minus
/ˈmaɪnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmaɪnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmī-nəs/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmaɪ.nəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmaɪ.nəs/ (ame, ipa)
minus — 介系詞
1. used to show that one number or amount is taken away from another; with the subt
減去
從某數減掉另一個數
used to show that one number or amount is taken away from another; with the subtraction of.
The teacher showed the class that ten minus three equals seven.
老師向全班示範十減去三等於七。
After paying for the tickets, Emre had only two hundred dollars minus the service fee.
Emre 買完門票後，扣除手續費只剩下兩百美元。
minus + noun phrase (amount being subtracted)
The recipe calls for one cup of flour minus two tablespoons.
食譜需要一杯麵粉，減去兩大匙。
Rafael calculated his final score by taking the total points minus the penalties.
Rafael 將總分減去懲罰分數後算出了最終成績。
- plus
the opposite operation, showing addition
文法句型
minus + number/amount
用法筆記
In spoken English, 'minus' can be replaced by 'take away' in simple arithmetic: 'ten take away three is seven'.
常見錯誤
2. not having something that you would normally expect or want; lacking a particula
缺少；沒有
缺乏某物或某特質
not having something that you would normally expect or want; lacking a particular thing or quality.
Dario showed up to the interview minus his usual confidence.
Dario 去面試時，少了平常的那份自信。
minus + abstract noun (a quality that is absent)
The new phone model comes minus a headphone jack, which annoyed many users.
這款新手機沒有耳機孔，讓許多用戶感到不滿。
Élise managed to finish the marathon minus any help from the support team.
Élise 在沒有任何支援團隊幫助的情況下，完成了馬拉松比賽。
The house was beautiful, minus the outdated kitchen that needed a full renovation.
那棟房子很漂亮，就是廚房老舊不堪，需要全面翻修。
文法句型
minus + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is informal and is best used in casual speech and writing. In formal contexts, 'without' or 'lacking' is preferred.
常見錯誤
minus — 名詞
- minussingular
- minusesplural
1. a feature or aspect of something that makes it less good, useful, or attractive
缺點；劣勢
事物中不好或不理想的地方
a feature or aspect of something that makes it less good, useful, or attractive than it could be.
Before buying a car, think carefully about both the pluses and minuses.
買車之前，要仔細考慮各方面的優缺點。
the fixed phrase 'pluses and minuses'
One of the minuses of this apartment is the long walk to the nearest station.
這間公寓的缺點之一，是離最近的車站要走很遠。
Imran listed the pluses and minuses of each option before he made his choice.
Imran 在做出選擇之前，列出了每個選項的優缺點。
A major minus of the job offer was the surprisingly low starting salary.
這份工作的一大缺點是起薪低得嚇人。
- disadvantage
more formal and general; the closest synonym
- drawback
emphasises an undesirable feature
- downside
informal, focusing on the negative side of a situation
- weakness
focuses on a lack of strength rather than a harmful feature
文法句型
a/the minus
pluses and minuses
用法筆記
Very commonly used in the paired expression 'the pluses and minuses' to weigh advantages against disadvantages in decision-making.
常見錯誤
2. the symbol (−) used to show that one number is being subtracted from another, or
減號；負號
表示減法或負數的符號(-)
the symbol (−) used to show that one number is being subtracted from another, or that a number or value is below zero.
The teacher drew a minus sign on the board to explain how subtraction works.
老師在黑板上畫了一個減號，來說明減法的運算方式。
Jiwoo put a minus sign before the number to show it was below zero.
Jiwoo 在數字前面加了一個負號，表示該數字低於零。
put a minus sign before [number]
A minus sign in front of the total means the business lost money that month.
總金額前面如果出現減號，代表那個月公司虧損。
The calculator screen showed a large minus sign next to the final answer.
計算機螢幕在最終答案旁邊顯示了一個大大的減號。
- negative sign
used when the symbol sits before a number to show it is below zero
- subtraction sign
describes its function in arithmetic operations
- plus sign
the symbol (+) for addition or positive values
文法句型
minus sign
用法筆記
Also called a 'negative sign' when it appears before a number to indicate a value below zero (e.g. −5). The written symbol '−' is longer than a hyphen '‐' or a dash '—'.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He used a hyphen instead of a minus sign in his math homework.' — While often confused in handwriting, a minus sign (−) is typographically longer than a hyphen (-). In everyday writing, however, the hyphen is commonly used for the minus sign.
minus — 形容詞
- minuspositive
- more minuscomparative
- most minussuperlative
1. used of a number or figure that falls beneath zero on a measurement scale.
負的
數字或數值低於零的
used of a number or figure that falls beneath zero on a measurement scale.
The company reported a minus profit for the third quarter this year.
該公司今年第三季的利潤是負值。
minus + financial amount (loss context)
Ezra's math homework asked him to find the minus values on the list.
Ezra 的數學作業要求他找出清單中的負數。
A minus figure in the budget column means we spent more than we earned.
預算欄出現負數，代表我們支出超過收入。
The battery gauge showed a minus reading when the device was not charging.
裝置未充電時，電池電量表顯示負數。
- negative
more formal and preferred in mathematics
- below zero
describes the position on a scale
文法句型
minus + number
用法筆記
In formal mathematics, 'negative' is preferred over 'minus' when describing values below zero: 'a negative number' rather than 'a minus number'. 'Minus' in this role is more common in everyday and business English.
常見錯誤
2. describes a temperature that is below zero degrees on the Celsius or Fahrenheit
零下的
溫度低於攝氏或華氏零度的
describes a temperature that is below zero degrees on the Celsius or Fahrenheit scale.
The weather forecast predicted minus ten degrees for tomorrow morning.
氣象預報說明天早上氣溫會降到零下十度。
minus + number + degrees (temperature)
Adaeze wore three layers of clothing to walk in the minus temperatures outside.
Adaeze 穿了三層衣服，才能在零下的戶外行走。
The pipes froze when the outdoor temperature dropped to minus five overnight.
夜間氣溫降到零下五度時，水管結冰了。
This winter has been unusually cold, with minus readings almost every night.
今年冬天特別冷，幾乎每晚都是零下的溫度。
- below freezing
describes the effect rather than the exact measurement
- sub-zero
a more technical alternative
- above zero
temperatures warmer than zero degrees
- plus
used in weather contexts ('plus five degrees')
文法句型
minus + number + (degrees)
用法筆記
In weather reports, 'minus' is placed directly before the number: 'minus five degrees'. In scientific writing, 'below zero' or 'negative' is often used instead.
常見錯誤
3. placed after a letter grade (such as A or B) to show that the work is slightly l
略低一級的
放在成績字母後表示品質略低
placed after a letter grade (such as A or B) to show that the work is slightly lower in quality than that grade normally represents.
Lauren was disappointed to receive a B minus on her history essay.
Lauren 對歷史論文只拿到 B 減感到失望。
grade letter + minus (postpositive position)
The professor said an A minus was the highest grade anyone earned on the exam.
教授說這次考試最高分只有 A 減。
Christopher's report card showed C minus marks in both math and science this term.
Christopher 的成績單顯示數學和自然都是 C 減。
Mei-Lin retook the exam hoping to improve from a B minus to a solid B.
Mei-Lin 重考希望能夠從 B 減進步到 B。
- plus
the opposite modifier, placed after a letter grade to indicate slightly higher quality
文法句型
grade letter + minus
用法筆記
Unlike most adjectives, 'minus' comes after the noun it modifies in this sense: 'A minus', not 'minus A'. The opposite is 'plus' (e.g. 'A plus' for work slightly above the grade).
常見錯誤
4. describes a side or aspect of a situation that is negative, harmful, or lacking
負面；不利
具有負面或不利性質的
describes a side or aspect of a situation that is negative, harmful, or lacking in value.
The minus side of living near the airport is the constant aircraft noise.
住在機場附近不好的一面，就是飛機噪音不斷。
minus side / minus point / minus aspect
Eitan pointed out the minus aspects of the proposal during the team meeting.
Eitan 在團隊會議中指出了這項提案的負面因素。
One minus factor in choosing that school is its distance from the city centre.
選擇那所學校的一個不利因素是它離市中心太遠。
The review discussed both the plus and minus points of the new software update.
這篇評論討論了新版軟體的優點和缺點。
- negative
more general and neutral; 'negative side' is very common
- unfavourable
more formal, used in written evaluations
- adverse
stronger tone, used for serious drawbacks
- plus
the paired opposite in evaluative contexts
- positive
describes beneficial aspects
- favourable
formal opposite
文法句型
minus + noun (side/point/aspect/factor)
用法筆記
This sense typically pairs with 'plus' (e.g. 'the plus and minus points'). Common in evaluative writing, reviews, and comparative decision-making contexts.