distinct
/dɪˈstɪŋkt/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈstɪŋkt/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈstiŋ(k)t/ (ame, mw)
distinct — 形容詞
- distinctpositive
- more distinctcomparative
- most distinctsuperlative
1. If something such as a sound, smell, change, or possibility is distinct, it is s
明顯的
清楚可辨認的
If something such as a sound, smell, change, or possibility is distinct, it is strong and clear enough for you to be sure that it is really there.
The librarian noticed a distinct smell of old paper in the reading room.
圖書館員聞到閱覽室裡有一股明顯的舊紙張氣味。
collocation: distinct smell / distinct sound / distinct change
There is a distinct possibility that the train will arrive late today.
今天火車很有可能會晚點到站。
collocation: distinct possibility
After the storm, the sky showed a distinct band of orange light near the hills.
暴風雨過後，天空靠近山丘的地方出現了一道明顯的橙色光帶。
Dr. Okafor heard a distinct change in the patient's breathing during the night.
Okafor 醫生在夜裡聽到病人的呼吸出現明顯的變化。
The photograph revealed a distinct crack running from one edge to the other.
那張照片顯示出一條明顯的裂縫，從一頭延伸到另一頭。
- clear
more general and everyday; 'a clear voice'
- noticeable
focuses on being easily seen or heard
- definite
emphasises certainty rather than sensory clarity
- pronounced
suggests a stronger or more obvious quality, slightly more formal
- indistinct
the direct opposite; hard to see, hear, or make out
- vague
not clear in shape, meaning, or detail
- faint
weak in strength, especially of sounds, smells, or marks
文法句型
distinct + noun
be + distinct
用法筆記
Commonly appears before nouns such as 'possibility', 'smell', 'sound', 'change', 'improvement', and 'advantage'. The adjective emphasises that the quality is clearly present — not vague, slight, or uncertain.
常見錯誤
2. When people or things are distinct from each other, they belong to separate grou
不同的
清楚分開且不相同的
When people or things are distinct from each other, they belong to separate groups or types and are not the same in important ways.
The two companies operate in distinct markets with completely different customers.
這兩家公司在完全不同的市場中營運，客戶群也完全不一樣。
grammar: distinct + plural noun describing separate categories
Leila kept her savings in a distinct account from her everyday spending money.
Leila 把儲蓄放在一個獨立的帳戶裡，跟日常花費的錢分開。
pattern: distinct from [something] to show separation
Each culture has its own distinct traditions that visitors should respect.
每種文化都有自己獨特的傳統，訪客應該予以尊重。
The biologist explained that these are three distinct species of butterfly.
生物學家解釋說，這些是三種不同的蝴蝶物種。
For Yusuf, his design work is distinct from his team leader role.
對 Yusuf 來說，他的設計工作和團隊主管的職責是截然不同的。
- different
the most general word; simply means 'not the same'
- separate
emphasises physical or organisational apartness
- individual
focuses on each thing's unique identity within a group
- discrete
formal; describes things that are individually separate and distinct as units
文法句型
distinct from + noun phrase
distinct + plural noun
用法筆記
Followed by 'from' when you want to specify what something is separate from. Frequently appears before plural nouns: 'two distinct types', 'several distinct groups', 'three distinct categories'. In academic or formal writing, 'distinct' is stronger than 'different' — it emphasises that the separation is clear and not open to debate.
常見錯誤
3. The expression 'as distinct from' is used when you want to draw a clear line bet
而非
用於區分兩者不同
The expression 'as distinct from' is used when you want to draw a clear line between two things you are comparing, showing that you are talking about the first rather than the second.
The course covers modern art, as distinct from the classical styles taught elsewhere.
這門課程涵蓋現代藝術，而非其他地方教授的古典風格。
fixed phrase: as distinct from + noun phrase introducing a contrast
Quinn wanted to discuss the film's story, as distinct from the special effects.
Quinn 想要討論的是電影的故事，而非特效的部分。
We need to examine service quality, as distinct from delivery speed.
我們需要檢視服務品質，而非運送速度。
The judge asked about the man's intentions, as distinct from his actual actions.
法官詢問的是那名男子的意圖，而非他的實際行為。
- rather than
more common and less formal; works in the same contrastive structure
- as opposed to
similar formality; emphasises direct opposition
- instead of
more general; suggests replacement rather than comparison
- same as
indicates equivalence rather than contrast
- equivalent to
formal; suggests equal value or meaning
文法句型
[clause], as distinct from + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always appears in the fixed expression 'as distinct from,' which introduces a contrasting item immediately after a comma. Never used without the preceding 'as'. This sense is common in academic, legal, and analytical writing where precise comparison is needed.