carbon
/ˈkɑːbən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːrbən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkär-bən/ (ame, mw)
carbon — 名詞
1. a naturally occurring chemical element, symbol C, that is present in every livin
碳
化學元素，符號為 C
a naturally occurring chemical element, symbol C, that is present in every living thing on the planet and takes different forms including diamond, graphite, coal, and petroleum
Diamonds are made entirely of carbon that has been under extreme heat and pressure for millions of years.
鑽石完全由碳組成，這些碳歷經數百萬年的極度高溫和高壓而形成。
passive: is/are made of carbon
All living organisms on Earth contain carbon, which is why it is called the building block of life.
地球上所有生物都含有碳，因此碳被稱為生命的基石。
collocation: contain carbon / building block of life
Burning wood releases the carbon stored inside the plant into the air as smoke and gases.
燃燒木頭時，植物內儲存的碳會以煙霧和氣體的形式釋放到空氣中。
The Watanabe family uses a charcoal grill for cooking, and charcoal is almost pure carbon.
渡邊家使用木炭烤爐做菜，而木炭幾乎是純碳。
2. a gas written as CO₂ that is released when fuel is burned or living things breat
碳排放
指二氧化碳，導致全球暖化
a gas written as CO₂ that is released when fuel is burned or living things breathe out, and is the main cause of global warming
Many countries have promised to reduce their carbon emissions by half by the year 2050.
許多國家已承諾在 2050 年前將其碳排放量減半。
collocation: reduce carbon emissions
Planting more trees helps absorb carbon from the atmosphere and slow down global warming.
種植更多樹木有助於吸收大氣中的碳，減緩全球暖化。
collocation: absorb carbon
The government introduced a new tax on companies that produce high levels of carbon.
政府對產生大量碳的企業開徵新稅。
Yara decided to walk to work every day to lower her personal carbon footprint.
Yara 決定每天走路去上班，以降低個人的碳足跡。
Electric cars produce less carbon than petrol-powered vehicles over their lifetime.
電動車在其整個使用壽命期間產生的碳排放量低於汽油車。
- carbon dioxide
the full scientific name for the gas; more precise, less common in headlines
- greenhouse gas
broader group including methane and nitrous oxide; used in policy contexts
用法筆記
In everyday speech and news reports, 'carbon' by itself almost always means carbon dioxide rather than the raw element. The sense is especially common in compounds such as 'carbon emissions', 'carbon tax', and 'carbon footprint'.
常見錯誤
3. a duplicate of a typed or written document, produced by placing a specially trea
複寫本
用複寫紙製作的副本
a duplicate of a typed or written document, produced by placing a specially treated sheet between two ordinary sheets of paper so the pressure of writing transfers the ink to the bottom sheet
Before computers were common, secretaries always kept a carbon of every letter they typed.
在電腦普及之前，秘書總是會為每封打好的信保留一份複寫本。
countable: a carbon (short for carbon copy)
Aiko found an old carbon of the contract in the filing cabinet from the 1980s.
Aiko 在檔案櫃裡發現了一份 1980 年代的合約複寫本。
The manager asked his assistant to make three carbons of the sales report for each department head.
經理請助理為銷售報告製作三份複寫本，交給各部門主管。
Leila found a carbon of her grandfather's old business letter tucked inside a book.
Leila 在一本書裡發現了她祖父舊商務信的複寫本。
- carbon copy
the full form, more formal; also used figuratively for something very similar
- copy
more general word that works for both paper and digital replicates
用法筆記
Often shortened to just 'carbon', e.g. 'I made a carbon for my files.' This sense is now rare in everyday use because digital copying has replaced carbon paper. Learners should be aware of the meaning but will rarely need to produce it actively.
4. a thin sheet of paper with a dark coating on one surface, inserted between two p
複寫紙
塗有碳粉的薄紙，用於複寫
a thin sheet of paper with a dark coating on one surface, inserted between two pages so that writing pressure transfers the colour onto the lower page
The old typewriter still worked, but Rohan could not find any carbon to put between the pages.
那台老打字機還能用，但 Rohan 找不到任何複寫紙來墊在紙張之間。
uncountable use: any carbon (any carbon paper)
The dark coating on carbon paper comes off on the sheet below, making a copy.
使用複寫紙時，深色塗層會轉移到下方的紙張上，留下書寫的副本。
usage description: use carbon paper
The stationery shop still sells carbon paper for artists who use it in their drawings.
那家文具店仍有販售複寫紙，供藝術家用於創作畫作。
Before printing was common, teachers used carbon paper to make copies of homework sheets.
在印刷普及之前，老師用複寫紙來複印家庭作業的試卷。
- carbon paper
the full term; slightly more formal and precise
用法筆記
The short form 'carbon' is used interchangeably with 'carbon paper', e.g. 'I need a sheet of carbon.' Context usually makes clear whether the paper itself or the copy is intended.