epicenter

epicenter — 名詞

1. the surface location directly above the underground origin of an earthquake

1.名詞B2
釋義

震央

地震在地表正上方的位置

the surface location directly above the underground origin of an earthquake

例句

Camila learned that the earthquake's epicenter was fifty kilometers west of the capital.

Camila 得知那場地震的震央在首都西方五十公里處。

usually singular; used with 'of'

The epicenter of the quake was in a remote mountain area with very few houses.

那次地震的震央位於住戶稀少的偏遠山區中。

同義詞
  • focus

    strictly different — focus is the underground origin point, not the surface point

  • hypocenter

    technical term for the underground origin, not interchangeable with epicenter

文法句型

the epicenter of [noun]

用法筆記

Frequently used in news reports about earthquakes. The epicenter is on the surface; the underground starting point is called the focus or hypocenter.

常見錯誤

❌The epicenter deep underground caused the building to collapse.
✅The focus deep underground caused the building to collapse; the epicenter on the surface was fifty miles away.
💡Epicenter is on the surface, not underground.

2. a place where something important, dangerous, or interesting is happening most s

2.名詞B2
釋義

中心

活動或關注的核心區域

a place where something important, dangerous, or interesting is happening most strongly

例句

Tokyo became the epicenter of international fashion during the 1980s.

東京在 1980 年代成為國際時尚的中心。

figurative; always followed by 'of'

The region has been the epicenter of political conflict for over a decade.

這個地區十多年來一直是政治衝突的核心地帶。

同義詞
  • center

    more general and less dramatic; suitable for neutral descriptions

  • hub

    focuses on transport, communication, or activity flow

  • heart

    more emotional or concrete, like heart of the city

  • nucleus

    more scientific; describes a core around which things develop

反義詞
  • periphery

    the outer edge or boundary of an area

  • outskirts

    the outer parts of a city or area, far from the center

文法句型

the epicenter of [abstract noun]

用法筆記

This sense is almost always followed by 'of + abstract noun' (e.g., epicenter of controversy, epicenter of activity). Use heart or hub for more everyday contexts where a dramatic tone is not needed.

常見錯誤

❌The epicenter of the company hired twenty new staff.
✅The headquarters of the company hired twenty new staff.
💡Epicenter describes a location or area where something happens intensely, not an organization or office.