contents
contents — 名詞
1. everything that is held or packed inside a box, bag, room, or other container.
內容物
容器內部裝的東西
everything that is held or packed inside a box, bag, room, or other container.
Indra emptied the contents of her schoolbag onto the kitchen table.
Indra 把書包的內容物全倒在廚房桌上。
the contents of + [container]
Customs officers asked Faisal to declare the contents of the large suitcase.
海關人員要求 Faisal 申報那只大行李箱裡的內容物。
declare the contents of
The label warns that the contents of the bottle may cause skin irritation.
標籤上警告，這瓶內容物可能會刺激皮膚。
After the flood, the contents of the basement were soaked and ruined.
淹水之後，地下室的內容物全都泡濕、毀掉了。
Obi carefully unpacked the contents of the wooden crate one item at a time.
Obi 小心地把木箱的內容物一樣一樣拿出來。
- items inside
everyday paraphrase; less compact
- load
narrower; usually for vehicles or trucks
文法句型
the contents of [container]
用法筆記
Always plural; almost always preceded by 'the' plus an 'of [container]' phrase. Singular 'content' carries a different meaning (substance / material).
常見錯誤
2. the subjects or ideas that are covered in a book, article, speech, or other writ
內容；論點
文章、書籍或演說所談的主題
the subjects or ideas that are covered in a book, article, speech, or other written or spoken work.
Hugo summarised the contents of the report in a two-page email.
Hugo 用一封兩頁的電子郵件把報告的內容做了摘要。
summarise the contents of
Defne disagreed with the contents of the newspaper editorial about housing.
Defne 不認同那篇報紙社論關於住房的論點。
Before the trial, lawyers studied the contents of every signed witness statement.
開庭之前，律師仔細研讀每一份簽署過的證人陳述內容。
The professor asked students to outline the contents of chapter five for homework.
教授要學生把第五章的內容大綱整理出來當作業。
- subject matter
more formal; emphasises themes rather than specific points
- substance
stresses the ideas; uncountable singular
文法句型
the contents of [text]
用法筆記
Refers to the IDEAS within a text, not the physical book object. Distinguish from sense 3 (digital media) — sense 2 is about written or spoken arguments, sense 3 is the generic stuff posted online.
3. the videos, photos, articles, and other material published on a website, social
網路內容
網站或社群平台上的影音、圖文
the videos, photos, articles, and other material published on a website, social platform, or app.
Renata reviews the contents of three news apps before her morning meeting.
Renata 在每天的早會前會看過三個新聞 app 的內容。
TikTok deleted the contents of three teen accounts that broke its safety rules.
TikTok 刪除了三個違反安全規範的青少年帳號內容。
Xiu downloads the contents of her favourite channel so she can watch offline.
Xiu 會把她喜歡的頻道內容下載下來，這樣就能離線收看。
Advertisers complained about the violent contents of several gaming streams.
廣告主對於幾個遊戲直播裡的暴力內容感到不滿。
文法句型
the contents of [website / platform]
用法筆記
Often interchangeable with the modern uncountable noun 'content' (singular). 'Contents' here usually refers to a specific bounded set ('the contents of THIS feed'); plain 'content' is the general media category.
4. the central point or gist of an argument, message, or statement — what it actual
要旨；實質
拋開包裝後論述真正的核心
the central point or gist of an argument, message, or statement — what it actually says, stripped of style.
Élise judges a speech by its contents, not by the speaker's accent or appearance.
Élise 評斷一場演講看的是要旨，不是講者的口音或外表。
Adina stripped away the polite phrases and found the contents of the apology hollow.
Adina 把客套話一一拿掉之後，發現那段道歉的實質內容相當空洞。
the contents of [statement]
Reporters argued about the political contents of the prime minister's New Year message.
記者們爭論首相新年談話中的政治要旨。
Otis cares more about the contents of an idea than about who first said it.
比起最先說出這個想法的人，Otis 更在意想法本身的實質。
- form
the outer style or presentation, as opposed to the inner message
文法句型
the contents of [argument / message]
用法筆記
Formal register; in everyday speech 'point', 'gist', or 'substance' is more common. Distinguish from sense 2 — sense 2 is the full set of topics covered; sense 4 is the single key takeaway.
5. what a symbol, image, or expression stands for — the meaning a reader or viewer
意涵；意義
象徵或意象背後的意思
what a symbol, image, or expression stands for — the meaning a reader or viewer is meant to take from it.
Art historians still debate the symbolic contents of the dragon in the temple painting.
藝術史學家仍在爭論寺廟壁畫中那條龍的象徵意涵。
Harper interpreted the emotional contents of the lullaby differently from her grandmother.
Harper 對那首搖籃曲情感意涵的解讀，跟她奶奶不一樣。
Therapists sometimes ask patients to describe the contents of recurring nightmares.
治療師有時會請病人描述反覆出現的惡夢有什麼意涵。
The poet hides the political contents of the verse behind images of birds.
那位詩人把詩中的政治意涵藏在群鳥的意象後面。
- significance
what something means rather than what it literally shows
- meaning
general everyday equivalent
文法句型
the contents of [symbol / image / dream]
用法筆記
Common in literary, art-historical, and psychoanalytic writing. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 4 is the surface argument; sense 5 is what a symbol secretly signifies.
6. the people, objects, and actions actually depicted in a painting, film, or piece
題材內容
畫面或作品中實際呈現的事物
the people, objects, and actions actually depicted in a painting, film, or piece of fiction — as opposed to its style or structure.
Leo praised the painting's form but found the contents of the scene rather dull.
Leo 稱讚那幅畫的形式，但覺得畫面題材內容相當乏味。
Lisa, the chief critic, separated the contents of the novel from its narrative form.
首席評論家 Lisa 把這本小說的題材內容與敘事形式分開來談。
contents [vs.] form
The film's slow camera work clashes with the violent contents of the final scene.
這部電影緩慢的運鏡與最後一場戲暴力的題材內容形成衝突。
Romi argued that the contents of the photograph mattered more than its composition.
Romi 認為這張照片的題材內容比構圖更重要。
- subject matter
everyday equivalent; works in casual writing too
- form
the structural or stylistic side of the work
文法句型
the contents of [the work / the painting]
用法筆記
An art-criticism term. Almost always set against 'form' as its contrast partner ('content vs. form' / 'contents vs. form'). Mostly appears in academic or critical reviews.
7. the topics, concepts, or material studied in a particular subject or course.
課程內容
某學科或課程涵蓋的主題
the topics, concepts, or material studied in a particular subject or course.
Alessia revised the contents of the chemistry course over the long winter break.
Alessia 利用漫長的寒假把化學課程內容複習了一遍。
the contents of [course]
The ministry has updated the contents of the secondary-school history curriculum.
教育部更新了中學歷史課的課程內容。
Teachers complained that the contents of the new programme were too broad.
老師抱怨新課程的內容涵蓋範圍太廣。
Hui explained the contents of comparative law to first-year students every September.
Hui 每年九月都會向大一新生講解比較法的課程內容。
- syllabus
the official list of topics for a course
- curriculum
the wider plan of study across a programme
文法句型
the contents of [discipline / curriculum]
用法筆記
Most natural in academic and educational writing. In casual talk, 'what's in the course' or 'the syllabus' is more common.
contents — 形容詞
1. feeling quietly satisfied with the way things are, without wanting anything more
滿足的
對現況平靜滿意、不再多求
feeling quietly satisfied with the way things are, without wanting anything more.
Eli was content with a quiet evening, a thick book, and a mug of cocoa.
Eli 只要有一個安靜的夜晚、一本厚書和一杯熱可可就很滿足。
be content with + [noun]
Léa seemed perfectly content to wait outside while her friends queued for tickets.
朋友們在外面排隊買票，Léa 看起來非常滿足地在外面等。
be content to + [verb]
After thirty years on the same farm, Femi is content; he wants nothing else.
在同一座農場待了三十年，Femi 很滿足，什麼都不想再要。
Naoko looked content as she watched the sunset from the small balcony.
Naoko 從小陽台上看著夕陽，神情看起來很滿足。
Jason said he was content with his salary and had no plans to leave.
Jason 說他對自己的薪水很滿足，沒打算離職。
- discontented
actively unhappy and wanting change
- restless
wanting something to change; unable to settle
文法句型
be content with [noun]
be content to [verb]
用法筆記
Almost always predicative (after 'be', 'seem', 'feel', 'look'). Rare before a noun — say 'a contented child', not 'a content child'. Distinguish from 'happy': 'content' suggests calm acceptance rather than active joy.
常見錯誤
contents — 動詞
1. to give someone enough of what they want or need so that they stop complaining o
使滿意
讓對方不再抱怨或要求
to give someone enough of what they want or need so that they stop complaining or asking for more.
A small bowl of warm soup contented Iris after the long walk home.
走了那麼長一段路回家之後，一小碗熱湯就讓 Iris 感到滿足。
content + [direct object: person]
Nothing the Toyota board offered seemed to content the angry shareholders at the meeting.
Toyota 董事會在會議上提出的方案，似乎沒有任何一項能讓憤怒的股東滿意。
Abigail handed her son a biscuit, which contented him for about thirty seconds.
Abigail 遞給兒子一塊餅乾，這讓他大概滿足了三十秒。
A polite refusal contented the journalist; he stopped pressing for further details.
一句客氣的拒絕就讓那位記者滿意了，他不再追問細節。
文法句型
content + [someone]
用法筆記
Formal and rather literary; everyday English prefers 'satisfy', 'please', or 'keep [someone] happy'. The reflexive pattern 'content oneself with' is far more common today than the plain transitive use.
2. to accept a smaller or simpler version of what you wanted, instead of asking for
甘於；將就
退而接受較小或較簡單的選擇
to accept a smaller or simpler version of what you wanted, instead of asking for everything.
Without an oven, Liam contented himself with making sandwiches for the picnic.
沒有烤箱，Liam 就甘於只做三明治帶去野餐。
content oneself with + [-ing / noun]
Jenna contented herself with one chapter a night while studying for her exams.
準備考試期間，Jenna 甘於一晚只讀一章。
Unable to travel, Anya contented herself with photos and stories from her cousins abroad.
因為沒辦法出國，Anya 只能將就靠國外表親的照片和故事過過癮。
We contented ourselves with a quick coffee, since the restaurant was fully booked.
餐廳已經客滿，我們只好將就喝一杯快咖啡。
- settle for
more informal; everyday alternative
- make do with
stresses that the choice is less than ideal
- insist on
refuse anything less than what you originally wanted
文法句型
content oneself with [noun / -ing]
用法筆記
Almost always reflexive: 'content yourself / oneself / himself / herself / ourselves'. Followed by 'with' + noun or '-ing' form. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is one person ending another person's complaints; sense 2 is choosing to accept less for yourself.