forces
forces — 名詞
1. organised groups of trained soldiers, police officers, or other workers who foll
部隊；隊伍
有組織、聽命行動的軍警或工作人員群體
organised groups of trained soldiers, police officers, or other workers who follow orders together for a common goal, such as fighting a war or stopping crime.
Government forces took back the airport from rebel fighters after three days.
政府部隊在三天後從反抗武裝手中奪回機場。
collocation: government / rebel / enemy forces
Police forces across the country shared photos of the missing girl.
全國各地的警察部隊都分享了失蹤女孩的照片。
plural with cross-region scope: 'across the country'
Niran joined the peacekeeping forces stationed near the border last spring.
Niran 去年春天加入駐紮在邊境附近的維和部隊。
Special forces were sent overnight to help with the flood rescue in the coastal villages.
特種部隊連夜被派去協助沿海村莊的水災救援。
The mayor thanked the rescue forces for working through the night.
市長感謝救援隊伍徹夜不停地工作。
文法句型
the [adjective] forces
[number] forces
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense. Subject is usually a state, government, or organisation, not a single person.
常見錯誤
2. the total size and strength of a country's army, navy, and air force seen togeth
兵力；軍力
一國海陸空軍合計的整體戰力規模
the total size and strength of a country's army, navy, and air force seen together as a single fighting power.
The general warned that the country's forces were not ready for a long war.
將軍警告，國家的兵力還沒有準備好打持久戰。
possessive + forces: a country's total military strength
Camila reported that allied forces had grown by twenty thousand soldiers this year.
Camila 報導今年盟軍的兵力增加了兩萬名士兵。
collocation: allied / combined forces
The president ordered the navy to build up its forces in the southern sea.
總統下令海軍擴充在南海的兵力。
After the peace deal, both sides agreed to reduce their forces by half.
和平協議後，雙方都同意把兵力減半。
文法句型
a country's forces
build up its forces
用法筆記
Different from sense 1: this sense talks about military power as a whole quantity (size, strength), while sense 1 talks about specific groups sent to act.
3. powerful trends or pressures, often in society, the economy, or nature, that pus
力量；勢力
推動社會、經濟或自然變化的潛在影響
powerful trends or pressures, often in society, the economy, or nature, that push events in a certain direction without anyone planning them.
The forces of globalisation have changed small towns across South America.
全球化的力量改變了南美洲各地的小鎮。
'forces of [abstract noun]' — broad social pressures
Market forces, not the government, decided which factories stayed open.
市場力量、而非政府，決定了哪些工廠繼續營運。
collocation: market forces
Yael argued that powerful economic forces were driving young people to move to the cities.
Yael 主張強大的經濟力量正逼著年輕人搬到城市。
Two opposing forces in the party fought over the new leader for months.
黨內兩股對立勢力為了新領導人的人選爭執了好幾個月。
Climate scientists study the natural forces that shape coastlines over centuries.
氣候科學家研究數百年來塑造海岸線的自然力量。
文法句型
the forces of [X]
[adjective] forces shape / drive [Y]
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective naming the area (market, social, political, natural). The verb is typically 'shape', 'drive', or 'push'.
4. in physics, pushes or pulls (such as gravity or magnetism) that act on an object
力；作用力
物理上推或拉、能改變物體運動的作用
in physics, pushes or pulls (such as gravity or magnetism) that act on an object and can change how it moves.
The bridge must support all the forces pushing down on it during a storm.
這座橋必須承受暴風雨時所有向下壓的力。
'forces acting on [object]'
Vivek showed the class how two forces pulling on a rope can balance each other.
Vivek 向全班示範兩股拉繩子的力如何彼此平衡。
'balanced forces' — net result is zero motion
Engineers measure the forces inside a car engine to make it safer.
工程師測量汽車引擎內部的作用力以提升安全性。
The four basic forces of nature include gravity and electromagnetism.
自然界的四種基本力包括重力和電磁力。
文法句型
the forces acting on [X]
用法筆記
In physics writing, almost always plural when describing more than one push or pull on an object. Common verbs: 'act on', 'balance', 'measure', 'apply'.
5. violent or threatening actions used together by a group to make someone do somet
暴力手段
以暴力或威脅集體強迫他人就範
violent or threatening actions used together by a group to make someone do something against their will.
Villagers were driven from their homes by the forces of an armed militia.
村民遭武裝民兵的暴力手段驅離家園。
'driven by the forces of [armed group]'
The protesters resisted the forces sent to break up their peaceful gathering.
抗議者抵抗被派來驅散和平集會的武力。
'resist forces' — refuse to give in to coercion
Esme described how the forces used during the arrest left several people injured.
Esme 描述了逮捕過程中所使用的武力如何造成多人受傷。
Human rights groups condemned the brutal forces shown against the marchers.
人權組織譴責對遊行者使用的殘酷暴力手段。
- persuasion
achieving the same end by reasoning
文法句型
by the forces of [X]
the forces of [violence / law]
用法筆記
Formal register, mostly journalism and human-rights writing. Distinguish from sense 1 (named groups like 'rescue forces') and sense 2 (military size as a quantity).
forces — 動詞
1. (third person singular of 'force') makes a person do something they do not want
迫使；強迫
施壓讓人做不想做的事
(third person singular of 'force') makes a person do something they do not want to do, by using power, threats, or strong pressure.
The new law forces drivers to wear seatbelts on every road, even short ones.
新法律迫使駕駛在每條路上、即使再短也要繫安全帶。
forces + somebody + to-infinitive
Heavy rain forces many farmers to delay the harvest by several weeks.
大雨迫使許多農民把收成延後好幾週。
inanimate subject: a situation as the 'forcer'
Caleb says high rent forces him to share a small flat with three roommates.
Caleb 說高房租迫使他與三個室友共住小公寓。
The factory boss forces the workers into long shifts without enough breaks.
工廠老闆強迫工人接受沒有足夠休息的長班。
- allows
the opposite — giving free choice
文法句型
forces + somebody + to-infinitive
forces + somebody + into + noun
用法筆記
The subject is often a rule, situation, or pressure (not just a person). Very often followed by 'to + verb'.
常見錯誤
2. pushes, pulls, or moves something hard when it does not want to move, often usin
用力推；硬塞
出力推或拉抗拒不動的物體
pushes, pulls, or moves something hard when it does not want to move, often using the body or a tool against pressure that holds it back.
Mizuki forces the heavy wooden door open with her shoulder when the lock sticks.
Mizuki 在鎖卡住時用肩膀把厚重的木門推開。
'forces [door] open' — physical effort against resistance
Strong wind forces the small boat back toward the rocky beach.
強風把小船硬推回多石的海灘。
inanimate force pushing against motion
Kofi forces the last shirt into a suitcase that is already too full.
Kofi 把最後一件襯衫硬塞進已經太滿的行李箱。
The mechanic warns drivers not to force the gear lever when the engine is cold.
技師警告駕駛在引擎冷的時候不要硬扳排檔桿。
文法句型
forces + object + into / through / open / shut
用法筆記
Physical sense; the object usually resists in some way (a stuck door, a tight suitcase, a stiff lever). Distinguish from sense 1: here the resistance is physical, not human will.
3. breaks open a door, lock, or container by using strong physical effort, usually
撬開；強行
用力破壞門鎖或容器以強行進入
breaks open a door, lock, or container by using strong physical effort, usually to get inside without permission.
The burglar forces the back door of the empty house and slips inside quietly.
竊賊撬開空屋的後門，悄悄溜進去。
collocation: forces a door / lock
Firefighters forced the car door to free the trapped passenger.
消防員撬開車門以救出受困的乘客。
rescue context: forced for a good reason
Someone forced the office safe over the weekend and took the cash inside.
有人在週末撬開辦公室的保險箱，把現金拿走了。
Sana noticed scratch marks where a thief had forced the window lock.
Sana 注意到小偷撬開窗鎖時留下的刮痕。
- breaks open
everyday equivalent; less formal
- pries open
uses a tool as a lever
- smashes
implies broken pieces
- unlocks
opening with a key, the legal way
文法句型
forces + the lock / door / window / safe
用法筆記
Object is almost always a barrier (door, lock, window, safe). Often appears in news, crime reports, and rescue stories.
4. gives someone an opinion, rule, or item that they did not ask for and probably d
強加；硬塞給
把不受歡迎的事物加諸於人
gives someone an opinion, rule, or item that they did not ask for and probably do not want, often without giving them a real chance to say no.
The new manager forces her views about overtime on every team meeting.
新經理在每場團隊會議都把她對加班的看法強加於人。
forces [X] on [people]: imposing opinions
Talia hated how her aunt always forced extra food onto her plate at dinner.
Talia 討厭阿姨晚餐時老是把多餘的食物硬塞到她盤子裡。
everyday domestic example of imposing
The company forces strict dress codes on workers without asking what they think.
公司不問員工想法，就把嚴格的服裝規定強加在工人身上。
Some online platforms force adverts on users every few minutes.
有些網路平台每隔幾分鐘就強迫用戶看廣告。
- offers
with a real choice to refuse
文法句型
forces + noun + on / upon + somebody
用法筆記
Different from sense 1: sense 1 makes someone DO an action; this sense pushes an idea, rule, or thing ONTO them. Note the preposition 'on' or 'upon'.
常見錯誤
5. makes a plant or process grow or develop faster than it would by itself, usually
催生；催熟
刻意改變條件以加速生長或進展
makes a plant or process grow or develop faster than it would by itself, usually by changing the conditions on purpose.
The gardener forces tulip bulbs in warm pots so they bloom by January.
園丁在溫熱的盆裡催開鬱金香球莖，好讓它們在一月就盛開。
'forces bulbs' — gardening jargon
Hot weather forces the rhubarb in Lauren's garden two weeks early this year.
炎熱天氣讓 Lauren 花園裡的大黃比往年早兩週催熟。
natural condition as the 'forcer'
The trainer forces the pace of the workout to test the runners' endurance.
教練加快訓練的節奏，藉此測試跑者的耐力。
Farmers in cold regions force lettuce under glass to sell it before spring.
寒冷地區的農夫在玻璃罩下催長萵苣，好趕在春天前出售。
文法句型
forces + plants / growth / a process
用法筆記
Common in gardening ('force bulbs') and sport ('force the pace'). Outside these areas the sense is rare.
6. produces a sound, expression, or speech with clear effort because it does not co
勉強擠出
明顯吃力地擠出表情或聲音
produces a sound, expression, or speech with clear effort because it does not come naturally at that moment.
Esteban forces a polite smile when his boss repeats the same joke again.
Esteban 在老闆又重複講那個笑話時勉強擠出禮貌的微笑。
'forces a smile' — most common collocation
The actress forces her voice to sound calm during the long live interview.
女演員在漫長的直播訪談中勉強讓自己的聲音聽起來鎮定。
'forces [voice] to + verb'
Gabriela forced a laugh, but anyone could tell she was hurt by the comment.
Gabriela 勉強笑了一聲，但任誰都看得出她被那句評論刺傷了。
Don't force the words — wait until the right ones come to you.
別硬擠出話來——等對的字句自然出現再說。
- genuine
adjective opposite — a 'genuine smile' is not forced
文法句型
forces + a smile / laugh / words / voice
用法筆記
Object is typically a small social signal (smile, laugh, words). Reader infers the person feels something different inside.