letter
letter — 形容詞
- letterpositive
- letterercomparative
- letterestsuperlative
1. referring to a US and Canadian paper format that measures 8.5 by 11 inches (roug
信紙尺寸
美國標準紙張尺寸（8.5×11吋）
referring to a US and Canadian paper format that measures 8.5 by 11 inches (roughly 216 by 279 millimetres) — narrower and taller than the A4 standard used internationally.
Could you please print the report on letter-size paper instead of on A4?
可以請你把這份報告用信紙尺寸（Letter-size）的紙張列印，而不是用 A4 嗎？
attributive: letter-size + paper (common compound)
The stationery shop sells both letter and legal-size sheets for office printers.
這家文具店同時販售 letter 和 legal 尺寸的紙張，供辦公室印表機使用。
pairing: letter and legal-size (US paper size pair)
This binder is designed to hold letter-size documents without folding them.
這個資料夾的設計是為了存放 letter-size 文件，無須摺疊。
The librarian asked whether we needed letter envelopes or larger ones for mailing.
圖書館員問我們郵寄時需要 letter 信封還是更大的尺寸。
- US letter
fuller name for this paper format, used when contrasting with other sizes
文法句型
letter-size + noun
letter paper
用法筆記
This sense is used only before a noun (attributive position). Outside North America, the metric A4 standard (210 × 297 mm) is far more common, so learners outside the US may rarely encounter this meaning.
常見錯誤
letter — 名詞
- lettersingular
- lettersplural
1. a physical message that people write or type on paper and send inside an envelop
信件
郵寄給他人的書面訊息
a physical message that people write or type on paper and send inside an envelope through the postal service.
Lara sent a letter to the university admissions office requesting information about the engineering program.
Lara 寄了一封信給大學招生辦公室，詢問工程學系的相關資訊。
collocation: send a letter to [someone]
Eitan folded the letter carefully, slipped it into an envelope, and sealed it with tape.
Eitan 小心地把信折好，放進信封裡，並用膠帶封口。
sequence: fold + slip + seal a letter
Putri found a box of old letters that her grandparents had exchanged in the 1990s.
Putri 找到一箱舊信件，是祖父母在 1990 年代互相寄送的。
The children drew colourful pictures and dictated a thank-you letter to their teacher.
孩子們畫了色彩鮮豔的圖畫，並口述了一封感謝信給他們的老師。
Christopher read the letter twice before placing it on the kitchen table.
Christopher 把信讀了兩遍，才放到廚房的桌上。
- note
shorter and less formal; often a quick handwritten message
- message
broader term covering emails, texts, and verbal communication as well as written notes
- correspondence
uncountable noun referring to letters exchanged between people over time
文法句型
letter + to + person
letter + about + topic
get/receive/write/send a letter
用法筆記
A letter is usually physical and sent by postal service. For electronic messages, use 'email'. The phrase 'get a letter from someone' means you received one; 'drop someone a letter' means you wrote them a short one.
常見錯誤
2. a single symbol from a set of symbols (such as A to Z in English) used to write
字母
書寫語言的符號
a single symbol from a set of symbols (such as A to Z in English) used to write words and represent the sounds of spoken language.
Mizuki carefully traced the letter 'B' in the sand with the tip of her finger.
Mizuki 用指尖在沙地上仔細描寫英文字母 B。
trace the letter + [character]
The cafe sign used large red letters so everyone could see it from the street.
咖啡館的招牌使用紅色大字，讓每個人在街上都能看到。
Sahil's name starts with the letter 'S', the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet.
Sahil 的名字以字母 S 開頭，S 是英文字母表的第十九個字母。
The children sang the alphabet song and pointed at each letter on the classroom wall.
孩子們唱著字母歌，一邊指著教室牆上的每個字母。
Élise had trouble with the English letter 'R' because it differs from the French sound.
Élise 對英語字母 R 感到困難，因為它和法語的發音不同。
文法句型
the letter + [A–Z]
capital/lowercase letter
letter of the alphabet
用法筆記
Distinguish 'letter' (a character in an alphabet) from 'character' (a broader term that includes Chinese characters, numerals, and symbols). In English, letters have two forms: capital (uppercase) and small (lowercase).
常見錯誤
3. the precise wording of a legal text or regulation, understood in its most litera
字面意義
法律或規則的逐字原意
the precise wording of a legal text or regulation, understood in its most literal sense without regard for the purpose or intention behind it.
The judge applied the letter of the law, though the outcome seemed harsh to many.
法官依照法律的字面意義來判案，儘管結果在許多人看來過於嚴苛。
idiomatic: the letter of the law
Jude followed the instructions to the letter and completed the assembly in under an hour.
Jude 一絲不苟地按照說明書的每一個步驟操作，在一小時內完成了組裝。
idiomatic: to the letter (meaning exactly)
Critics argued the committee obeyed the letter of the agreement but violated its true purpose.
批評者認為該委員會遵守了協議的字面條文，卻違背了協議的真正目的。
Some drivers follow speed limits to the letter, while others treat them as rough guidelines.
有些駕駛人嚴格遵守速限，而有些人則把速限當作大概的參考值。
- literal meaning
the straightforward dictionary sense of words, without interpretation or nuance
- exact wording
the precise words used in a document, focusing on what is actually written
- spirit
the intended meaning or purpose behind the words, as opposed to their literal sense
文法句型
the letter of the law/rule
to the letter
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrases 'the letter of the law' or 'to the letter'. The opposite concept is 'the spirit of the law' — the intended meaning rather than the exact wording.
常見錯誤
4. a cloth badge shaped like the initial letter of a school's name, awarded for spo
字母徽章
學校頒發的運動成就標誌
a cloth badge shaped like the initial letter of a school's name, awarded for sports participation and typically stitched onto a varsity jacket.
Brooke earned a letter in basketball after playing on the varsity team for three seasons.
Brooke 在校隊打了三個賽季的籃球後，獲得了一枚字母徽章。
collocation: earn a letter in [sport]
The school awarded letters to every student who completed a season on an athletic team.
這所學校每名完成一季運動項目的學生，都會頒發字母徽章。
Aarav wore the varsity jacket with a gold letter 'A' on the front pocket.
Aarav 穿著那件校隊夾克，胸前有一個金色的大寫字母 A。
Winning a letter in track was Yara's main goal during her senior year.
在高中最後一年，Yara 的主要目標就是在徑賽項目中獲得字母徽章。
- varsity letter
fuller term, emphasising that the award comes from being on a varsity (top school) team
- athletic letter
another name for the same award, specifying the domain
文法句型
earn/get/win/receive a letter + in + sport
用法筆記
This sense is primarily used in US and Canadian secondary schools. The letter is the school's initial (e.g. 'M' for Millfield High), sewn onto a 'letter jacket' or 'varsity jacket'. The verb form 'to letter' (sense verb/1) is used for winning such an award.
常見錯誤
letter — 動詞
- letterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- letters3rd person singular
- lettering-ing form
- letteredpast simple
1. to be awarded a cloth badge bearing the school's initial letter as a prize for c
獲得字母徽章
因參加校隊而獲頒校名首字母徽章
to be awarded a cloth badge bearing the school's initial letter as a prize for completing a season on a school sports team.
Sahil lettered in both football and swimming during four years at Lincoln High School.
Sahil 在林肯高中四年期間，分別在足球和游泳項目中獲得字母徽章。
letter + in + sport
To letter in a sport at that school, athletes must maintain a minimum grade average.
要在那所學校的某項運動中獲得字母徽章，運動員必須維持一定的成績平均分數。
Christopher had lettered in baseball by the end of his sophomore year at the school.
Christopher 在該校二年級結束時，已在棒球項目中獲得字母徽章。
Many students who letter in cross-country become team captains in their final year.
許多在越野賽跑中獲得字母徽章的學生，最後一年會成為該隊的隊長。
文法句型
letter in [sport]
letter for [school]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in North American high school and college sports contexts. The object of 'in' names the sport: 'letter in soccer'. You cannot say 'letter soccer' — it always takes a prepositional phrase.