figurative
/ˈfɪɡərətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɪɡjərətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfi-g(y)ə-rə-tiv/ (ame, mw)
figurative — 形容詞
- figurativepositive
- more figurativecomparative
- most figurativesuperlative
1. used about words or phrases that create an image or comparison instead of meanin
比喻的
字詞不用本義而借意表達
used about words or phrases that create an image or comparison instead of meaning exactly what they say.
Our teacher said "a flood of emails" was figurative, not literal.
老師說「信箱被郵件淹沒」是比喻的說法，不是字面意思。
be figurative, not literal
The poem's "sleeping giant" is figurative, describing the city at night.
詩裡的「沉睡巨人」是比喻的說法，用來描寫夜晚的城市。
figurative phrase creates an image
Gabriel used figurative language when he wrote that worry was a storm.
Gabriel 寫「憂慮像暴風雨」時用了比喻性的語言。
The cartoon caption was figurative, so the rabbit was not truly flying with joy.
那段卡通說明文字是比喻的，所以那隻兔子並不是真的快樂到飛起來。
In class, Ada underlined the figurative phrase "broken heart" in blue.
上課時，Ada 用藍筆畫出了「broken heart」這個比喻說法。
- metaphorical
closer to comparison by image; figurative is broader and includes other non-literal effects
- symbolic
usually about something standing for an idea, not simply language used away from its plain meaning
- non-literal
plain explanatory term often used in teaching, not as stylistically natural in ordinary prose
- literal
describes words that keep their direct, ordinary meaning
文法句型
figurative + language / expression / meaning
be figurative rather than literal
用法筆記
Most often used when discussing language, especially metaphors, exaggeration, and other expressions that are not meant to be understood word for word. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about the visible style of art rather than the meaning of language.
常見錯誤
2. showing people, animals, or objects in a recognizable form instead of using only
具象的
畫出可辨認的人物或物體
showing people, animals, or objects in a recognizable form instead of using only abstract shapes or colour.
The gallery showed figurative paintings of workers at the harbor.
畫廊展出了描繪港邊工人的具象畫作。
collocation: figurative paintings
Although the colors were strange, the sculpture remained clearly figurative.
雖然色彩很奇特，那座雕塑仍然很具象。
linking verb + figurative
Amani prefers figurative art because she likes recognizable faces and rooms.
Amani 偏好具象藝術，因為她喜歡看得出來的臉和房間。
The poster stayed figurative, with a cyclist, a road, and rain.
那張海報仍然是具象的，上面有騎士、道路和雨。
After months of abstract sketches, Nadia painted a more figurative self-portrait.
畫了幾個月的抽象素描後，Nadia 改畫了一幅更具象的自畫像。
- representational
formal art term for showing visible subjects rather than pure abstraction
- realistic
narrower; suggests a closer match to real-life appearance than figurative always does
- lifelike
stronger; emphasizes a very real-looking effect, not just recognizable forms
- abstract
moves away from recognizable people or objects toward shapes, colour, or pattern
文法句型
figurative + art / painting / sculpture
remain / become figurative
用法筆記
Common in discussions of painting, drawing, sculpture, and design. Distinguish from sense 1: here figurative describes work that still shows recognizable figures or objects, even if the style is loose or unusual.