detail
/ˈdiːteɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdiːteɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈtāl ˈdē-ˌtāl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdiː.teɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈteɪl/ (ame, ipa)
detail — 名詞
- detailsingular
- detailsplural
1. one specific item of knowledge among many that belong to a larger topic; a singl
細節
某一事物中的單一事實或資訊點
one specific item of knowledge among many that belong to a larger topic; a single fact about a person, event, object, or situation.
Amelia noticed one small detail about the painting: the artist had signed it in the corner.
Amelia 注意到畫中的一個小細節：藝術家在角落簽了名。
detail + about + noun phrase
Every detail of the wedding ceremony was written down in a blue notebook.
婚禮的每一個細節都寫在了一本藍色筆記本裡。
Kenji asked for more details about the job before he agreed to the interview.
Kenji 在同意面試之前，要求了解更多關於這份工作的細節。
The travel guide included every detail of the hiking route, from trailheads to rest stops.
這本旅遊指南包含了健行路線的每一個細節，從登山口到休息站都有。
- fact
neutral; 'detail' emphasises the small or specific nature of the fact
- particular
more formal; often used in legal or administrative contexts
- point
focuses on a single element in a discussion or list
- element
emphasises that this fact is one part of a larger whole
文法句型
detail + of/about + noun phrase
用法筆記
The singular form 'detail' refers to one fact, while the plural 'details' is used when referring to multiple facts or general information. Frequently paired with 'about' or 'of' to introduce the topic.
常見錯誤
2. information collected about a person, event, product, or situation, especially w
資訊
關於某人或某事的具體資料
information collected about a person, event, product, or situation, especially when it is useful for understanding or decision-making.
Hoa called the travel agency for details about flights to Osaka next month.
Hoa 打電話去旅行社詢問下個月飛往大阪的航班詳情。
ask for details about
The police asked Ziad for details of what he had seen on the night of the robbery.
警方詢問 Ziad 關於他在搶劫案當晚所見情況的細節。
You can find full details of the conference on the university website.
你可以在大學網站上找到會議的完整資訊。
The nurse asked Beatriz for details about her medical history before the check-up.
護士在體檢前向 Beatriz 詢問了她的就醫記錄細節。
- information
broader and more general; 'details' suggests practical, specific information
- particulars
formal; often used in official forms and business documents
- data
more technical; commonly used in scientific or computing contexts
文法句型
details (plural) + of/about + noun phrase
用法筆記
In this sense 'detail' is almost always used in the plural form 'details' or as an uncountable mass noun. It differs from sense 1 in that it refers to information as a body of knowledge rather than individual facts.
常見錯誤
3. the small, subtle elements or qualities of an object, image, scene, or piece of
細部
仔細觀察才能看到的微小特徵
the small, subtle elements or qualities of an object, image, scene, or piece of work that become visible when you examine it closely.
The woodcarver spent hours on the fine details of the dragon's scales and claws.
木雕師花了數小時雕刻龍的鱗片和爪子的精細部分。
fine details of
Beatriz admired the tiny floral details embroidered along the sleeves of the dress.
Beatriz 很欣賞裙子上刺繡的微小花卉圖案。
You need a magnifying glass to see all the intricate details in the old map of Kyoto.
你需要用放大鏡才能看清楚那張京都舊地圖上所有複雜的細節。
The architect studied the smallest details of the building before making her final changes.
建築師仔細研究了大樓最細微的部分，然後才做出最後的修改。
- fine point
stresses precision and subtlety; slightly formal
- nuance
emphasises a subtle difference in meaning or quality
- intricacy
highlights complexity and interwoven elements
- particular
more general; a specific item in any set
文法句型
fine/intricate/small + details
用法筆記
Often paired with adjectives like 'fine,' 'small,' 'tiny,' 'intricate,' or 'subtle.' Common in discussions of art, design, photography, and craftsmanship. The phrase 'attention to detail' (sense 3) refers to the habit of noticing or creating such small features.
4. the state of being described or examined with full coverage of every aspect; use
詳盡
全面地、不漏任何部分地
the state of being described or examined with full coverage of every aspect; used in the fixed adverbial phrase 'in detail' to mean 'thoroughly and taking account of all parts.'
Selim explained his research project in detail to the visiting professor from Seoul.
Selim 向來自首爾的客座教授詳細說明了他的研究計畫。
explain in detail
The report describes each stage of the experiment in great detail for future researchers.
這份報告非常詳細地描述了實驗的每個階段，以供未來的研究人員參考。
in great detail
The manager asked us to examine the budget figures in more detail before the meeting.
經理要求在開會前更仔細地審查預算數字。
The historian described life in medieval London in vivid detail, mentioning shops, streets, and markets.
這位歷史學家生動地詳細描述了中世紀倫敦的生活，提到了商店、街道和市場。
- thoroughly
adverb with the same meaning but less idiomatic
- comprehensively
formal; covers all aspects
- exhaustively
suggests nothing has been left out
- briefly
in a short, incomplete way
- superficially
on the surface only, without depth
文法句型
in detail
in great/exhaustive/more detail
用法筆記
This sense is restricted to the fixed phrase 'in detail' (and its variants 'in great detail,' 'in more detail,' 'in excruciating detail'). The phrase functions as an adverb. Do not write 'in details' — the singular form is always required in this expression.
常見錯誤
5. the act of presenting every relevant piece of information concerning a topic, pa
細說
逐一交代所有事實的行為
the act of presenting every relevant piece of information concerning a topic, particularly in speech or writing; used in the phrase 'go into detail' meaning 'to give a complete account.'
Asher did not go into detail about his reasons for leaving the company last spring.
Asher 沒有詳細說明他去年春天離開公司的原因。
go into detail about
Shanti went into great detail when she described her travels through Vietnam and Cambodia.
Shanti 在描述她遊歷越南和柬埔寨的經歷時，說得非常詳盡。
go into great detail
The article goes into considerable detail about how the new bridge was engineered.
這篇文章詳細介紹了這座新橋樑的工程設計方式。
Selim went into detail about the problems he faced during his climb up Mount Everest.
Selim 詳細講述了他在攀登聖母峰時遇到的困難。
- summarise
to give only the main points
- gloss over
to treat something briefly rather than fully
文法句型
go into detail
go into great/more detail
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the phrase 'go into detail' (or 'go into ... detail'). This sense differs from sense 4: 'in detail' describes how something is done (the manner), while 'go into detail' describes the act of providing information (the action).
常見錯誤
6. a part or element of something that is so small or insignificant that it does no
小事
不重要或無關緊要的部分
a part or element of something that is so small or insignificant that it does not affect the main outcome or meaning.
The colour of the tablecloth was a minor detail that nobody commented on at the party.
桌布的顏色只是個小細節，在派對上根本沒有人提起。
minor detail — unimportant element
Lucas worried about every tiny detail, even things that did not matter in the end.
Lucas 擔心每一個微不足道的細節，即使那些到頭來根本不重要的事。
Do not get stuck on small details when you should be focusing on the big picture.
當你應該專注於整體大局時，不要糾結在細枝末節上。
Whether the invitations are blue or grey is a tiny detail that will not affect the party.
邀請函是藍色還是灰色只是個小細節，不會影響派對的進行。
- triviality
stronger dismissive tone; something that is truly unimportant
- trifle
suggests something of little value or worth
- technicality
a detail that seems minor but may have formal consequences
文法句型
minor/small/trivial + detail
用法筆記
Often used dismissively in phrases like 'just a detail,' 'a minor detail,' or 'a technical detail.' Can carry a slightly ironic tone when someone argues that an important point is 'only a detail.' Contrast with sense 1 (SINGLE FACT) where a detail is neutral.
7. a small team of soldiers, police officers, or workers selected to perform a part
任務組
被指派執行特定任務的一組人
a small team of soldiers, police officers, or workers selected to perform a particular duty or assignment.
A detail of four soldiers was sent to guard the supply depot through the night.
一個由四名士兵組成的小隊奉命整夜守衛補給站。
detail of + number + soldiers — military group
The kitchen detail included two cooks who prepared meals for the entire research crew.
廚房勤務組包括兩名廚師，負責為整個研究團隊做飯。
The captain put Adisa in charge of the clean-up detail after the training exercise.
隊長指派 Adisa 負責訓練結束後的清潔工作小組。
A security detail of six officers accompanied the ambassador to the airport this morning.
一個由六名警衛組成的保安小組今天早上護送大使前往機場。
文法句型
detail + of + noun phrase (people)
用法筆記
Most common in military, police, and organisational contexts. The phrase 'guard detail' or 'security detail' refers to people assigned to protect someone. Also used in non-military settings like 'clean-up detail' or 'kitchen detail.' The noun 'detail' in this sense is countable but often treated as a collective noun (can take a singular verb).
detail — 動詞
- detailpresent simple I / you / we / they
- details3rd person singular
- detailing-ing form
- detailedpast simple
1. to give a full written or spoken account of something, including every relevant
詳述
完整地口頭或書面說明
to give a full written or spoken account of something, including every relevant fact, step, or aspect.
Élise detailed the steps of the recipe in her cooking blog for beginners to follow.
Élise 在她的烹飪部落格中詳細列出了食譜的步驟，方便初學者跟著做。
detail + noun phrase (the steps)
The witness detailed everything she had seen from her apartment window that evening.
那位目擊者詳細描述了當晚她從公寓窗戶看到的一切。
This report details three ways to reduce energy costs in large office buildings.
這份報告詳細說明了三種在大型辦公樓中降低能源成本的方法。
The professor detailed the main differences between the two ancient civilisations in her lecture.
教授在課堂上詳細說明了這兩個古代文明之間的主要差異。
- summarise
to give only the main ideas
- generalise
to make broad statements without specifics
文法句型
detail + noun phrase
detail + wh-clause (what/how/why)
用法筆記
Unlike 'describe' (which can be brief), 'detail' always implies a thorough, point-by-point account. The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. When the object is a clause (e.g., 'what happened'), do not insert a preposition ('detail about what happened' is incorrect).
常見錯誤
2. to officially order a person or a group of people to carry out a specific duty,
派遣
命令某人執行特定任務（常用於軍事或組織）
to officially order a person or a group of people to carry out a specific duty, especially in a military or work setting.
The sergeant detailed three soldiers to search the abandoned warehouse for supplies.
中士派了三名士兵去搜查那座廢棄的倉庫尋找補給品。
detail + person + to-infinitive
Each morning the manager detailed a team of workers to load the delivery trucks.
每天早晨，經理都會指派一組工人去裝載送貨卡車。
Eitan was detailed to assist with the security setup before the conference began.
Eitan 被派去協助會議開始前的安全設置工作。
The lieutenant detailed two scouts to check the path ahead before the main group moved forward.
中尉派了兩名偵察兵去檢查前方的路況，然後主力部隊才向前推進。
文法句型
detail + noun phrase + to-infinitive
be detailed + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice: 'X was detailed to [do something].' The active subject is usually a person in authority (sergeant, captain, manager). Outside military contexts, this sense can sound old-fashioned; 'assigned' or 'deployed' are more common alternatives in civilian English.
常見錯誤
3. to wash, polish, and thoroughly clean every part of a motor vehicle, including t
精洗
徹底清潔車輛的內外
to wash, polish, and thoroughly clean every part of a motor vehicle, including the passenger cabin, the outer bodywork, and all fittings.
Lucas took his old pickup truck to the garage to have it detailed before the sale.
Lucas 把他的舊皮卡車送到修車廠，在出售前做了車內外的徹底清潔。
have + vehicle + detailed (causative pattern)
The car wash offers a premium service that details both the interior and the exterior.
這家洗車店提供高級服務，會仔細清潔車輛的內部與外部。
Amelia spent the whole Sunday detailing her motorcycle until it looked brand new.
Amelia 花了整個星期天徹底清洗她的摩托車，直到它看起來像新的一樣。
Asher paid a professional to detail his van, including shampooing the seats and waxing the paint.
Asher 花錢請專業人士徹底清潔他的廂型車，包括清洗座椅和為車漆打蠟。
文法句型
detail + vehicle noun phrase
have/get + vehicle + detailed
用法筆記
The noun 'detailing' is very common for the service itself ('a full detailing service'). This sense is distinct from general cleaning because it implies a meticulous, professional-level process. Common in automotive advertising and service menus.