languages

IPA/ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/
KK[lˈæŋɡwədʒəz]IPA/ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/

languages — 名詞

  • languagessingular
  • languagesesplural

1. A shared set of rules and symbols — spoken sounds, written marks, or hand and bo

1.名詞A2
釋義

語言系統

人類溝通所用的符號規則體系

A shared set of rules and symbols — spoken sounds, written marks, or hand and body movements — that a community uses to exchange thoughts, ideas, and feelings.

例句

Mei learned that sign language has its own grammar rules, not just hand movements copying spoken words.

Mei 學到手語有自己的文法規則，不只是用手勢模仿說話的詞而已。

noun phrase: 'sign language' as a complete communication system

Written language lets people share ideas across centuries — we still read books from ancient Greece.

書寫語言讓人們的想法跨越數百年流傳——我們至今仍在閱讀古希臘的書籍。

adjective + language: 'written language' contrasted with spoken forms

同義詞
  • speech

    refers only to spoken communication, not written or signed forms

  • communication

    much broader; includes gestures, images, animal signals, and other non-linguistic methods

文法句型

human language

spoken language

written language

sign language

body language

用法筆記

Uncountable when referring to the general human ability or the abstract concept: 'Language is what makes us human.' Countable when naming specific systems: 'There are over seven thousand languages in the world.' The plural form 'languages' is common in the countable use.

常見錯誤

❌Language are a fascinating subject.
✅Language is a fascinating subject.
💡The uncountable sense takes a singular verb.
❌There are over seven thousand language in the world.
✅There are over seven thousand languages in the world.
💡Use the plural form after a number.

2. The specific set of words and grammar rules spoken and understood by the people

2.名詞A2
釋義

語言

某國或地區人民使用的特定語言

The specific set of words and grammar rules spoken and understood by the people of a particular country, region, or cultural group in their daily lives.

例句

Imran speaks four languages: Urdu at home, English at his law firm, and Arabic and French from his school years.

Imran 會說四種語言：在家說烏爾都語、在律師事務所說英語，還有求學時期學的阿拉伯語和法語。

countable plural after a number: 'four languages'

Trang grew up speaking Vietnamese and later added Korean when her family moved to Seoul.

Trang 從小講越南語，全家搬到首爾後又學會了韓語。

同義詞
  • tongue

    more literary or old-fashioned; common in set phrases like 'mother tongue' or 'native tongue'

  • dialect

    a regional or social variety within a language, not a separate language system

文法句型

speak + [language]

learn + [language]

in + [language]

official language

first language

foreign language

用法筆記

Always countable. Each named language (English, Japanese, Swahili) is a separate language. Drop the word 'language' when the name alone is clear: say 'She speaks Japanese,' not 'She speaks Japanese language.' The plural is very common after numbers and with 'many' or 'several.'

常見錯誤

❌I can speak three language.
✅I can speak three languages.
💡'Language' is countable here and needs a plural -s after a number.
❌She speaks Japanese language.
✅She speaks Japanese.
💡Drop 'language' when the name alone is clear enough.

3. A set of written commands and symbols with fixed rules that software developers

3.名詞B1
釋義

程式語言

用來編寫電腦指令的符號規則

A set of written commands and symbols with fixed rules that software developers use to give instructions to computers and digital devices.

例句

Tomás taught himself Python, a programming language that data scientists and web developers use every day.

Tomás 自學了 Python，這是一種資料科學家和網頁開發人員每天都在使用的程式語言。

noun phrase: 'programming language' for a computer instruction system

The game studio hired Eitan because he knew C++, the language behind most high-performance video games.

遊戲工作室錄用了 Eitan，因為他精通大多數高效能電玩遊戲背後的語言 C++。

同義詞
  • programming language

    the standard, precise term used by software professionals

  • code

    more general; can refer to any set of computer instructions regardless of which language they are written in

文法句型

programming language

coding language

written in + [language]

learn + [language]

用法筆記

Countable. Almost always appears with an attributive noun such as 'programming,' 'coding,' or 'computer.' High-level languages (Python, Java) are closer to human language; low-level languages are closer to the machine's own instruction codes.

4. The particular words, tone, and sentence structures a person or group chooses wh

4.名詞B1
釋義

措辭；用語

個人說話或寫作的風格與選字

The particular words, tone, and sentence structures a person or group chooses when speaking or writing in a specific situation.

例句

Eleni softened her language when telling her six-year-old son that their old dog had died.

Eleni 在告訴六歲的兒子家裡的老狗過世時，刻意把話說得很委婉。

collocation: 'soften one's language' meaning to speak more gently

The politician's language became vague and careful whenever reporters asked about the budget cuts.

每當記者問到預算削減的問題，那位政治人物的措辭就變得模糊又謹慎。

possessive + language + adjective: describing a shift in speaking style

同義詞
  • diction

    more formal; focuses specifically on word choice rather than overall style

  • phrasing

    narrower; concerns how a particular idea is worded in a single instance

文法句型

[possessive] + language

[adjective] + language

soften + [possessive] + language

用法筆記

Uncountable. Always needs a modifier — a possessive ('her language'), an adjective ('formal language'), or a noun ('street language'). Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes a person's style or register choice, not the abstract system of communication itself.

5. The specialised words and expressions that belong to a particular profession, su

5.名詞B2
釋義

術語；行話

特定專業領域的專門詞彙

The specialised words and expressions that belong to a particular profession, subject, or area of knowledge, often difficult for people outside that field to understand.

例句

After her diagnosis, Amara struggled to understand the dense medical language in the hospital report.

確診之後，Amara 費力想讀懂醫院報告中密密麻麻的醫學用語。

domain adjective + language: 'medical language' for clinical terminology

The lawyer rewrote the rental contract in plain language so the tenants could understand their rights.

律師用白話改寫了租約，讓房客能夠了解自己的權益。

fixed phrase: 'in plain language' meaning explained without jargon

同義詞
  • jargon

    often carries a mildly negative feeling, suggesting the terms are unnecessarily complicated

  • terminology

    neutral; refers to the complete set of technical terms used in a field

  • lingo

    informal; the special vocabulary of a particular group or activity

文法句型

[domain adjective] + language

language of + [field]

in plain language

用法筆記

Uncountable. Almost always preceded by a domain adjective: 'legal language,' 'medical language,' 'technical language.' The fixed phrase 'in plain language' means something has been rewritten in everyday words that anyone can follow.

6. Words and expressions that people consider rude, taboo, or likely to offend othe

6.名詞B1
釋義

粗話；髒話

粗魯冒犯他人的不雅言詞

Words and expressions that people consider rude, taboo, or likely to offend others, especially in polite or formal settings.

例句

The referee warned the football player that bad language on the pitch would earn him a red card.

裁判警告那位足球員，在場上說粗話會讓他吃紅牌。

collocation: 'bad language' as a polite way to refer to swearing

Eitan's grandmother scolded him for using foul language at the family dinner table.

Eitan 的奶奶責備他在家裡的餐桌上說了難聽的話。

同義詞
  • profanity

    more formal and serious in tone; often used in official contexts

  • swearing

    more direct and common in everyday speech; focuses on the act of using such words

  • curses

    specifically words that express anger or wish harm on someone

文法句型

bad / strong / foul + language

offensive language

use + [adjective] + language

用法筆記

Uncountable. This sense is itself a euphemism — speakers use 'bad language' or 'strong language' instead of repeating the actual offensive words. The adjective is almost always required; 'language' alone does not carry this meaning. The phrase 'bad language' is especially common in British English.