contra
contra — 介系詞
1. in a position or argument that is against something; most often used in the fixe
反對
表示反對的立場或論點
in a position or argument that is against something; most often used in the fixed pairing 'pro and contra' to present both sides of an issue.
The committee listened carefully to both the pro and contra arguments before voting on the new regulation.
委員會仔細聽取了正反雙方的論點，然後就新法規進行投票。
fixed expression: pro and contra
Roya listed the pros and contras of each investment option in a detailed spreadsheet.
Roya 在詳細的試算表中列出了每項投資選項的優缺點。
modern variant: pros and contras
In a balanced academic essay, the writer must examine both the pro and contra positions on the issue.
在平衡的學術文章中，作者必須同時檢視贊成與反對的立場。
The philosopher presented a long list of pro and contra propositions for the students to debate.
那位哲學家為學生提出了一系列正反命題，供他們辯論。
- against
the everyday equivalent; much more common in ordinary speech and writing
- pro
the paired opposite in the expression 'pro and contra'
文法句型
contra + noun phrase
pro and contra (fixed expression)
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the paired expression 'pro and contra' (or the Anglicised 'pros and contras'). Rarely used alone in modern English outside formal or academic writing.
常見錯誤
2. used before a noun phrase to introduce a statement that goes directly against a
相反
與某觀點或預期相反
used before a noun phrase to introduce a statement that goes directly against a particular view, belief, or expectation that someone has stated or assumes to be true.
Contra the CEO's optimistic forecast, the company reported a significant drop in quarterly earnings.
與執行長的樂觀預測相反，該公司報告季度收益大幅下滑。
contra + [someone's prediction/expectation]
Ayesha chose to study marine biology, contra her parents' hopes that she would become a doctor.
Ayesha 選擇攻讀海洋生物學，與父母希望她成為醫生的期望相反。
usage pattern: contra + [someone's] + [noun]
Contra popular belief, most tropical fish in home aquariums are not caught in the wild but bred on farms.
與一般人的想法相反，大多數家庭水族箱裡的熱帶魚並非野外捕獲，而是在養殖場繁殖的。
The judge ruled contra the prosecution's argument and dismissed the case for lack of evidence.
法官做出了與檢方論點相反的裁決，以證據不足為由駁回了案件。
- contrary to
the more common and slightly less formal equivalent
- against
everyday alternative; less precise for marking a direct contradiction
- counter to
similar register and meaning; used especially in business and strategy contexts
- in line with
indicates agreement or alignment rather than opposition
- consistent with
formal alternative expressing harmony of views
文法句型
contra + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
A formal preposition; in everyday English, 'contrary to' or 'against' is preferred. Frequently used in legal, academic, and journalistic writing to mark a counter-position.
常見錯誤
3. in music, describing a voice, part, or melody that is placed or moves in opposit
反向
音樂中聲部或旋律的對立進行
in music, describing a voice, part, or melody that is placed or moves in opposition to another, creating contrapuntal texture.
In the second movement, the cello plays a melody contra the violin's main theme, creating a rich contrapuntal dialogue.
在第二樂章中，大提琴演奏一條與小提琴主題反向的旋律，營造出豐富的對位對話。
musical usage: contra + [musical part/voice]
Kemi analysed how Bach sets the alto voice contra the soprano line in the fugue's exposition.
Kemi 分析了巴哈在賦格的呈示部中如何將中音聲部設定為與高音聲部反向進行。
The composer marked the passage 'contra' to indicate that the second trumpet should play in opposition to the first.
作曲家將樂段標記為「contra」，表示第二支小號應與第一支呈反向演奏。
The choir split in two, one singing the hymn melody and the other a contra part.
合唱團分成兩組，一組唱讚美詩旋律，另一組唱反向聲部。
文法句型
contra + [noun phrase, typically musical term]
用法筆記
This musical sense is highly specialised and appears almost exclusively in music theory, composition textbooks, and orchestral score markings. Most English learners will never need to use it actively.
contra — 名詞
1. a fighter from the right-wing rebel army that opposed the left-wing government r
反政府軍
1980年代尼加拉瓜反桑地諾游擊隊成員
a fighter from the right-wing rebel army that opposed the left-wing government ruling Nicaragua during the 1980s.
The Contras received financial and military support from the United States throughout much of the 1980s.
整個 1980 年代，反政府軍從美國獲得了大量資金與軍事援助。
usually capitalised and used in plural: the Contras
Liam interviewed a former Contra who now works as a farmer in the Nicaraguan countryside.
Liam 採訪了一位前反政府軍成員，此人如今在尼加拉瓜鄉村務農。
Constanza wrote her master's thesis on the role of the Contras in shaping US foreign policy toward Central America.
Constanza 的碩士論文探討了反政府軍如何影響美國對中美洲的外交政策。
Historians continue to disagree about the long-term impact of the Contra war on Nicaragua's political development.
歷史學家對於反政府軍戰爭是否對尼加拉瓜的政治發展造成長期影響仍有分歧。
- Sandinista
the left-wing government forces that the Contras opposed
文法句型
the Contras
a Contra
Contra + [military noun]
用法筆記
Always capitalised when referring to the historical Nicaraguan group. The singular 'Contra' is less common than the plural 'Contras'. In modern contexts, the term may occasionally be used generically for any anti-government guerrilla force, but this is rare and considered informal.