cultivate

/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt/ (ame, mw)

cultivate — 動詞

  • cultivatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • cultivateshe / she / it
  • cultivatedpast simple
  • cultivating-ing form

1. to get soil or land ready for farming and then raise crops or other useful plant

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

種植；耕作

準備土地並種植作物

to get soil or land ready for farming and then raise crops or other useful plants on it by ploughing, planting, and watering regularly.

例句

The Patel family has cultivated rice in this region for over fifty years.

Patel 家族在這個地區種植稻米已經超過五十年了。

present perfect: has cultivated + duration phrase

Karim spent his weekends cultivating vegetables in the small plot behind his house.

Karim 每逢週末都在他房子後面的小塊土地上種植蔬菜。

同義詞
  • farm

    broader term covering all activities on a farm, not just soil preparation

  • grow

    focuses on the plant's development rather than the land preparation

  • till

    only covers ploughing and preparing soil, not planting or caring for the crop

  • raise

    often used for both plants and animals; slightly less formal than cultivate

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to care for the land or crops

  • abandon

    to leave land or crops without any care at all

文法句型

cultivate + noun phrase (land/soil/crops/plants)

常見錯誤

❌The farmer cultivated the cow.
✅The farmer raised the cow.
💡'cultivate' is used for plants and land, not for animals.

2. to work at developing a particular skill, habit, or quality through regular prac

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

培養

努力發展技能或習慣

to work at developing a particular skill, habit, or quality through regular practice, study, or effort over a period of time.

例句

Adina cultivated her negotiation skills by working on complex business deals.

Adina 透過處理複雜的商業交易來培養她的談判技巧。

cultivate + skill — pattern for abilities gained through experience

Paloma tries to cultivate a habit of writing in her journal every evening.

Paloma 努力培養每晚寫日記的習慣。

同義詞
  • develop

    more general and common; can describe any growth process, not just deliberate effort

  • foster

    emphasises providing a supportive environment for growth; slightly more formal

  • nurture

    suggests gentle, caring support over time; often used for talent or creativity

  • refine

    focuses on making something already present better or more polished

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to give attention or care to a skill or quality

  • abandon

    to stop trying to develop something entirely

文法句型

cultivate + noun phrase (skill/habit/ability/interest/talent)

用法筆記

Frequently used with nouns that describe personal attributes such as skill, ability, habit, interest, talent, or taste. The emphasis is on long-term, deliberate development rather than quick improvement.

常見錯誤

❌I want to cultivate my English before the trip.
✅I want to improve my English before the trip.
💡'cultivate' suggests a long-term, deep development of a skill, not short-term casual improvement.

3. to try deliberately to develop a friendship or connection with someone, usually

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

建立關係

刻意發展有用的人際連結

to try deliberately to develop a friendship or connection with someone, usually because you expect that person to be helpful or useful to you in the future.

例句

Femi cultivated a strong working relationship with his overseas partners over many years.

Femi 多年來與海外合作夥伴建立了穩固的工作關係。

cultivate + relationship — pattern for strategic connections

Andrew made a point of cultivating friendships with senior researchers at the conference.

Andrew 特意在會議上與資深研究人員建立友誼。

同義詞
  • court

    suggests actively seeking favour or support, often in a political or romantic context

  • foster

    focuses on creating a supportive environment for the relationship to grow

  • nurture

    emphasises caring attention to maintain and strengthen the bond over time

  • woo

    implies trying to win someone's favour through charm; slightly old-fashioned

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to maintain a relationship by not giving it attention

  • snub

    to deliberately ignore or reject someone's friendly advances

文法句型

cultivate + noun phrase (relationship/friendship/ties/connections)

用法筆記

This sense emphasises strategic or purposeful relationship-building, not casual friendship. The object is usually a professional or social connection that serves a longer-term goal. Commonly found in business, politics, and networking contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She cultivated a new friend at the weekend party.
✅She cultivated useful business contacts at the industry conference.
💡'cultivate' in this sense implies strategic purpose, not casual social enjoyment.