expression

/ɪkˈspreʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspreʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspre-shən/ (ame, mw)

expression — 名詞

  • expressionsingular
  • expressionsplural

1. The act of communicating your thoughts, feelings, or opinions through speech, wr

1.名詞B1
釋義

表達

用行動或言語表達想法與感受

The act of communicating your thoughts, feelings, or opinions through speech, writing, art, or other actions — for example, a poem that reveals a writer's grief, or a public march that shows people's anger about a new policy.

例句

The teacher encouraged Min to find a creative expression for his ideas during art class.

老師鼓勵 Min 在藝術課上為他的想法找到創意的表達方式。

find + adjective + expression for

Kwame believes that freedom of expression is essential for a healthy society.

Kwame 相信言論自由對健康的社會至關重要。

freedom of expression (fixed phrase)

同義詞
  • communication

    broader term covering all information exchange, not just personal feelings

  • utterance

    more formal and limited to spoken or written words

  • manifestation

    more formal; implies an outward sign of something abstract

反義詞
  • suppression

    the act of preventing thoughts or feelings from being shown

文法句型

expression of [emotion/opinion]

find [adjective] expression in [medium]

freedom of expression

用法筆記

The uncountable form (expression) refers to the general ability or act — 'freedom of expression.' The countable form with 'an expression of' points to a specific instance — 'an expression of gratitude.' In formal writing, 'give expression to' can replace 'express' for a more literary tone.

常見錯誤

❌The freedom of expression is important.
✅Freedom of expression is important.
💡No article is used before this fixed phrase.
❌I need to find a expression for my feelings.
✅I need to find an expression for my feelings.
💡'Expression' begins with a vowel sound, so it takes 'an.'

2. The way someone's facial features appear when they are experiencing a particular

2.名詞A2
釋義

表情

臉上流露的情緒或態度

The way someone's facial features appear when they are experiencing a particular emotion — a broad grin when delighted, or a furrowed brow when confused.

例句

Elena's expression changed from confusion to understanding when she heard the answer.

Elena 聽到答案後，表情從困惑轉為理解。

expression changed from [emotion] to [emotion]

Rachel could tell from her father's expression that the news had upset him deeply.

Rachel 從父親的表情看得出來，那則消息讓他非常難過。

tell from + possessive + expression

同義詞
  • look

    less formal and broader than 'expression'; can also refer to appearance in general

  • face

    informal, as in 'make a face at someone'

  • countenance

    very formal and literary; refers to the whole facial appearance

反義詞

文法句型

[possessive] + expression

expression + [preposition phrase]

用法筆記

When 'expression' refers to a facial look, it is almost always modified by an adjective describing the emotion (a worried expression, a blank expression). The phrase 'facial expression' is more explicit when the context could otherwise suggest sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌His face had no expressions.
✅His face had no expression.
💡When referring to the general state of the face, 'expression' is uncountable.

3. A set phrase or specific combination of words that speakers use in a given situa

3.名詞B1
釋義

詞語；措辭

特定場合使用的詞或短語

A set phrase or specific combination of words that speakers use in a given situation or that belongs to a particular community — for instance, 'break a leg' in theatre circles, or 'bless you' after someone sneezes.

例句

Christopher learned a formal expression to use when writing letters to the university office.

Christopher 學了一個正式措辭，用來寫信給大學辦公室。

formal expression

The expression 'break a leg' is a strange way to wish actors luck before a show.

「break a leg」這個說法很奇特，但人們用它來祝演員演出前好運。

the expression '[phrase]'

同義詞
  • phrase

    a group of words without a full verb; narrower and more technical than 'expression'

  • saying

    a well-known fixed expression that offers advice or wisdom

  • term

    a single word or short phrase with a specific meaning in a field

文法句型

the expression '[phrase]'

expression + for/in [language/context]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to the word or phrase itself as a unit of language, not to the act of communicating. In dictionaries, 'expression' often appears in usage labels such as 'fixed expression,' 'idiomatic expression,' or 'colloquial expression.'

常見錯誤

❌That is just a expression people use.
✅That is just an expression people use.
💡'Expression' takes 'an' before it, not 'a.'
❌A phrase is the same as a expression.
✅A phrase is the same as an expression.
💡Same article rule.

4. In mathematics, a meaningful arrangement of numbers, letters, and operation symb

4.名詞B2
釋義

表達式

代表數值的字母與符號組合

In mathematics, a meaningful arrangement of numbers, letters, and operation symbols (such as +, −, ×, ÷) that stands for a single numerical value — for example, '3x + 5' or '(a + b)²'.

例句

The teacher asked Sora to simplify the algebraic expression on the whiteboard at the front.

老師請 Sora 化簡前面白板上的代數表達式。

algebraic expression

An expression such as '3x + 5' contains both a variable and a constant number.

像「3x + 5」這樣的表達式包含一個變數和一個常數。

expression such as [example]

同義詞
  • formula

    an expression that describes a general relationship; may contain an equals sign

  • equation

    two expressions joined by an equals sign — distinct from a single expression

文法句型

[adjective] + expression

expression + for [quantity]

用法筆記

In mathematics, an expression does NOT contain an equals sign — that would make it an equation. You can simplify or evaluate an expression, but you 'solve' an equation. Common in algebra, calculus, and computer programming contexts.

常見錯誤

❌Solve the expression 3x + 5.
✅Simplify the expression 3x + 5.
💡You solve equations (which contain an equals sign), not expressions.
❌The expression 2 + 2 = 4.
✅The equation 2 + 2 = 4.
💡When there is an equals sign, it is called an equation, not an expression.

5. In biology, the process by which information stored in a gene is converted into

5.名詞C1
釋義

表現

基因產生可觀察特徵的過程

In biology, the process by which information stored in a gene is converted into a visible or measurable effect in a living organism — for example, the way a gene tells cells to produce a particular pigment, resulting in brown eyes instead of blue.

例句

The research team studied gene expression in plant cells exposed to extreme temperatures.

研究團隊研究了暴露於極端溫度下的植物細胞中的基因表現。

gene expression

Scientists found that diet affects the expression of genes related to long-term heart health.

科學家發現飲食會影響與長期心臟健康相關的基因表現。

expression of [a specific group of genes]

同義詞
反義詞
  • gene silencing

    the process by which a gene is prevented from being expressed

文法句型

[gene/protein] expression

expression of [gene]

用法筆記

This technical sense belongs primarily to molecular biology and genetics. Learners are most likely to encounter it in university-level science reading. 'Gene expression' is the most common fixed pairing — the word 'expression' alone may be ambiguous outside a biology context.

常見錯誤

❌The gene expressed the trait.' (confusing levels)
✅The gene was expressed, producing the trait.
💡Genes are not agents; they are expressed through cellular processes.