contagious
/kənˈteɪdʒəs/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈtā-jəs/ (ame, mw)
contagious — 形容詞
- contagiouspositive
- more contagiouscomparative
- most contagioussuperlative
1. describes a disease that passes from one person to another through touch, coughi
會傳染的
疾病可透過接觸或飛沫傳染給他人
describes a disease that passes from one person to another through touch, coughing, sneezing, or contact with a surface that an infected person has used.
Élise stayed home from school because her cold was highly contagious.
Élise 因為感冒傳染力很強，所以待在家裡沒去上學。
be + highly contagious (intensifier pattern)
The nurse warned us that flu viruses are especially contagious in closed rooms.
護士提醒我們，流感病毒在密閉空間裡特別容易傳染。
Wash your hands often — some contagious diseases live on surfaces for hours.
要常洗手——有些傳染性疾病可以在物品表面存活好幾個小時。
Tanvi's doctor said the rash was not contagious, so she could go back to work.
Tanvi 的醫生說她皮膚上的疹子沒有傳染性，所以她可以回去上班。
- infectious
broader term — covers all pathogen-caused diseases, including those that spread through air, water, or food, not just contact
- communicable
more formal; used in public-health contexts about diseases that can be passed between hosts
- transmissible
most technical; can apply to diseases, genes, or traits passed from one organism to another
- catching
informal, conversational — 'Is it catching?' is a common everyday question
- non-contagious
a disease that cannot spread between people
- non-infectious
cannot be passed on at all, e.g. a genetic condition
文法句型
contagious + noun (disease, virus, illness)
be + contagious
remain/stay + contagious
用法筆記
Contagious refers specifically to diseases that spread through physical contact or close proximity. It is narrower than 'infectious' — all contagious diseases are infectious, but not all infectious diseases are contagious (e.g. tetanus is infectious but cannot spread between people).
常見錯誤
2. describes a person who has a sickness that others nearby may pick up through tou
帶有傳染力的
指人本身有疾病，可能傳給他人
describes a person who has a sickness that others nearby may pick up through touch or close contact.
Folake was told she would stay contagious for a week after the fever went away.
醫生告訴 Folake，她在退燒後約一週內仍有傳染力。
stay + contagious (linking verb)
The daycare asked parents to keep contagious children at home until they recover.
托兒所要求家長讓有傳染病的孩子留在家裡，等康復再來。
attributive: contagious + noun (children)
Imani felt much better but the doctor said she was still contagious.
Imani 覺得好多了，但醫生說她還是有傳染力。
Beatrix wore a mask because she knew she might be contagious after visiting the clinic.
Beatrix 戴上口罩，因為她知道去完診所後自己可能還有傳染性。
- infectious
can also describe a person carrying a disease, though 'contagious' is preferred for contact-spread
- sick
much broader and less precise; a sick person may or may not be contagious
- non-contagious
the person can no longer pass the disease to others
- recovered
no longer carrying the disease at all
文法句型
be + contagious
remain/stay + contagious
still + contagious
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used predicatively (after 'be,' 'remain,' 'stay'). When used attributively before a noun, it typically modifies 'person,' 'patient,' or 'child' — e.g. 'contagious patients.'
常見錯誤
3. describes a feeling or way of behaving that passes rapidly between people, causi
有感染力的
情緒或行為迅速在人群間擴散
describes a feeling or way of behaving that passes rapidly between people, causing others to share the same emotion or action.
Jisoo's laughter was so contagious that soon the whole room was giggling.
Jisoo 的笑聲感染力很強，很快整間房間的人都笑了起來。
be + contagious describing an emotion
The choir sang with contagious energy, and the audience began clapping along.
合唱團唱出了充滿感染力的活力，觀眾也跟著打起拍子。
attributive: contagious + noun (energy)
Nicholas had a contagious smile that made everyone around him feel at ease.
Nicholas 的笑容很有感染力，讓周圍每個人都感到自在。
The team's enthusiasm proved contagious, inspiring even the newest members to join in.
團隊的熱情傳染給了每一個人，連新進成員也受到鼓舞一起參與。
Adina noticed that her friend's calm mood was contagious during the stressful exam week.
Adina 注意到在考試壓力大的那一週，朋友的平靜情緒也感染了她。
- infectious
used almost interchangeably in this figurative sense, though 'contagious' is slightly more common for emotions
- spreading
describes the action directly but lacks the vivid metaphor of 'contagious'
- catching
informal — 'Her excitement is catching' means the same thing in casual speech
文法句型
contagious + noun (laughter, enthusiasm, smile)
be + contagious
prove + contagious
用法筆記
This figurative sense is very common in everyday English. It typically describes positive emotions (laughter, enthusiasm, joy, excitement) but can also apply to negative moods such as panic or fear. The literal medical sense does not apply.