cultivation

/ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkəl-tə-ˈvā-shən/ (ame, mw)

cultivation — 名詞

1. the work of breaking up soil and growing food plants like rice, wheat, or vegeta

1.名詞B1
釋義

耕作；種植

翻土種植作物的農業活動

the work of breaking up soil and growing food plants like rice, wheat, or vegetables on a piece of land.

例句

Rice cultivation has shaped the terraced hillsides of northern Thailand for centuries.

稻米的耕作幾百年來形塑了泰國北部的梯田景觀。

cultivation of [specific crop] for agricultural context

Renata gave up her city job to learn the cultivation of organic tomatoes on her grandfather's farm.

Renata 辭掉城市的工作，回到爺爺的農場學習有機番茄的種植。

the cultivation of + [crop] with a determiner

同義詞
  • farming

    broader term covering raising animals as well as growing plants

  • tillage

    technical term focused on preparing soil, not the whole growing cycle

  • agriculture

    covers the whole industry, not a specific act of planting

文法句型

cultivation of [crop/land]

用法筆記

Subject is usually a crop, plant, or area of land. Often paired with 'of' + the specific crop or 'under cultivation' meaning land currently used for farming.

常見錯誤

❌The farmer did the cultivation of rice.
✅The farmer cultivated rice.
💡when describing an action a person performs, use the verb 'cultivate'; the noun describes the activity in general or in a report-like context.

2. the steady effort of building up a skill, habit, or personal quality over time s

2.名詞C1
釋義

培養；陶冶

長時間鍛鍊技能或內在素質

the steady effort of building up a skill, habit, or personal quality over time so it grows stronger.

例句

Maeve credits her success in chess to the patient cultivation of focus during her teenage years.

Maeve 把自己下棋的成就歸功於青少年時期專注力的耐心培養。

the cultivation of + [abstract quality]

Buddhist teachers in Bhutan emphasise the cultivation of kindness toward strangers as daily practice.

不丹的佛教師父強調，每天都要練習培養對陌生人的善意。

cultivation of + [virtue] in a religious or philosophical register

同義詞
  • development

    neutral and general; lacks the slow, careful sense of cultivation

  • fostering

    stresses encouraging something to grow in someone else

  • nurturing

    warmer, more emotional connotation; common with children or talents

反義詞
  • neglect

    letting a quality or skill fade through lack of effort

文法句型

cultivation of [skill/quality/habit]

用法筆記

Object is typically an abstract quality (patience, curiosity, discipline), a skill, or a habit — never a physical object. Distinguish from sense 1 by what follows 'of': a crop or land means sense 1, an inner quality means sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌The cultivation of a new car takes time.
✅The cultivation of patience takes time.
💡this sense applies only to qualities and skills, not to physical things.

3. the careful work of getting to know someone useful and slowly turning that conta

3.名詞C2
釋義

經營關係

刻意結交有用人脈以求未來互惠

the careful work of getting to know someone useful and slowly turning that contact into a real friendship, often to gain a future favour.

例句

Apinya's quiet cultivation of senior editors eventually opened doors at three major newspapers.

Apinya 默默地經營與資深編輯的關係，最後為自己打開了三家大報社的門。

cultivation of + [influential people], implying strategic intent

The new ambassador devoted his first year to the cultivation of friendships within the foreign ministry.

新任大使把上任第一年的心力都放在經營外交部裡的友誼上。

同義詞
  • courting

    shares the deliberate flavour; more common with voters or sponsors

  • networking

    modern, less formal; emphasises a wider circle rather than one person

文法句型

cultivation of [a relationship/contact]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3's object is a person or a relationship with a person, while sense 2's object is an inner quality. Carries a faint suggestion of self-interest or strategy, especially in journalism and politics.

常見錯誤

❌I enjoyed the cultivation of my best friend last summer.
✅I enjoyed spending time with my best friend last summer.
💡sense 3 fits planned, strategic relationship-building, not warm everyday friendship.