identifying

/aɪˈden.tɪ.faɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [aɪdˈɛntəfˌaɪɪŋ] /aɪˈden.t̬ə.faɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [aɪdˈɛntəfˌaɪɪŋ] /ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfī ə-/ (ame, mw)

identifying — 動詞

  • identifyingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • identifyings3rd person singular
  • identifyinging-ing form
  • identifyingedpast simple

1. to look carefully at someone or something so that you can name them or describe

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

辨認；識別

認出並說出身分

to look carefully at someone or something so that you can name them or describe their exact nature, often based on specific features.

例句

Theo identified the bird by its bright blue feathers and long tail.

Theo 根據鮮藍色的羽毛和長尾巴辨認出那隻鳥。

identify + noun + by + distinctive feature

The police asked the witness to identify the man she had seen running from the bank.

警方請證人指認她看到從銀行跑出來的那名男子。

identify + noun phrase in a witness context

同義詞
  • recognize

    softer — just means you know you have seen something before, without needing to name it

  • name

    narrower — specifically means to give the correct label or title

  • pinpoint

    more precise — often used for exact locations, causes, or categories

反義詞
  • confuse

    to fail to tell two things apart

  • mistake

    to wrongly identify one thing as another

文法句型

identify + noun phrase

identify + noun phrase + as + noun phrase

identify + noun phrase + by + noun phrase

identify + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly used with from (the evidence used), by (the distinguishing feature), or as (the classification result). The passive form (be identified as/by/from) is frequent in formal and scientific writing.

常見錯誤

❌I identified the song but could not remember its name.
✅I recognized the song but could not remember its name.
💡identify means you can name or prove what something is; recognize means you are familiar with it without necessarily naming it.

2. to discover and name a problem, need, cause, or other abstract thing, showing cl

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

發現；找出

辨識出問題、需求或事實

to discover and name a problem, need, cause, or other abstract thing, showing clearly that it exists and what it is.

例句

The report identified three major weaknesses in the company's delivery system.

該報告指出公司運輸系統存在三個主要弱點。

identify + noun phrase (problems/weaknesses)

Teachers should identify students who need extra help as early as possible.

教師應該及早找出需要額外協助的學生。

同義詞
  • detect

    suggests finding something hidden or not obvious through careful examination

  • spot

    more informal — means to notice something quickly

  • pinpoint

    very precise — means to locate the exact nature or source of something

反義詞
  • overlook

    to fail to notice something that exists

  • miss

    to not detect something that is present

文法句型

identify + noun phrase (problem / need / cause / issue / factor)

identify + that-clause

用法筆記

Very common in academic, business, and technical contexts. Typical objects include problem, need, issue, cause, factor, trend, gap, risk, opportunity, and link. The that-clause pattern (e.g. 'identified that…') is widely used in formal reports.

常見錯誤

❌I identified my keys under the sofa.
✅I found my keys under the sofa.
💡identify suggests analysis or recognition of identity, not simply noticing something by chance.

3. to feel that you share the same goals, feelings, or experiences as a particular

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

認同；共鳴

覺得與某群體有歸屬感

to feel that you share the same goals, feelings, or experiences as a particular person or group, and that you naturally belong with them.

例句

Many young people identify with the environmental movement and its goals.

許多年輕人認同環保運動及其目標。

identify with + a movement / cause

Amara strongly identifies with her Nigerian heritage and family traditions.

Amara 強烈認同她的奈及利亞文化背景和家庭傳統。

strongly identify with + culture / heritage

同義詞
  • relate to

    more informal — suggests understanding someone's situation without necessarily belonging to the same group

  • empathize with

    focuses on sharing feelings and understanding someone's emotions

文法句型

identify with + noun phrase (group / person / idea / movement)

strongly / deeply / closely identify with

用法筆記

Always used with the preposition with. Distinguish from identify as, which states a person's own declared identity (e.g. 'She identifies as a writer') rather than a feeling of belonging. This sense is not used in the passive.

常見錯誤

❌I identify as the struggles of working parents.
✅I identify with the struggles of working parents.
💡identify with (feel connection) takes with, not as.

4. to consider or treat one thing as being the same as another thing, or to connect

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

等同；視同

將某事物視為與另一事物相同

to consider or treat one thing as being the same as another thing, or to connect them so closely that people see them as equal.

例句

Some people wrongly identify material wealth with personal happiness.

有些人錯誤地將物質財富等同於個人的快樂。

identify A with B — equating two concepts

The candidate's opponents tried to identify her policies with extreme views.

該候選人的對手試圖將她的政策與極端觀點畫上等號。

同義詞
  • equate

    explicitly treats two things as equal in value or importance — the closest synonym

  • associate

    softer — suggests a mental connection without claiming they are the same

  • link

    more neutral — simply indicates a relationship exists

反義詞

文法句型

identify + noun phrase + with + noun phrase

passive: noun phrase + be identified with + noun phrase

用法筆記

Uses the two-object pattern identify A with B. The passive form (A is identified with B) is very common. This sense is primarily used in formal and analytical contexts. Distinguish from sense 3 (RELATE TO), where the subject feels a personal connection rather than making an intellectual equation.

常見錯誤

❌The study identified poverty with crime.
✅The study linked poverty with crime.' or 'The study identified a link between poverty and crime.
💡identify A with B means to treat A and B as the same thing, which is much stronger than showing a connection.