human
/ˈhjuːmən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhjuːmən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhyü-mən ˈyü-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈhjuː.mən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhjuː.mən/ (ame, ipa)
human — 形容詞
- humanpositive
- more humancomparative
- most humansuperlative
1. relating to people and the things they do, especially when compared or contraste
人類的
與人有關的，有別於動物或機器
relating to people and the things they do, especially when compared or contrasted with animals, machines, or nature
The rescue team searched the rubble but found no human remains.
搜救隊搜遍了瓦礫堆，但沒有發現任何人類遺骸。
collocation: human remains
Apinya's research focuses on human behaviour in crowded public spaces.
Apinya 的研究重點是人在擁擠公共空間中的行為。
collocation: human behaviour
Every human society has developed some form of music and storytelling.
每一個人類社會都有某種形式的音樂和說故事傳統。
The crash was caused by human error, not by a technical failure.
這場事故是人為疏失造成的，而不是技術故障。
Is it possible for a machine to have human thoughts and feelings?
機器有可能擁有人的思想和情感嗎？
- animal
emphasizes the biological contrast between people and other living creatures
- inhuman
describes behaviour or conditions that seem not to belong to ordinary people
- supernatural
describes forces or beings beyond the physical human world
文法句型
human + noun (human body / human rights)
be + human
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of the adjective. Common fixed collocations include 'human rights', 'human nature', 'human error', 'the human body', and 'the human race'.
常見錯誤
2. describing the natural feelings, faults, and emotional reactions that most peopl
人性的
表現人類自然情感與弱點的
describing the natural feelings, faults, and emotional reactions that most people share, making someone's actions feel understandable rather than blameworthy
It is only human to feel nervous before an important job interview.
在重要的工作面試前感到緊張，這是人之常情。
fixed expression: it is only human to + infinitive
The judge showed her human side when she reduced the fine for the struggling mother.
那位法官展現了有人情味的一面，對那位辛苦的母親減少了罰款。
collocation: human side
What makes this novel so powerful is its deeply human characters with real flaws.
這本小說之所以如此動人，是因為角色充滿人性、帶有真實的缺點。
Inês made a mistake, but her boss saw it as a very human error.
Inês 犯了錯，但她的主管明白這是非常人性化的失誤。
Crying at a funeral is a perfectly human reaction to losing someone you love.
在葬禮上哭泣，是失去所愛之人後再自然不過的人性反應。
- humane
emphasizes kindness and compassion toward others rather than inner qualities or weaknesses
- imperfect
focuses on flaws and limitations without the sympathetic tone of 'human'
- understandable
describes reactions or mistakes that are easy to sympathize with, but does not carry the sense 'of people as a species'
- inhuman
describes cruelty or coldness that seems to lack ordinary human feelings
- robotic
suggests behaviour that is mechanical and lacks natural emotion
- superhuman
describes abilities or endurance beyond what ordinary people can achieve
文法句型
be + human
it is (only) human to + infinitive
human + noun (human side / human weakness)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the fixed phrase 'it is only human to…' and in evaluative contexts where someone's mistake or reaction is described as understandable rather than blameworthy. Distinguish from sense 1 (HUMAN BEINGS), which is purely descriptive; this sense always carries a sympathetic or forgiving tone.
常見錯誤
3. belonging to the biological group of species that includes modern people togethe
人類祖先的
屬人科或人屬物種的
belonging to the biological group of species that includes modern people together with extinct relatives such as Neanderthals
Archaeologists in Kenya discovered human fossils that are over 50,000 years old.
肯亞的考古學家發現了超過五萬年的人類祖先化石。
scientific register: human fossils
The museum exhibit traces how early human species spread from Africa to Asia.
博物館的展覽追溯了早期人屬物種如何從非洲擴散到亞洲。
collocation: early human species
DNA analysis shows that Neanderthals and modern human groups once mated.
DNA 分析顯示尼安德塔人和現代人祖先群體曾經交配。
This jawbone is the oldest human remains ever found outside the African continent.
這塊下顎骨是在非洲大陸以外發現的最古老人類祖先遺骸。
文法句型
human + noun (human fossils / human species)
early / modern / ancient + human + noun
用法筆記
Restricted to scientific or archaeological contexts. This sense is always attributive (before a noun) and typically appears with pre-modifiers such as 'early', 'ancient', or 'modern'. Not used in everyday conversation.
human — 名詞
- humansingular
- humansplural
1. a living person — a man, woman, or child considered as an individual member of t
人
作為個體的人
a living person — a man, woman, or child considered as an individual member of the human species
Every human has the right to live in safety and with dignity.
每個人都有權在安全且有尊嚴的環境中生活。
quantifier + human: every human
The virus can pass from animals to humans through close contact.
這種病毒可以透過近距離接觸從動物傳給人。
contrast: animals → humans
Shirin treats every single human with the same respect, no matter their background.
Shirin 對待每一個人都同樣尊重，不論對方來自什麼背景。
As a teacher, Jabari believes that all humans can learn if given a fair chance.
身為老師，Jabari 相信只要給予公平的機會，所有人都能學習。
No human should have to live without access to clean drinking water.
任何人都不應該生活在沒有乾淨飲用水的環境中。
- person
the everyday word for an individual; less formal and more natural in most contexts
- individual
emphasizes the person as a separate, unique entity
- human being
a more complete, slightly more formal alternative to 'human'
文法句型
a / the / this / that + human
humans (plural, general)
all humans / every human
用法筆記
Countable noun. At least B1 level, learners should know that 'human' as a noun is slightly more formal or scientific than 'person' in some contexts. In everyday conversation, 'people' or 'person' is more common. 'Humans' (plural) is used for general statements about the species.
常見錯誤
2. an individual belonging to one of the species in the biological group that inclu
人科物種
人屬物種的成員
an individual belonging to one of the species in the biological group that includes modern people together with extinct relatives such as Neanderthals
Early humans used stone tools for hunting and preparing food.
早期人科物種使用石製工具來狩獵和準備食物。
adjective + human: early humans
The oldest known human lived in Africa around 300,000 years ago.
已知最古老的人科物種約在三十萬年前生活在非洲。
superlative: the oldest known human
Scientists disagree about when modern humans first left the African continent.
科學家對於現代人科物種何時首次離開非洲大陸仍有不同意見。
These footprints belong to a human who walked across the mud over 20,000 years ago.
這些腳印屬於兩萬多年前走過泥地的一位人科物種。
- hominin
the technical scientific term for humans and their direct ancestors, used mainly by specialists
- Homo sapiens
the Latin scientific name for modern humans, very formal and restricted to specialist writing
文法句型
early / modern / ancient + human
human + verb (past tense for extinct groups)
用法筆記
Used in archaeology, anthropology, and palaeontology. When no pre-modifier is used ('a human walked here'), the context must clearly signal the scientific register — otherwise readers will understand sense 1 (PERSON). Frequently appears with 'early', 'modern', 'ancient', or 'archaic' before it.