element
/ˈelɪmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈelɪmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈe-lə-mənt/ (ame, mw)
element — 名詞
- elementsingular
- elementsplural
1. a basic part that, together with other parts, makes up a larger structure such a
要素；部分
構成整體的基本部分
a basic part that, together with other parts, makes up a larger structure such as a system, a plan, or a machine.
The visual design is a key element of any successful website.
視覺設計是任何成功網站的關鍵要素。
key element of [something]
Yuki learned the basic elements of photography during her summer course.
Yuki 在暑期課程中學到了攝影的基本要素。
the basic elements of [subject] — meaning basic principles
Trust is the essential element that holds any strong working relationship together.
信任是維繫任何穩固工作關係的核心要素。
The engineer checked every element of the bridge design before construction began.
工程師在施工前檢查了橋樑設計的各個環節。
Cost was only one element among several that the committee weighed when choosing a school supplier.
成本只是委員會在挑選學校供應商時考量的要素之一。
- component
more technical; suggests a manufactured or engineered part
- constituent
more formal; used in academic or scientific writing
- ingredient
common for mixtures and recipes; also used figuratively
- factor
focuses on the role of the element in determining an outcome
- whole
the complete thing that elements together form
文法句型
element of [something]
[adjective] element
the elements of [subject]
用法筆記
Countable. Frequently paired with an adjective (key, essential, basic, deciding) and the preposition of or in.
常見錯誤
2. a slight but noticeable amount of a particular feeling or trait that can be sens
些許
少量的情感或特質
a slight but noticeable amount of a particular feeling or trait that can be sensed in what someone does or says.
There was an element of sadness in her voice when she talked about leaving.
她談到離開時，語氣中帶有一絲悲傷。
element of [emotion] — a small amount of a feeling
Bilal's speech contained an element of humour that pleased the audience.
Bilal 的演講帶有些許幽默，令觀眾感到愉快。
The game has an element of luck that keeps it exciting for new players.
這款遊戲帶有一些運氣成分，讓新玩家覺得刺激。
A small element of caution crept into the detective's voice whenever she described that witness.
每當偵探描述那名證人時，語氣中總會流露出一絲謹慎。
The children's performance showed an element of creativity that surprised their teacher.
孩子們的表演展現了些許創意，令老師感到驚喜。
文法句型
an element of [emotion/quality]
a[n] [adjective] element of [emotion/quality]
用法筆記
Always singular in this sense. The noun that follows of is usually an abstract noun describing an emotion, quality, or characteristic.
常見錯誤
3. a substance made entirely of one kind of atom that cannot be divided into simple
元素
由單一原子構成的純化學物質
a substance made entirely of one kind of atom that cannot be divided into simpler chemicals through normal laboratory methods.
Gold is a heavy element that does not rust or corrode over time.
黃金是一種重的元素，不會隨著時間生鏽或腐蝕。
[name of metal] is an element
The chemistry teacher asked the students to memorise the symbols of twenty elements.
化學老師要求學生背下二十種元素的符號。
Oxygen is the most common element in the Earth's rocky outer layer.
氧是地球岩石外層中最常見的元素。
Silicon is a common element used in the tiny chips that power mobile phones.
矽是一種常見的元素，用於驅動手機的微型晶片中。
Élise learned that carbon is the element found in all known living things.
Élise 學到碳是所有已知生物體內都有的元素。
- chemical element
the full formal term
- substance
much broader; includes compounds and mixtures
- compound
a substance made of two or more elements bonded together
文法句型
[chemical] is an element
the element [name]
用法筆記
Countable. Each element is identified by its atomic number. There are 118 known elements, 92 of which occur naturally. Do not confuse with compound (a substance made of two or more elements chemically bonded).
常見錯誤
4. one of four basic materials — earth, water, air, and fire — that people in ancie
四大元素
古人認為構成萬物的四種基本物質
one of four basic materials — earth, water, air, and fire — that people in ancient times believed everything in the world was made of.
Ancient Greek philosophers believed that everything was made of four elements: earth, water, air, and fire.
古希臘哲學家認為萬物由四大元素構成：土、水、氣、火。
the four elements
In medieval medicine, each of the four elements was linked to a specific bodily fluid.
中世紀醫學認為四種元素分別對應人體內的一種體液。
Constanza read about how alchemists tried to turn one element into another, such as lead into gold.
Constanza 讀到煉金術士如何試圖將一種元素轉化為另一種，例如將鉛變成黃金。
The idea of the four elements appears in the ancient cultures of China, Greece, and India.
四大元素的觀念出現在中國、希臘和印度等古老文化之中。
Some traditional philosophies add a fifth element called spirit or ether to the original four.
有些傳統哲學在原來的四元素之外，加入了稱為「靈」或「以太」的第五元素。
- classical element
the formal term for this sense
- prime element
historical term for these four substances
文法句型
the four elements
[element name]
用法筆記
Usually plural in this historical sense (the four elements). When used in singular, it refers to one of the four (e.g., 'Fire is the most active element'). This sense is now considered outdated in science but remains important in the history of ideas.
常見錯誤
5. strong or unpleasant weather conditions, such as heavy rain, strong wind, or ext
惡劣天氣
猛烈的自然天候，如風雨寒雪
strong or unpleasant weather conditions, such as heavy rain, strong wind, or extreme cold, considered as a force that people must face or endure.
The hikers were caught in the elements when the storm arrived unexpectedly.
暴風雨突然來襲時，登山客被困在惡劣天氣之中。
exposed to / caught in the elements
The old wooden fence had been battered by the elements for over thirty years.
那座舊木籬笆被風吹雨打了三十年，早已殘破不堪。
battered by / weathered by the elements
The gardener covered the plants with a sheet to protect them from the elements.
園丁用布蓋住植物，免得它們被惡劣天氣損壞。
Samir's tent was strong enough to withstand the elements during the mountain climb.
Samir 的帳篷強度足以在登山時抵擋惡劣天候。
The old lighthouse keeper learned to respect the power of the elements at sea.
老燈塔管理員學會了敬畏大海中風雨的力量。
- weather
neutral; includes both good and bad conditions
- the outdoors
broader; refers to nature rather than specifically weather
文法句型
the elements
用法筆記
Always used with the definite article as the elements (plural). Refers to bad weather rather than pleasant weather. Common with verbs like brave, withstand, expose (to), protect (from), and be battered (by).
常見錯誤
6. the part inside an electrical device, such as a hairdryer, space heater, or elec
電熱元件
電器內部產生熱量的零件
the part inside an electrical device, such as a hairdryer, space heater, or electric blanket, that produces heat when an electric current passes through it.
The hairdryer stopped working because the heating element had broken inside.
吹風機停止運轉，因為內部的電熱元件壞了。
heating element — the part that produces heat
Jenna cleaned the oven element carefully so that the heat would spread evenly.
Jenna 仔細清潔了烤箱的電熱管，讓熱量均勻散佈。
The mechanic replaced the heating element in the water heater after it stopped warming up.
技工更換了熱水器中的電熱元件，因為它不再加熱。
A modern electric kettle uses a hidden element at the bottom to boil water fast.
現代電熱水壺使用底部的隱藏式發熱元件，快速將水煮沸。
The engineer checked whether the element in the furnace could reach the required temperature.
工程師檢查了鍋爐內的加熱元件是否能達到所需的溫度。
- heating coil
specific to spiral-shaped heating elements
- heater
broader term for the whole device, not just the part
文法句型
[device] element
heating element
用法筆記
Countable. Often used in compound nouns (heating element, oven element, kettle element). If the device type is clear from context, simply 'the element' is sufficient.
常見錯誤
7. The visible circular metal ring or coil on an electric hob, cooktop, or oven flo
發熱圈
電爐或烤箱內的圓形金屬加熱元件
The visible circular metal ring or coil on an electric hob, cooktop, or oven floor that gets hot when electricity flows through it, allowing you to cook food.
The chef turned the knob and the cooker's metal element began to glow bright red.
廚師轉動旋鈕，爐具的金屬發熱圈開始發出明亮的紅光。
element began to glow: heating activation
The chef wiped the ceramic cooktop gently so as not to scratch the glass surface around each element.
主廚輕輕擦拭陶瓷爐面，以免刮傷每個發熱圈周圍的玻璃表面。
element on a cooktop: visible cooking ring
The circular element on the old electric stove glowed orange within seconds of being turned on.
舊電爐上的圓形發熱圈在開啟後幾秒內就變成橘紅色。
When the hob element failed, the guests had to wait longer for dinner.
爐面發熱圈壞了，客人只好多等一會兒才能用餐。
The baker replaced the old oven element with a new one from the hardware shop.
烘焙師從五金行買了一個新的烤箱發熱圈來更換舊的。
- heating coil
emphasises the spiral shape of the element
- hotplate
the entire cooking surface, not just the coil inside
文法句型
heating element in/inside/of [appliance]
[appliance] element
用法筆記
Often preceded by the name of the appliance ('oven element,' 'hob element,' 'cooktop element') or the modifier 'heating' ('heating element'). Distinguish this sense from sense 6 — sense 6 refers to general heating parts in any electrical device (hairdryers, space heaters), while sense 7 specifically describes the visible circular coil on cooking surfaces such as hobs, cooktops, and oven floors.
常見錯誤
8. A place, situation, or type of activity where a person, animal, or thing feels m
環境；歸處
令人感到自在且能發揮所長的環境
A place, situation, or type of activity where a person, animal, or thing feels most comfortable, confident, and able to perform well — for example, a fish in water, or a skilled chef in a busy kitchen.
The university librarian was truly in her element organising the rare book collection.
大學圖書館員在整理善本收藏時，簡直就像魚得水。
in one's element: comfortable and able
For a polar bear, the Arctic ice is its natural element.
對北極熊而言，北極冰層是牠們最自在的自然環境。
natural element: ideal habitat
The open kitchen was the head chef's natural element — the space where she moved with complete confidence.
開放式廚房是主廚最自在的自然領域——她在那個空間裡動作自如，充滿自信。
After years in marketing, Tuan finally found his element teaching art at a community college.
在行銷領域待了多年後，Tuan 終於在社區大學教藝術時找到了自己的歸屬。
The brightly lit stage was the performer's true element, the place where she felt most alive.
明亮的舞臺是表演者真正的歸屬——那個讓她感到最有生命力的地方。
- alien environment
a place where one feels uncomfortable and out of place
文法句型
in one's element
natural element
find one's element
用法筆記
This noun sense describes the concept of a natural environment where someone or something thrives (e.g., 'the stage was her true element'). It is closely related to the fixed idiom 'in one's element' (see Idioms), which uses the same metaphor. Distinguish the two: the noun sense takes modifiers like 'natural,' 'true,' or 'proper' and can be used in various grammatical roles ('The sea is a dolphin's element'); the idiom 'in one's element' is a fixed prepositional phrase meaning 'in a situation where one feels comfortable and capable.' The singular form is always used — 'elements' belongs to sense 5 (BAD WEATHER).
常見錯誤
9. Any distinct subgroup within a larger society, political party, or organisation
分子；群體
較大群體中擁有共同特質的一群人
Any distinct subgroup within a larger society, political party, or organisation whose members share particular beliefs, attitudes, or backgrounds that set them apart from the majority.
The moderate elements in the government pushed for a compromise on the new tax law.
政府內部的溫和派分子推動就新稅法達成妥協。
[adjective] elements in [group]: faction identifier
Extremist elements within the student union called for a boycott of the event.
學生會內的極端分子呼籲抵制該活動。
elements within [group]: internal subgroup
The report identified criminal elements that had infiltrated the local council.
報告指出了已滲入地方議會的犯罪分子。
Conservative elements of the church opposed the proposed changes to the ceremony.
教會內的保守派分子反對修改儀式的提案。
Younger elements in the company argued that remote working improved productivity.
公司內的年輕群體認為遠距工作可以提高生產力。
文法句型
[adjective] elements in/within/of [group]
用法筆記
Nearly always used in the plural form ('elements') with an adjective modifier that identifies the type of group (moderate, extremist, criminal, progressive, conservative). The singular form ('an element') would not convey this sense. Common in political analysis, sociology, and organisational reporting.