火車最後一扇門旁邊有向後的座位。
compound adjective: backward-facing seats
During practice, Mia tried a backward roll on the mat.
練習時，Mia 在墊子上試做了一個向後翻滾。
collocation: backward roll
The dancer took two backward steps to avoid the wet paint.
為了避開濕油漆，那位舞者向後退了兩步。
A backward glance at the house made Noah smile.
Noah 回頭朝房子看了一眼，便笑了。
- forward
means directed toward the front or ahead
- front-facing
is especially used for screens, seats, and cameras
文法句型
a backward glance
a backward roll
backward-facing seats
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used before a noun. When the word describes how someone moves after a verb, adverb/1 is usually the better choice.
常見錯誤
2. less developed or improved than others, or representing a move away from better
落後的
發展較慢，或代表倒退
less developed or improved than others, or representing a move away from better methods
Many families left the village because poor roads kept it backward.
許多家庭離開那個村子，因為糟糕的道路讓它一直很落後。
Cutting library hours would be a backward step for the school.
削減圖書館開放時間，對學校來說會是倒退的一步。
collocation: backward step
Visitors called the town backward because children queued for the only public computer.
遊客說那個小鎮很落後，因為孩子們得排隊用唯一的公用電腦。
Old machines made the factory seem backward beside nearby plants.
舊機器讓那間工廠和附近的新廠比起來顯得落後。
- underdeveloped
is more formal and is especially used for economies or infrastructure
- behind
is broader and often compares progress with another person or group
- undeveloped
can focus on land or a sector that has not grown much yet
- retrograde
is formal and strongly stresses movement in the wrong direction
- advanced
means far developed or modern
- modern
stresses up-to-date methods or conditions
- progressive
suggests support for new and improving ideas
文法句型
a backward area
a backward step
seem backward
用法筆記
Often used for places, economies, systems, or decisions rather than for one shy person. Distinguish from adjective/4, which is an old-fashioned and often offensive label about a child's learning.
常見錯誤
3. quiet and unwilling to act first because you feel shy or unsure
羞怯的
因害羞或沒把握而不敢主動
quiet and unwilling to act first because you feel shy or unsure
At first, Lena was backward about asking the coach for help.
Lena 一開始很羞怯，不敢向教練求助。
pattern: backward about + -ing
The new boy was backward about joining the others at lunch.
那個新來的男孩不太敢跟大家一起吃午餐，顯得很拘謹。
After one kind reply, Mei grew less backward with customers.
收到一次親切的回應後，Mei 面對顧客時不再那麼畏縮。
At the first meeting, Daniel seemed backward about sharing his ideas.
第一次開會時，Daniel 對分享自己的想法顯得很羞怯。
文法句型
be backward about asking
seem backward with strangers
grow less backward
用法筆記
This sense describes hesitation in social situations. It is usually used after be, seem, stay, or grow, and often appears with about or with.
常見錯誤
4. used in older, offensive language for a child who learns more slowly than other
學得慢
舊且冒犯，指孩子學習進度慢
used in older, offensive language for a child who learns more slowly than other children
Older school records called some pupils backward, which teachers reject now.
舊式學校紀錄曾把一些學生說成學得慢，現在老師不這樣說了。
reported outdated label
The doctor said the child was not backward, just late in reading.
醫師說那個孩子不是學得慢，只是閱讀起步較晚。
That report used backward for children who needed extra support.
那份報告曾用 backward 形容需要額外支持的孩子。
Modern schools avoid backward and use clearer support terms.
現代學校會避免用 backward，改用更清楚的支持用語。
- slow-learning
describes difficulty learning, but it can still sound negative
- delayed
is broader and can refer to development in general, not only school learning
- quick-learning
describes someone who learns easily and fast
- able
is broad and does not focus only on learning speed
文法句型
be called backward
be described as backward
seem backward at school
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and often offensive. Avoid using it for children today; describe the exact learning difficulty instead, or use respectful current terms chosen by the person, family, or school.
常見錯誤
backward — 副詞
1. toward the space behind you or behind something else
往後
朝後方移動或傾斜
toward the space behind you or behind something else
Owen stepped backward when the dog barked at the gate.
狗在門口吠叫時，Owen 往後退了一步。
verb + backward for movement
Please pull the chair backward to make room for Ana.
請把椅子往後拉，替 Ana 騰出空間。
The crowd moved backward as smoke filled the kitchen.
廚房冒出濃煙時，人群往後移動。
Ella bent backward to look under the low shelf.
Ella 往後彎身，想看矮架子底下。
文法句型
step backward
move backward
bend backward
用法筆記
Use this sense for physical movement or position. Distinguish it from adverb/2, which is about reverse order or the wrong way round.
常見錯誤
2. in the opposite order, direction, or position from the normal one
倒著
以相反次序、方向或方式
in the opposite order, direction, or position from the normal one
Count backward from twenty before you open your eyes.
睜開眼前，先從二十倒著數。
count backward from + number
The video played backward, so the glass jumped onto the table.
影片倒著播放，所以玻璃像是跳回桌上。
play backward
Rita wore her sweater backward and laughed at the mistake.
Rita 把毛衣倒著穿，還笑自己穿錯。
Jae wrote his name backward on the bathroom mirror.
Jae 在浴室鏡子上把自己的名字倒著寫。
- in reverse
is clearer in formal or technical instructions
- the wrong way round
is informal and especially common for clothes or objects
文法句型
count backward from ten
play backward
wear something backward
用法筆記
This sense is broader than adverb/1. It covers reversed sequence, clothing the wrong way round, mirror writing, and recordings played in reverse.
常見錯誤
3. toward an earlier time, stage, or memory
回到從前
朝較早的時間或記憶
toward an earlier time, stage, or memory
The film moves backward to the summer before the fire.
這部電影回到從前，拍到火災前的那個夏天。
move backward in time
From that old photo, Mira traced backward through her family story.
Mira 從那張老照片一路追溯她的家族故事。
The lesson looks backward at how the town began.
這堂課回頭看那座城鎮是怎麼開始的。
During dinner, Arun's thoughts went backward to the night at the station.
晚餐時，Arun 的思緒回到車站那一夜。
- back
is more everyday in phrases such as years back or look back
- backward in time
makes the time meaning explicit and is common in science fiction or film talk
- retrospectively
is formal and is used for looking back from a later point
文法句型
look backward at the past
move backward in time
trace backward through history
用法筆記
Common with stories, memories, family history, and lessons that return to an earlier point. Unlike adverb/2, the focus is time, not reverse order.
backward — 名詞
1. a rear or earlier part, especially in rare literary use
後部；往昔
罕用，指後面或過去的部分
a rear or earlier part, especially in rare literary use
In the play, the king stares into the backward of time.
在那齣戲裡，國王凝視著時間幽暗的往昔。
literary phrase: the backward of time
On the old map, the backward of the farm shows two barns.
那張舊地圖上，農場的後部畫著兩座穀倉。
The poem turns from bright noon to the backward of memory.
那首詩從明亮的正午轉入記憶的往昔。
The mayor's speech reached into the backward of history for answers.
市長的演說回望歷史深處，試著從往昔尋找答案。
- rear
is the normal everyday word for the back part of something
- past
fits the time meaning better than the physical one
- background
can overlap in figurative use, but usually means surrounding information rather than a rear part
文法句型
the backward of time
the backward of history
the backward of the farm
用法筆記
This noun is very rare and mostly literary. It often appears in phrases about time or history rather than in everyday talk about physical space.