great
/ɡreɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡreɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrāt Southern also ˈgre(ə)t/ (ame, mw) · /ɡreɪt-/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡreɪt-/ (ame, ipa)
great — 形容詞
- greatpositive
- greatercomparative
- greatestsuperlative
1. very large in amount, size, or degree; used to emphasise the scale of something
巨大；大量
在數量、大小或程度上非常大
very large in amount, size, or degree; used to emphasise the scale of something such as an amount, distance, difference, or level of effort.
There is a great difference between the temperature in summer and winter here.
這裡的夏季和冬季溫度差異巨大。
great + [difference]
Soo-jin took great care when packing the ceramic bowls for shipping.
Soo-jin 在包裝陶瓷碗運送時非常小心。
great + [care]
The team spent a great deal of time preparing for the competition.
團隊花了大量時間為比賽做準備。
We walked a great distance through the forest before reaching the lake.
我們穿越森林走了很遠的距離才到達湖邊。
文法句型
great + [amount/size noun]
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with abstract nouns referring to quantity, degree, or intensity (e.g. great care, great difficulty, great importance). For physical size of objects, 'big' or 'large' is more natural than 'great'.
常見錯誤
2. used as part of a name or title to show that a place, person, or thing is large,
大（用於名稱）
加在地名或人名前，表示規模或地位
used as part of a name or title to show that a place, person, or thing is large, important, or historically significant.
The Great Wall of China stretches over twenty thousand kilometres.
萬里長城全長超過兩萬公里。
Great + [proper noun] in place names
Many tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef every year to see the coral and marine life.
每年有許多遊客造訪大堡礁，欣賞珊瑚和海洋生物。
文法句型
the Great + [place name / person name]
3. used in comparisons to indicate that the size, amount, or degree of one thing is
大於；超過
在數量或程度上比…更大
used in comparisons to indicate that the size, amount, or degree of one thing is greater than that of another; common in formal, academic, or statistical writing.
After three days of heavy rain, the water level in the Chao Phraya River was far greater than the seasonal average.
連續下了三天大雨後，昭披耶河的水位遠高於季節平均。
greater than + [comparison noun phrase]
The cost of repairing the old bridge was far greater than the town council had expected.
修復舊橋的費用遠超過鎮議會的預期。
文法句型
greater + than + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Used mainly in formal, academic, or statistical writing. In everyday speech, 'bigger than' or 'larger than' is more common.
4. famous, powerful, or important within a particular field; widely recognised as o
偉大；傑出
在某一領域聞名或影響力大
famous, powerful, or important within a particular field; widely recognised as one of the best of a certain type.
Marie Curie is considered one of the greatest scientists of the modern era.
Marie Curie 被認為是現代最偉大的科學家之一。
one of the greatest + [plural noun]
Kwame Nkrumah was a great leader in the movement for African independence.
Kwame Nkrumah 是非洲獨立運動中的一位偉大領袖。
文法句型
great + [person/achievement noun]
用法筆記
Often used with 'one of the' structure: 'one of the great/greatest [field] of [time period]'. Can describe living or historical figures.
5. very strong or extreme in degree; used with nouns that describe feelings, condit
極大；非常
形容感受或狀態的程度極強
very strong or extreme in degree; used with nouns that describe feelings, conditions, or states to intensify their meaning.
The family watched the news with great sadness after the earthquake.
那家人在看到地震消息後，懷著極大的悲痛觀看新聞。
great + [emotion noun]
The young pianist performed with great confidence in front of the audience.
那位年輕的鋼琴家在觀眾面前演奏時充滿了極大的自信。
There was great excitement among the children when the magician arrived.
魔術師到來時，孩子們興奮極了。
The firefighters showed great courage when they entered the burning building.
消防員衝入燃燒中的建築物時展現了極大的勇氣。
- extreme
stronger, suggests the highest possible degree
- immense
suggests vastness beyond ordinary measurement
- tremendous
emphasises surprising intensity
文法句型
great + [abstract noun of emotion/state]
用法筆記
Typically pairs with abstract nouns related to emotion (great joy, great fear), effort (great effort), or quality (great beauty). Does not normally combine with concrete nouns — say 'very hot' not 'great heat' in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
6. extremely good in quality or enjoyable; used informally to express strong approv
很好；出色
品質極佳或令人愉快
extremely good in quality or enjoyable; used informally to express strong approval or satisfaction with something.
The sushi at that little restaurant near the station is really great.
火車站附近那家小餐廳的壽司真的很棒。
[subject] + be + great — predicative use
Haruto recommended a great book about Japanese history — I finished it in two days.
Haruto 推薦了一本關於日本歷史的好書——我兩天就看完了。
We had a great time at the beach yesterday — the weather was perfect.
我們昨天在海灘玩得很開心——天氣好極了。
Aunt Rosa makes a great chocolate cake for every family celebration.
Rosa 阿姨每次家庭聚會都會做一個美味的巧克力蛋糕。
文法句型
great + [noun]
[subject] + be + great
用法筆記
This is the most common everyday meaning of 'great' in informal English. It is stronger than 'good' but less intense than 'amazing' or 'fantastic'. In British English, 'brilliant' is a common synonym. Avoid using this sense in very formal writing.
常見錯誤
7. said as an exclamation when you are satisfied, pleased, or relieved about someth
太棒了！
表示滿意、高興或同意的感嘆
said as an exclamation when you are satisfied, pleased, or relieved about something, or to show enthusiastic agreement with a plan or decision.
"I managed to get tickets for the concert tonight!" "Great! I'll pick you up at seven."
「我設法買到了今晚演唱會的門票！」「太棒了！我七點來接你。」
standalone exclamation showing enthusiasm
"The weather forecast says sunshine all weekend." "Oh, great! We can finally go hiking."
「天氣預報說整個週末都是晴天。」「哦，太好了！我們終於可以去健行了。」
Aunt Rosa heard that the package had arrived and said, "Great — now I can finish the decorations."
Rosa 阿姨聽到包裹到了便說：「太好了——我現在可以把裝飾品完成了。」
文法句型
Great! + [independent clause]
That's great!
用法筆記
Spoken with a cheerful, rising intonation. In writing, often followed by an exclamation mark. Can also be phrased as 'That's great!' or 'That would be great!' to respond to suggestions.
8. said sarcastically to show annoyance, disappointment, or frustration about somet
糟透（反諷）
反諷語氣表達不滿或失望
said sarcastically to show annoyance, disappointment, or frustration about something unwelcome.
"The train is delayed by two hours." "Oh, great. Just what I needed today."
「火車延誤了兩個小時。」「哦，糟透了。今天我真是走運了。」
sarcastic 'Oh, great' + ironic follow-up
Fatima looked at the flat tyre and muttered, "Great. Now I'll be late for the interview."
Fatima 看著扁掉的輪胎嘀咕道：「糟透了。這下我面試要遲到了。」
"The printer ran out of ink right before the deadline." "Great — that's perfect timing."
「印表機在截止日期前墨水用完了。」「糟透了——時機真完美。」
文法句型
Oh, great! + [unwelcome news]
Great! [sarcastic tone]
用法筆記
Delivered with a flat or falling intonation, clearly different from the cheerful sense. Often paired with an ironic follow-up statement ('just what I needed', 'perfect timing'). Learners should be careful — using this sarcastic sense with the wrong tone may confuse listeners.
常見錯誤
great — 副詞
1. used before an adjective to emphasise its meaning; it makes the following word s
很；非常
放在形容詞前以加強語氣
used before an adjective to emphasise its meaning; it makes the following word stronger.
That is a great big house on top of the hill — you can see it from miles away.
山頂上那棟非常大的房子——從幾英里外就能看到。
great big + [noun] — colloquial intensifier
A great long queue of people was waiting outside the stadium when we arrived.
我們到達時，體育館外排著長長的人龍。
文法句型
great + [adjective]
great + [adverb]
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrases 'great big', 'great long', and occasionally 'great many'. Not productive — you cannot freely add 'great' before any adjective (*'great small', *'great hot'). This is a colloquial, informal intensifier.
常見錯誤
great — 名詞
- greatsingular
- greatsplural
1. a person who is famous and highly accomplished in a particular area of activity,
偉人；大師
在某一領域成就卓越的知名人物
a person who is famous and highly accomplished in a particular area of activity, such as sports, music, literature, or science.
The gallery is showing works by the greats of modern art, including Picasso and Kandinsky.
畫廊正在展出現代藝術大師的作品，包括 Picasso 和 Kandinsky。
the greats of + [field]
Many young tennis players dream of becoming one of the all-time greats of the sport.
許多年輕網球選手夢想成為這項運動史上最偉大的球員之一。
This biography examines the lives of the literary greats of the nineteenth century.
這本傳記探討了十九世紀文學巨匠的一生。
- unknown
someone not famous
文法句型
the greats of + [field]
[field] + greats
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural form 'greats' or in the fixed phrase 'the greats'. Singular use ('He is a great') is possible but less common and more informal.
常見錯誤
great — 字首
1. a prefix added before a family term (such as aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmoth
曾；隔代
加在親屬稱謂前表示隔一代
a prefix added before a family term (such as aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother) to indicate being one generation further away from that relative.
My great-grandmother lived to be ninety-seven and taught me how to bake bread.
我的曾祖母活到九十七歲，教我如何烤麵包。
great-grandmother = grandparent's grandmother
Omar's great-aunt sent him a postcard from her trip to Morocco.
Omar 的姑婆從摩洛哥寄了一張明信片給他。
The family tree shows my great-uncle on my mother's side, who emigrated to Canada in 1920.
家族樹上顯示我母親那邊的叔公在1920年移民到了加拿大。
文法句型
great- + [family member term]
用法筆記
Can be repeated to indicate multiple generations: great-grandfather (2 generations back), great-great-grandfather (3 generations back), etc. Also works sidewards for aunts/uncles: great-aunt means the aunt of one's parent.