birch

/bɜːtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /bɜːrtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbərch/ (ame, mw) · /bɝːtʃ/ (ame, ipa)

birch — 名詞

  • birchsingular
  • birchesplural

1. a tall tree that grows in cool northern regions, with smooth bark that is often

1.名詞B1
釋義

樺樹

樹皮光滑、枝條細長的落葉樹

a tall tree that grows in cool northern regions, with smooth bark that is often pale in colour and thin branches that bend easily

例句

The birch trees behind our house turn a beautiful gold colour every autumn.

我們屋後的樺樹每年秋天都會染上漂亮的金色。

Theo planted a small birch in the garden and watered it every morning.

Theo 在花園裡種了一棵小樺樹，每天早上都去澆水。

countable: a birch = a birch tree

文法句型

a + birch

birch + noun (modifier)

用法筆記

Countable for an individual tree ('two birches') or uncountable for the species in general ('a hillside of birch'). When used as a modifier before another noun, keep the singular form ('birch forest', 'birch leaf').

常見錯誤

❌I planted two birches tree in my yard.
✅I planted two birch trees in my yard.
💡'birch' stays singular when it modifies 'tree'.

2. a historical type of punishment in which birch branches were tied together and u

2.名詞C1
釋義

樺木鞭刑

用樺樹枝捆束鞭打的歷史體罰

a historical type of punishment in which birch branches were tied together and used to hit a person, especially in schools or courts

例句

Fatima read that birch rods were used in European schools until the early nineteen hundreds.

Fatima 讀到，樺木鞭刑在部分歐洲學校一直沿用到二十世紀初期。

the birch: refers to the punishment, not the tree

Hasan's grandfather said no one in their village saw the birch used for punishment.

Hasan 的祖父說，他們村子裡沒有人見過實施樺木鞭刑。

同義詞
  • flogging

    a broader term for any beating with a whip or stick, not limited to birch twigs

  • caning

    beating with a single cane rather than a bundle of birch sticks

文法句型

the + birch

receive + the birch

用法筆記

Always used with the definite article as 'the birch' when referring to this form of punishment. This sense is almost exclusively used in historical contexts describing school discipline or old legal systems. The phrase 'to get the birch' means to receive this punishment.

常見錯誤

❌Birch was a common punishment in old schools.
✅The birch was a common punishment in old schools.
💡The definite article is required when referring to this specific punishment.

3. the pale and fairly hard wood that comes from birch trees, often chosen for maki

3.名詞B2
釋義

樺木

樺樹的淺色堅硬木材

the pale and fairly hard wood that comes from birch trees, often chosen for making cabinets, flooring, and kitchen items

例句

The Wang family's kitchen table was made of solid birch and had lasted forty years.

王家的廚房餐桌是用實心樺木做的，已經用了四十年。

solid birch / made of birch

Ola sanded the birch shelf until its surface felt completely smooth to the touch.

Ola 打磨了樺木書架，直到它的表面摸起來完全光滑為止。

同義詞
  • hardwood

    a broader category that includes birch, oak, maple, and other dense woods

文法句型

made of + birch

solid + birch

用法筆記

Uncountable noun — do not say 'a birch' to mean a piece of wood. Common in descriptions of modern minimalist furniture and traditional Scandinavian interior design because of its pale colour and fine grain.

常見錯誤

❌My desk is made of birch wood.
✅My desk is made of birch.
💡'birch' already means the wood; adding 'wood' is redundant.
❌I bought a birch for the new floor.
✅I bought birch for the new floor.
💡'birch' as wood is uncountable; don't use the article 'a'.

birch — 動詞