microscopical
microscopical — 形容詞
- microscopicalpositive
- more microscopicalcomparative
- most microscopicalsuperlative
1. so extremely small that it can only be seen or studied using a microscope. This
微不可見
小到需用顯微鏡才能看見的
so extremely small that it can only be seen or studied using a microscope. This applies to bacteria, cells, dust mites, tiny cracks, or particles that are invisible to the naked eye.
Bacteria are microscopical organisms that live on nearly every surface of the human body.
細菌是一種微不可見的生物，幾乎存在於人體各個表面。
collocation: microscopical organism
The microscopical cracks in the pipeline were only discovered during a routine pressure test.
管線上那些肉眼看不見的裂縫是在例行壓力測試中才被發現的。
A single grain of pollen contains thousands of microscopical particles on its surface.
一顆花粉粒的表面含有成千上萬肉眼看不見的粒子。
pattern: microscopical + plural noun (particles/creatures/organisms)
Scientists identified a new microscopical species living in the volcanic vents on the ocean floor.
科學家在海底火山噴口發現了一種新的顯微級物種。
Even microscopical amounts of heavy metal in drinking water can harm human health over time.
飲用水中即使只有極微量的重金屬，長期下來也會危害人體健康。
collocation: microscopical amounts/quantities
- microscopical + organism/creature/species
- microscopical + particle/grain/crack/fracture
- microscopical + amount/quantity/trace
- microscopic
the standard modern form; far more common
- infinitesimal
even smaller, often used in mathematics
- ultra-small
informal, found in technical marketing
- macroscopic
visible to the naked eye
- gigantic
the opposite of tiny
文法句型
microscopical + noun (the thing that is tiny)
be + microscopical
用法筆記
This sense overlaps strongly with microscopic, which is far more common in everyday English. Microscopical is considered a variant form and appears mostly in older scientific texts or formal writing. Distinguish from sense 2 — this sense says 'too small to be seen without a microscope', while sense 2 says 'very fine or precise in workmanship'.
常見錯誤
2. very small, fine, or precise in terms of craftsmanship, detail, or measurement.
極精細的
非常細小、精密或精確的
very small, fine, or precise in terms of craftsmanship, detail, or measurement. Unlike sense 1, which means 'too small to be seen', this sense describes work that is done with extremely fine tools, stitches, or adjustments — the result may be visible, but the precision involved is extraordinary.
The watchmaker used microscopical tools to adjust the tiny gears inside the antique clock.
鐘錶匠使用極精細的工具調整古董鐘裡的微小齒輪。
collocation: microscopical tool/instrument
Luisa created a portrait of the village using microscopical brushstrokes on a ceramic tile.
Luisa 在陶瓷磚上用極細的筆觸畫出村莊的風景。
The difference between the two versions of the chip design was microscopical but it affected performance.
兩種晶片設計之間的差異非常微小，但卻影響了效能表現。
pattern: difference/distinction + be + microscopical
Siti's embroidery featured microscopical stitches that looked like a painting from a distance.
Siti 的刺繡使用極精密的針法，遠看就像一幅畫。
The engineer demanded microscopical precision in every weld on the satellite fuel line.
工程師要求衛星燃料管的每一道焊接都達到極高的精確度。
collocation: microscopical precision
- microscopical + tool/instrument
- microscopical + stitch/brushstroke/line
- microscopical + precision/accuracy/detail
- microscopic
standard modern form; used in both senses
- minute
pronounced my-NOOT; suggests subtle differences rather than physical precision
- minuscule
focuses on small size rather than the precision of the work
文法句型
microscopical + noun (the object made with fine detail)
be + microscopical
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense does NOT mean the thing itself is invisible. A microscopical stitch (sense 2) can be seen — it is just extraordinarily fine. The more common word for this meaning is microscopic. In modern English, microscopic is strongly preferred for both senses 1 and 2.
常見錯誤
3. belonging to the world of the microscope and the scientific practice of studying
顯微鏡的
與顯微鏡或顯微技術有關的
belonging to the world of the microscope and the scientific practice of studying tiny things through one. This sense points to the equipment, the skills, or the type of investigation that uses a microscope — not to how small something is.
The biology department offers a course in microscopical analysis for first-year students.
生物學系為大一學生開設了一門顯微鏡分析的課程。
collocation: microscopical analysis/examination/study
Nadia learned advanced microscopical techniques for examining tissue samples in her medical training.
Nadia 在醫學訓練中學到了先進的顯微鏡技術，用來檢驗組織樣本。
collocation: microscopical technique/method
The museum houses a collection of antique microscopical instruments from the nineteenth century.
這間博物館收藏了一批十九世紀的古董顯微鏡儀器。
Kenji published a paper on new microscopical methods for detecting early-stage cancer cells.
Kenji 發表了一篇關於癌症早期細胞檢測新顯微方法的論文。
A microscopical examination of the soil revealed fungal spores from the surrounding forest.
對土壤進行顯微鏡檢查後，發現了來自周圍森林的真菌孢子。
pattern: microscopical examination + of + [specimen]
- microscopical + analysis/examination/study/investigation
- microscopical + technique/method/procedure
- microscopical + instrument/equipment/tool/apparatus
- microscopic
the standard modern equivalent
- microscope-based
explicitly about the instrument rather than the field
- micrographic
specifically about images taken through a microscope
- macroscopic
visible to or done without a microscope
文法句型
microscopical + noun (the activity, equipment, or technique)
用法筆記
This is the least ambiguous sense: it always relates to the instrument (microscope) or the scientific field (microscopy). Unlike senses 1 and 2, it cannot describe the size of an object. The variant microscopic is also correct for this meaning, but microscopical is more strongly associated with formal scientific writing about techniques and equipment.
常見錯誤
4. describing a way of looking at or examining something with extreme care and atte
敏銳的
像顯微鏡般仔細觀察的
describing a way of looking at or examining something with extreme care and attention to the tiniest details, as if through a microscope. For example, a judge who reads every clause of a contract with microscopical scrutiny, or a naturalist who observes insect behaviour with microscopical patience.
The detective examined the crime scene with microscopical attention, noticing a single hair on the carpet.
那位偵探以敏銳的觀察力檢查現場，注意到地毯上的一根頭髮。
collocation: microscopical attention + [detail-oriented activity]
Deepak read the terms of the agreement with microscopical care before signing anything.
Deepak 在簽署任何文件前，都會以顯微鏡般的細心閱讀合約條款。
pattern: with microscopical [noun of perception]
The editor gave the student's essay a microscopical review, catching every missing comma.
編輯用鉅細靡遺的態度審閱學生的文章，連每一個漏掉的逗點都找出來。
Dr. Kofi studied the X-ray images with microscopical precision, searching for the smallest fracture.
Kofi 醫生以精準入微的方式檢視 X 光片，尋找最細微的裂痕。
- microscopical + attention/scrutiny/examination/review/analysis/care
- meticulous
more common, less technical in tone
- painstaking
emphasises effort rather than instrument-like precision
- scrupulous
suggests moral carefulness, not just visual detail
文法句型
microscopical + noun (attributive)
be + microscopical (predicative)
用法筆記
This is the rarest sense of the word. Unlike senses 1 and 2, which describe size, this sense describes a manner of examining — the observer acts like a microscope. The more common word for this meaning is painstaking or meticulous; microscopical is used when the writer wants to emphasise the tool-like, technical quality of the observation.
常見錯誤
同根字
- microscope名詞B1
- microscopic形容詞B2
- microscopically副詞C1
- microscopy名詞C1
- microscopist名詞C2
常見搭配
名詞搭配
- microscopical + analysis
- microscopical + examination
- microscopical + detail
- microscopical + study
- microscopical + organism
- microscopical + technique
副詞搭配
- barely microscopical
- almost microscopical
- nearly microscopical
- truly microscopical
常用片語
- on a microscopical scale
- at a microscopical level
- with microscopical precision
介系詞搭配
- microscopical in nature
- microscopical by comparison