fault
/fɔːlt/ (bre, ipa) · /fɔːlt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯlt in poetry also ˈfȯt/ (ame, mw) · /fɒlt/ (bre, ipa) · /fɑːlt/ (ame, ipa)
fault — 名詞
- faultsingular
- faultsplural
1. the state of being the person who caused a problem or made an error.
過錯；責任
對錯誤或壞事應負的責任
the state of being the person who caused a problem or made an error.
The car crash was entirely Christopher's fault because he ran a red light.
這場車禍完全是 Christopher 的過錯，因為他闖紅燈了。
be + possessive + fault — assigning responsibility
It is not the teacher's fault that the students did not prepare for the exam.
學生沒有準備考試，這不是老師的錯。
it is + possessive + fault + that-clause
The company admitted fault for the data leak and apologized to its users.
該公司承認對資料外洩負有責任，並向用戶致歉。
Both drivers shared the fault equally, so neither had to pay the full cost.
雙方駕駛各負一半的責任，因此誰也不用支付全額費用。
- blame
Focuses on who is held responsible rather than the condition of being responsible; 'the blame lies with me' vs 'it's my fault'.
- responsibility
More neutral and formal; can be positive or negative, while 'fault' is always negative.
- guilt
Stronger, implying moral or legal wrongdoing; more serious than 'fault'.
- credit
Recognition for something good, the opposite of blame or fault.
用法筆記
Often appears in fixed expressions: 'be someone's fault' (informal, daily speech) or 'be at fault' (slightly more formal). 'Admit fault' is a formal collocation used in legal or business contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a part of someone's character that is seen as weak, bad, or not good enough.
缺點；弱點
性格上不好的或薄弱的一面
a part of someone's character that is seen as weak, bad, or not good enough.
Jabari's only fault is that he trusts people far too easily.
Jabari 唯一的缺點就是他太容易相信別人了。
possessive + only fault + is that-clause
Everyone has faults, but a good friend accepts you anyway.
每個人都有缺點，但真正的好朋友無論如何都會接納你。
Her biggest fault as a manager was that she never listened to her team.
她當主管最大的缺點是從不聽團隊的意見。
Adina acknowledged her faults and worked hard to become more patient with others.
Adina 坦然面對自己的缺點，努力讓自己對別人更有耐心。
- weakness
Softer and more neutral than 'fault'; can also refer to non-moral traits.
- defect
More formal and severe; often used for character in literary contexts.
- shortcoming
Implies falling short of a standard; gentler than 'fault'.
常見錯誤
3. an imperfection in a machine, system, or design that keeps it from running corre
瑕疵；缺陷
機器或系統中無法正常運作的部分
an imperfection in a machine, system, or design that keeps it from running correctly.
The engineers found a fault in the braking system of the new train.
工程師在新款列車的煞車系統中發現了一處缺陷。
fault in — followed by system/machine/design
A small fault in the software caused the entire website to shut down.
軟體裡的一個小瑕疵導致整個網站當機。
Joaquín returned the phone because of a manufacturing fault in its screen.
Joaquín 因為螢幕有製造瑕疵而退還了手機。
The bridge collapsed due to a structural fault that nobody had noticed before.
那座橋因結構缺陷而倒塌，事前沒有人注意到這個問題。
用法筆記
Often used with prepositions 'in' or 'with' (a fault in the design, a fault with the engine). For electronic devices, 'fault' is more technical than 'problem' or 'issue'.
常見錯誤
4. a serve in tennis or similar racket sports that is illegal because the ball land
發球失誤
網球等運動中非法的發球
a serve in tennis or similar racket sports that is illegal because the ball lands outside the correct area of the court.
Samir served two faults in a row and lost the game quickly.
Samir 連續兩次發球失誤，很快就輸了這一局。
The umpire called a fault when the ball hit the net.
球碰到網子且沒有過網時，裁判判定為發球失誤。
call a fault — official calls the fault
Lucía's serve was strong, but she made too many faults under pressure.
Lucía 的發球很有力，但在壓力下她出現太多次發球失誤。
A double fault on match point cost Élise the championship title.
Élise 在賽末點時發生雙發失誤，因此輸掉了冠軍頭銜。
- double fault
Two faults in a row, which loses the point — more specific than a single 'fault'.
- foot fault
A specific type of fault where the server steps on or over the baseline.
- ace
A legal serve that the opponent cannot touch.
用法筆記
Two consecutive faults (a 'double fault') means the server loses the point. In tennis scoring, a fault is not the same as a 'foot fault', which is a rule about foot placement during the serve.
5. used only in the fixed patterns 'be at fault' and 'be someone's fault' to show t
有過失
僅用於固定句式 be at fault
used only in the fixed patterns 'be at fault' and 'be someone's fault' to show that a particular person is the cause of a problem, with no standalone noun use for this meaning.
The delivery was late, but the warehouse was at fault, not the driver.
送貨遲到了，但司機並沒有過錯——是倉庫延誤了訂單。
be at fault — fixed expression for responsibility
It was entirely Rania's fault that the meeting started late.
會議延遲開始，完全是 Rania 的錯。
When the project failed, everyone tried to decide who was at fault.
專案失敗後，每個人都想弄清楚是誰的過錯。
Jabari admitted that the broken window was his fault and offered to pay.
Jabari 承認打破窗戶是他的錯，並主動表示願意賠償。
- to blame
Equivalent phrasing: 'the driver is to blame' = 'the driver is at fault'.
文法句型
be + at + fault
be + possessive + fault
用法筆記
This is an idiomatic sense that always appears in the fixed expressions 'be at fault' (more formal) or 'be someone's fault' (everyday speech). It is not a standalone noun sense — the noun always appears within these phrases.
常見錯誤
6. to keep pointing out what is wrong with someone or something, often in an unfair
挑剔；找碴
不公平或過度地批評他人
to keep pointing out what is wrong with someone or something, often in an unfair or overly critical way.
Her supervisor was always finding fault with her reports, even when they were excellent.
她的主管老是挑剔她的報告，就算報告寫得很好也一樣。
find fault with + object — fixed expression
Maeve told her friend to stop finding fault with every detail of the party plan.
Maeve 要她的朋友不要再對派對計劃的每個小細節吹毛求疵了。
Critics found fault with the film's ending, though they praised the acting.
影評人批評這部電影的結局，不過他們讚賞了演員的表現。
Samir finds fault with every restaurant we go to, no matter how good the food.
無論我們去哪家餐廳，Samir 總是有得挑剔，菜再好吃也沒用。
- praise
To express approval — the opposite of finding fault.
文法句型
find + fault + with
用法筆記
Always used in the fixed expression 'find fault with'. The noun 'fault' does not vary — you cannot say 'find a fault with' in this idiomatic sense (that would mean locating a defect, which is sense 3).
常見錯誤
7. a break in the planet's rocky outer layer that has split into two sections and s
斷層
地殼岩石因移動而形成的裂縫
a break in the planet's rocky outer layer that has split into two sections and shifted in opposite directions.
The San Andreas Fault is one of the most studied geological features in the world.
加州的聖安德烈亞斯斷層是世界上研究最多的地質構造之一。
Earthquakes often happen along fault lines where tectonic plates meet.
地震經常沿著板塊交界處的斷層線發生。
fault line — the visible surface line of a fault
Jisoo's geography class visited a fault zone to examine the rock layers up close.
Jisoo 的地理科全班去參觀了一個斷層帶，近距離觀察岩層。
Geologists mapped a new fault under the ocean floor using special equipment.
地質學家利用特殊設備在海床下方繪製出一條新斷層。
- fault line
Refers specifically to the line on the surface where the fault can be seen.
- fracture
A more general term for any break in rock; less specific than 'fault'.
用法筆記
In geology, 'fault' is a technical term. A 'fault line' is the surface trace of a fault, while 'fault zone' refers to the broader area of fractured rock around the main fault.
fault — 動詞
- faultpresent simple I / you / we / they
- faults3rd person singular
- faulting-ing form
- faultedpast simple
1. to express disapproval of someone or something because you believe they have mad
批評；指責
找出理由責怪某人或某事
to express disapproval of someone or something because you believe they have made an error or have a shortcoming.
You cannot fault Christopher for being honest — he told the truth from the start.
你不能責怪 Christopher 誠實——他一開始就說了實話。
cannot fault + person + for + gerund — common pattern
Few people could fault the restaurant's service, though the food was average.
這家餐廳的服務幾乎無可挑剔，只是食物水準一般。
Emma did not fault her colleague for leaving early because the work was already done.
Emma 沒有責怪同事提早離開，因為工作已經做完了。
It is hard to fault a plan that saved the company so much money.
一個為公司省下這麼多錢的計劃，實在很難挑剔。
- praise
To express approval of someone or something.
文法句型
cannot/could not + fault + someone/something + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Used most naturally in negative constructions ('can't fault', 'couldn't fault', 'hard to fault'). Affirmative use ('I fault him for…') sounds formal or old-fashioned. The object can be a person, an action, or a thing.
常見錯誤
2. to serve the ball illegally in tennis or similar racket sports, usually by landi
違例發球
網球等運動中非法發球的動作
to serve the ball illegally in tennis or similar racket sports, usually by landing it outside the correct area.
The player faulted twice in a row and lost the point.
那位選手連續兩次發球失誤，因此輸掉了這一分。
intransitive: faulted on serve, lost the point
Ari tends to fault on his first serve when the wind is strong.
Ari 在風大的時候往往第一次發球就會失誤。
If you fault on your second serve, you lose the game immediately.
如果你第二次發球又失誤，就會立刻輸掉這一局。
Lucía faulted three times in one game and grew visibly frustrated.
Lucía 在一局裡發球違例三次，臉上明顯露出了沮喪的表情。
用法筆記
This verb is domain-specific to tennis and similar racket sports. In everyday English, it is much rarer than the noun sense. Most learners will encounter the noun sense (a fault) more often than the verb (to fault).