life

/laɪf/ (bre, ipa) · /laɪf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlīf/ (ame, mw)

life — 名詞

  • lifesingular
  • livesplural

1. the time that starts when a person is born and ends when they die, including eve

1.名詞A1
釋義

生命；一生

從出生到死亡的經歷與時間

the time that starts when a person is born and ends when they die, including everything they feel, do, and experience during that time

例句

Hoa has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for most of her life.

Hoa 一生大部分時間都住在胡志明市。

The documentary follows the life of a nurse working in a small mountain village.

這部紀錄片記錄了一位在小山村工作的護理師的一生。

life of + [person/role] for biographical span

同義詞
  • existence

    more formal and philosophical; less common in everyday speech

  • lifespan

    refers only to the length of time, not the experiences within it

  • lifetime

    focuses on duration rather than experiences or activities

反義詞

文法句型

life of + [person]

[determiner] + life

in life

2. lasting until a person dies; describing a commitment, membership, penalty, or re

2.名詞B1
釋義

一生；一輩子

持續一生的承諾或處罰

lasting until a person dies; describing a commitment, membership, penalty, or relationship that continues without end during a person's existence

例句

The judge sent the thief to prison for life.

法官判處那名小偷終身監禁。

for life meaning permanently

Aaron became a life member of the wildlife society after donating.

Aaron 捐款後成為了野生動物協會的終身會員。

life member / life membership

同義詞
  • lifelong

    adjectival form, used before nouns (a lifelong friend)

  • permanent

    broader meaning; not limited to the span of a human life

  • for good

    informal; emphasises finality rather than duration

反義詞

文法句型

for life

life + [noun]

[noun] + for life

用法筆記

This sense occurs in a small set of fixed expressions: 'for life', 'life member', 'life sentence', 'life imprisonment', 'friend for life'. It is not used as a general adjective (do not say *'a life decision').

常見錯誤

❌This is a life chance.
✅This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
💡'life' alone does not mean 'once in a lifetime'.

3. the act of dying willingly so that another person or an important cause can be s

3.名詞B1
釋義

犧牲生命

為保護他人或理念而付出生命

the act of dying willingly so that another person or an important cause can be saved or protected

例句

The firefighter gave his life to rescue the family trapped in the burning house.

那名消防員為了救出困在燃燒房屋裡的一家人而犧牲了自己的生命。

give one's life to [rescue/save/protect]

Many soldiers have laid down their lives for their country.

許多士兵曾為國家奉獻了自己的生命。

同義詞
  • sacrifice

    can refer to giving up something less than life, e.g. time or comfort

  • martyrdom

    specifically dying for a religious or political belief; strong religious connotation

文法句型

give one's life for + [person/cause]

lay down one's life for + [person/cause]

risk one's life

用法筆記

This sense appears in set expressions: 'give your life', 'lay down your life', 'risk your life'. The subject is a person acting to protect someone or something. 'Devote your life to' has a similar structure but usually implies dedication over time rather than a single act of dying.

常見錯誤

❌He gave his life to become a doctor.
✅He devoted his life to becoming a doctor.
💡'give your life' implies dying; for long-term dedication, use 'devote your life'.

4. the belief that the conscious part of a person carries on beyond physical death,

4.名詞B1
釋義

來世

死後靈魂仍以某種形式存在

the belief that the conscious part of a person carries on beyond physical death, whether as a spirit, a soul, or in some other state

例句

Many cultures have their own stories about what happens in the life after death.

許多文化都有關於來世的故事。

life after death

Hari does not believe in any form of life after death.

Hari 不相信任何形式的死後生命。

同義詞
  • afterlife

    the most common synonym; can include heaven, hell, or reincarnation depending on the religion

  • the hereafter

    more formal and literary; less common in everyday conversation

  • immortality

    focuses on living forever, not necessarily after physical death

反義詞
  • oblivion

    the state of being completely forgotten or ceasing to exist

文法句型

life after death

life beyond death

belief in life after death

用法筆記

This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'life after death'. It is uncountable and rarely used with an article (*'a life after death'). The phrase can be modified: 'belief in life after death', 'the idea of life after death'.

5. the particular set of activities, habits, relationships, and experiences that ma

5.名詞A2
釋義

生活

某人的日常活動或某方面的生活

the particular set of activities, habits, relationships, and experiences that make up a person's daily existence, or a specific area of it such as work, family, or social time

例句

Moving to the countryside completely changed Gabriela's life.

搬到鄉下徹底改變了 Gabriela 的生活。

Anthony enjoys a simple life with few possessions and lots of travel.

Anthony 享受簡單的生活，擁有很少的財物，但經常旅行。

a simple life / a busy life / a peaceful life

同義詞
  • lifestyle

    focuses on chosen habits and values (diet, exercise, spending), not the whole of daily experience

  • way of life

    more formal; often refers to cultural or traditional patterns, not just one person's habits

  • daily routine

    narrower; only the regular repeated activities, not the emotional or social experiences

文法句型

[adjective] + life

[noun] + life

life in + [place]

用法筆記

This sense combines freely with adjectives (a quiet life, a busy life, a happy life, a stressful life) and nouns acting as modifiers (work life, family life, school life, married life, city life, country life). It is the sense most often used when describing everyday routines and circumstances.

常見錯誤

❌I love my lifestyle in this city.
✅I love my life in this city.
💡'lifestyle' refers to the choices and habits you adopt (diet, exercise, spending), while 'life' covers the whole daily experience.

6. a completely different way of living that someone begins after a major change, s

6.名詞B1
釋義

新生活

大幅改變後的全新生活方式

a completely different way of living that someone begins after a major change, such as moving to a new place, leaving a difficult relationship, or recovering from serious problems

例句

After losing her job, Hoa decided to start a new life in Da Nang.

Hoa 在失去工作後，決定在峴港展開新生活。

start a new life

The programme helps refugee families build a new life in Canada.

該計畫協助難民家庭在加拿大建立新生活。

build a new life

同義詞
  • fresh start

    less dramatic than 'new life'; can be used for smaller changes like a new job or a new school

  • rebirth

    stronger, more poetic; suggests a complete transformation of identity

  • second chance

    focuses on the opportunity to improve after a failure or mistake

文法句型

start a new life

make a new life for + [reflexive]

build a new life

用法筆記

Used in verb phrases: 'start a new life', 'make a new life', 'build a new life'. These imply leaving behind a difficult or unsatisfactory situation. The new life is usually in a different place or involves a changed identity. 'A new life' can also be used to describe a baby being born, but that is a separate literal sense.

常見錯誤

❌I will start a new life tomorrow by waking up early.
✅I will start a new routine tomorrow by waking up early.
💡'start a new life' is for major, life-changing shifts, not small daily changes.

7. the length of time during which a machine, a product, or an organization continu

7.名詞B1
釋義

壽命

機器或產品可使用的期間

the length of time during which a machine, a product, or an organization continues to work or remain useful

例句

The battery life of this laptop is about eight hours.

這台筆記型電腦的電池壽命大約是八小時。

collocation: battery life

With regular maintenance, the life of a car engine can reach twenty years.

只要定期保養，汽車引擎的壽命可長達二十年。

同義詞
  • lifespan

    more formal; often used for products or living things

  • duration

    broader term; not limited to operational usefulness

  • service life

    technical term used in engineering and manufacturing

常見錯誤

❌The life of phone is short.
✅The battery life of my phone is short.
💡specify which item's life you are discussing.

8. the set of characteristics that separate living creatures from non-living matter

8.名詞A2
釋義

生命

生物與非生物的根本區別

the set of characteristics that separate living creatures from non-living matter and dead things — for example, the ability to grow, breathe, and reproduce

例句

The astronauts searched for signs of life on Mars.

太空人在火星上尋找生命的跡象。

collocation: sign of life

Aoi gently touched the bird to check whether it showed any signs of life.

Aoi 輕輕摸了摸那隻鳥，確認是否還有生命跡象。

同義詞
  • existence

    broader; can refer to anything that exists, not just living things

  • being

    more philosophical; refers to the state of existing

反義詞

用法筆記

Often found in fixed phrases like 'signs of life', 'the origins of life', and 'full of life'. When used this way, 'life' refers to the general state of being alive, not a specific individual's existence.

常見錯誤

❌The life fish swam away.
✅The live fish swam away.
💡'life' is a noun; 'live' /laɪv/ is the adjective meaning not dead.

9. the natural energy and lively spirit that exists within a person, making them fe

9.名詞B1
釋義

活力；精力

個人內在的熱情與能量

the natural energy and lively spirit that exists within a person, making them feel enthusiastic and actively engaged in what they do

例句

Eleni is always full of life — she can dance for hours without stopping.

Eleni 總是充滿活力——她可以連續跳好幾個小時的舞。

collocation: full of life (energetic person)

The festival brought life to the quiet old town for three days.

為期三天的節慶為安靜的小鎮帶來了生氣。

pattern: bring life to [place/event]

同義詞
  • energy

    more general; physical or mental power to act

  • vitality

    slightly more formal; suggests robust health and energy

  • liveliness

    focuses on activity and movement rather than inner energy

反義詞

用法筆記

Subject is typically a person, performance, event, or work of art. Not used for objects or machines — for that, use sense 7 (operating period).

常見錯誤

❌The party had a lot of lives.
✅The party was full of life.
💡'life' as energy is uncountable.

10. the quality of being made more interesting, vivid, or realistic — used in the ph

10.名詞B1
釋義

生動

使事物變得逼真有趣

the quality of being made more interesting, vivid, or realistic — used in the phrases 'bring to life' and 'give life to', meaning to make something feel real or exciting

例句

The actors brought the ancient story to life on stage.

演員們在舞台上把古老的傳說演活了。

pattern: bring + [story/character] + to life

Christopher's colourful descriptions gave life to the boring report.

Christopher 生動的描述讓那份枯燥的報告變得有趣多了。

pattern: give life to [something]

文法句型

bring + object + to life

give life to + object

用法筆記

Always used within the fixed phrases 'bring (something) to life' or 'give life to (something)'. The subject is the agent that makes the object more interesting or real. Not used alone as a standalone noun.

常見錯誤

❌He brought life the party.
✅He brought the party to life.
💡the object must go between 'bring' and 'to'.

11. the moment when a machine starts to function or a living thing begins to exist o

11.名詞B1
釋義

啟動

機器開始運作或生物開始生長

the moment when a machine starts to function or a living thing begins to exist or grow — used in the phrase 'come to life'

例句

The new robot came to life when Eli pressed the start button for the first time.

Eli 第一次按下啟動鍵時，那台新機器人開始動了起來。

pattern: come to life (machine starting)

The seeds came to life as soon as they received water and sunlight.

那些種子一接觸到水和陽光便開始發芽生長。

文法句型

subject + come to life

用法筆記

This sense describes something starting to function or be alive for the first time. For something that stops and then starts working again, use 'come back to life' (see sense 13).

常見錯誤

❌The old computer came to life after I fixed it.' — This should use 'came back to life' if the computer had worked before.
✅The factory's new machine came to life for the first time today.

12. the moment when a situation, event, or activity becomes more interesting, lively

12.名詞B1
釋義

活躍起來

活動變得有趣或熱鬧

the moment when a situation, event, or activity becomes more interesting, lively, or full of energy — used in the phrase 'come to life'

例句

The party came to life when the band started playing.

樂團一開始演奏，派對就熱鬧了起來。

pattern: come to life (event becoming lively)

The market comes to life on weekends with street food and live music.

一到週末，這個市集就變得生氣勃勃，有街頭小吃和現場音樂。

同義詞
  • liven up

    more informal; 'the party livened up when the music started'

  • brighten up

    suggests mood improvement rather than general excitement

文法句型

subject + come to life

用法筆記

Describes a place, event, or person becoming exciting or active. Distinguish from sense 11, which is about machines starting to function or living things starting to exist — this sense is about energy and liveliness, not mechanical or biological functioning.

常見錯誤

❌After we fixed it, the engine came to life again.' — This should use 'came back to life' for something resuming.
✅The conversation came to life when Indra told her story.

13. The state of being alive, growing, or functioning again after a period of being

13.名詞B1
釋義

復甦；復活

再次恢復活力或功能

The state of being alive, growing, or functioning again after a period of being dead, dried out, or broken down.

例句

After winter, the garden came back to life with bright flowers and fresh green leaves.

漫長的冬天過後，花園重新恢復生機，開滿了鮮花，長滿了綠葉。

collocation: come back to life

Camille's old phone sprang back to life after she let it charge all night.

Camille 那支舊手機充了一整晚的電後，又恢復了功能。

collocation: spring back to life

同義詞
  • revival

    a more formal noun for the event of being restored; e.g. 'economic revival'

反義詞
  • death

    the permanent end of life; the opposite of being alive

文法句型

come back to life

bring [something] back to life

spring back to life

return to life

用法筆記

Commonly appears in fixed expressions such as 'come back to life', 'bring something back to life', and 'spring back to life'. The word 'life' in these phrases cannot be replaced with 'live' (the verb).

常見錯誤

❌The plant came to live again after the rain.
✅The plant came back to life after the rain.
💡The fixed expression uses the noun 'life', not the verb 'live'.

14. the quality that a place, event, or situation gains when it becomes lively and e

14.名詞B1
釋義

重現生機

從沉悶轉為熱鬧的狀態

the quality that a place, event, or situation gains when it becomes lively and exciting again after being quiet, dull, or inactive

例句

The quiet dinner party came to life when Esteban told funny stories about his travels.

本來安靜的晚宴因為 Esteban 開始講旅途趣事而變得熱鬧起來。

pattern: quiet [place/event] + came to life when…

The boring meeting came to life when Estelle asked everyone to share their ideas.

沉悶的會議在 Estelle 請大家分享意見後，氣氛變得活絡起來。

同義詞
  • energy

    more general; 'energy' can apply to a person or situation without implying excitement

  • vitality

    more formal; suggests health, strength, and liveliness together

  • spark

    informal; suggests a small but noticeable quality that makes something interesting

反義詞
  • dullness

    the state of being boring or lacking interest

文法句型

full of life

bring [something] to life

come to life

add life to [something]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 13: sense 14 refers to excitement and energy, while sense 13 refers to literal functioning or growing again. Often found in the phrases 'full of life', 'bring something to life', and 'add life to something'.

常見錯誤

❌The party was life and energy.
✅The party was full of life and energy.
💡The noun 'life' needs a linking phrase such as 'full of' to describe the atmosphere.

15. All plants, animals, and other living organisms considered together as a group,

15.名詞A2
釋義

生物

所有活著的動植物等

All plants, animals, and other living organisms considered together as a group, especially those of a particular type or in a particular place.

例句

The scientist spent years studying marine life in the deep waters near Japan.

那位科學家花了多年時間研究日本深海的海洋生物。

collocation: marine life

Desert life has learned to survive with very little water and extreme heat.

沙漠裡的生物學會了在極少水源和酷熱高溫下生存。

collocation: desert life / plant life

同義詞
  • living organisms

    more scientific; includes all forms including microbes

  • wildlife

    narrower; refers only to wild animals and plants, not all living things

  • biota

    very formal scientific term for all living species in an area

文法句型

[adjective] life

life in [environment]

用法筆記

Uncountable and always singular. Usually preceded by a modifier that specifies the environment or type, such as 'plant life', 'marine life', 'bird life', or 'wildlife'. Cannot be made plural in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌Ocean life are very diverse.
✅Ocean life is very diverse.
💡In this sense, 'life' is uncountable and takes a singular verb.

16. The artistic technique of creating a picture using a real person or object that

16.名詞B2
釋義

寫生

以真實人物或物體為作畫對象

The artistic technique of creating a picture using a real person or object that you can see directly, not from a photo or what you remember.

例句

The art students spent the afternoon drawing the human figure from life.

美術系的學生們花了整個下午練習真人寫生。

phrase: draw from life

Caleb prefers to paint landscapes from life rather than using photographs.

Caleb 比較喜歡對著實景寫生畫風景，而不是看照片來畫。

phrase: paint from life

反義詞

文法句型

draw/paint from life

work from life

sketch from life

用法筆記

Always appears in the fixed phrase 'from life' following a verb related to visual art. Do not add an article before 'life' in this expression — 'from the life' is incorrect in standard English.

常見錯誤

❌She paints from the life using a photograph.
✅She paints from life using a live model.
💡No article is used before 'life' in this artistic phrase.

17. A legal sentence requiring a person to stay in prison either until they die or f

17.名詞B2
釋義

無期徒刑

在監獄中度過一生的刑罰

A legal sentence requiring a person to stay in prison either until they die or for an extremely long duration, sometimes with a chance of early release.

例句

The judge sentenced the man to life in prison for his role in the crime.

法官判處該名男子終身監禁，因為他在那起犯罪中扮演了角色。

collocation: life in prison

Cyrus's grandfather was given a life sentence and spent thirty years behind bars.

Cyrus 的祖父被判無期徒刑，在監獄裡度過了三十年。

collocation: life sentence

同義詞

文法句型

life sentence

life in prison

serve life

get life

用法筆記

Often shortened to just 'life' in informal news reporting, as in 'He got life for the murder.' The formal legal term is 'life imprisonment'.

常見錯誤

❌He got life sentence for the robbery.
✅He got a life sentence for the robbery.
💡'Life sentence' is countable and requires a determiner like 'a'.
❌He was given life in prison for life.
✅He was given life in prison.
💡Do not add 'for life' after 'life in prison'; it is redundant.

18. A countable chance in a video or board game that lets a player keep playing; onc

18.名詞B1
釋義

生命值；命

遊戲中玩家可用的次數

A countable chance in a video or board game that lets a player keep playing; once all these chances are used up, the game ends for that player.

例句

The player's character lost all three lives and had to restart the entire level.

角色的三條命都用完了，必須從頭開始玩這一關。

phrase: lose all [one's] lives

Eli collected a secret coin that gave him an extra life in the video game.

Eli 撿到一枚祕密金幣，讓他在遊戲中多了一條命。

phrase: extra life

同義詞
  • extra life

    refers specifically to a bonus chance added beyond the starting number

  • continue

    in arcade-style games; a 'continue' lets you keep playing after losing all lives

反義詞
  • game over

    the state when all lives have been lost and the game ends

文法句型

[number] lives

lose a life

extra life

all [one's] lives

用法筆記

Most common in the context of video games and board games. Can be used with 'extra' for a bonus chance ('extra life') or counted ('three lives', 'lose a life'). Not used for sports or real-life competition.

常見錯誤

❌I have three life left in this game.
✅I have three lives left in this game.
💡The plural of 'life' in this sense is 'lives'.
❌In chess, each player has one life.
✅In chess, each player has one king.
💡The term 'life' is not used in chess or most traditional sports.

19. A book that records the actual events of a particular person's whole life, writt

19.名詞B2
釋義

傳記

由他人撰寫的人生故事

A book that records the actual events of a particular person's whole life, written by another author rather than by the person who lived it.

例句

Constanza is reading a life of the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

Constanza 正在閱讀一本關於墨西哥著名畫家 Frida Kahlo 的傳記。

a life of + [famous person] — shows prepositional pattern

After the politician retired, a journalist began writing her life.

那位政治人物退休後，一名記者開始撰寫她的傳記。

同義詞
  • biography

    the standard, neutral term for a written account of someone's life

  • memoir

    often focuses on a specific period or theme rather than the whole life

  • profile

    a shorter, less detailed piece that covers key facts and achievements

反義詞
  • autobiography

    a life story written by the person themselves, not by another author

文法句型

a life of [person]

lives of [group]

用法筆記

Countable noun. The person whose life is described follows 'of' (a life of Churchill). A possessive noun before 'life' usually names the author, not the subject of the biography.

常見錯誤

❌I read life of Marie Curie last week.
✅I read a life of Marie Curie last week.
💡In this sense, 'life' is a countable noun and needs a determiner such as 'a' or 'the'.
❌She wrote her life about the president.
✅She wrote a life of the president.
💡The subject of the biography follows 'of', not a possessive pronoun.

life — 形容詞