nearest
nearest — 形容詞
1. describes the place or thing of its kind that is the shortest distance from wher
最近的
距離最短的地點或事物
describes the place or thing of its kind that is the shortest distance from where you are or from a stated point
Asher asked the waiter where the nearest bus stop was.
Asher 問服務生最近的公車站在哪裡。
the nearest + place noun
Our nearest neighbour lives about twenty minutes away by car.
我們最近的鄰居住在開車大約二十分鐘路程的地方。
nearest + relational noun (neighbour)
Mayumi ran into the nearest shop to buy a bottle of water.
Mayumi 跑進最近的店裡買了一瓶水。
Christopher asked the staff member where the nearest toilet was inside the museum.
Christopher 在博物館裡問工作人員最近的廁所在哪裡。
The nearest hospital to our village is over fifty kilometres away.
離我們村子最近的醫院有五十多公里遠。
文法句型
the nearest + noun
the nearest + noun + to + place
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the' and followed by a noun. Distinguish from sense 3 (upcoming in time) by the type of noun that follows: a place or object noun signals this sense.
常見錯誤
2. describes the family members who are most closely linked to you by blood, such a
最親近的
血緣關係最接近的家人
describes the family members who are most closely linked to you by blood, such as parents, brothers, sisters, or children
Only Lucía's nearest family members were invited to the small wedding.
只有 Lucía 最親近的家人受邀參加那場小型婚禮。
someone's nearest family members
The lawyer first contacted Zayd's nearest relatives after the accident.
事故發生後，律師首先聯絡了 Zayd 最親近的親屬。
someone's nearest relatives — immediate family
When Tamar died, she left her house to her nearest cousin in Berlin.
Tamar 過世時把房子留給她在柏林最親近的表兄姊。
After the surgery, only Ilan's nearest kin were allowed inside the hospital room.
手術後，只有 Ilan 最親近的家人才被允許進入那間病房。
- distant
'distant relatives' — family members far removed from you by blood
文法句型
someone's nearest + relations/relative noun
用法筆記
Almost always paired with a family noun (relatives, family, kin, cousin). Distinguish from sense 1 by the noun: a family-relation noun signals this sense.
3. happening or arriving the shortest time from now, especially when several future
最快到來
距今時間最短的未來事件
happening or arriving the shortest time from now, especially when several future moments are being compared
The nearest available appointment with Dr. Stefan is on Tuesday morning.
Stefan 醫生最近可預約的時間是週二早上。
the nearest + appointment (soonest time slot)
Diya checked the timetable for the nearest train back to the city.
Diya 查了時刻表，看最快一班回市區的火車是哪一班。
the nearest + scheduled service noun
The nearest school holiday begins in three weeks, so the Okonkwo family planned a beach trip.
最快到來的學校長假三週後開始，於是 Okonkwo 一家規劃了一趟海邊旅行。
Hamza booked the nearest flight to Istanbul, which left in four hours.
Hamza 訂了最快一班飛往伊斯坦堡的航班，四小時後起飛。
- latest
the one that is furthest into the future
文法句型
the nearest + time noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 by the noun: a time or event noun (flight, appointment, holiday) signals this sense. Distinguish also from 'next' — 'the next flight' means whichever comes after now, while 'the nearest flight' compares several upcoming options and picks the soonest.
nearest — 副詞
1. in the position that is the shortest physical distance from a stated point
最靠近地
距某點距離最短的位置
in the position that is the shortest physical distance from a stated point
Of all the houses on the street, Sora's stands nearest to the river.
這條街上所有房子裡，Sora 家離河邊最近。
verb + nearest + to + place
Antonia, please sit nearest to the door so you can answer it for any guests.
Antonia，請坐在離門最近的位置，這樣有客人來時你就可以應門。
imperative: sit nearest to + place
Among the three farms, the Olivia family lives nearest to the village school.
三間農場中，Olivia 一家住得離村子小學最近。
Zuri chose the armchair nearest to the window so she could watch the garden.
Zuri 選了離窗戶最近的那張扶手椅，這樣她就能欣賞花園的景色。
- closest
interchangeable in this sense; 'closest' is slightly more natural in American English
- farthest
in the longest physical distance from the reference point
文法句型
verb + nearest + to + place
the one that sits/lives/stands nearest
用法筆記
Often used with 'to' before the reference point. Distinguish from the adjective use by position: the adverb modifies a verb (stand nearest, sit nearest), while the adjective comes before a noun (the nearest house).
常見錯誤
2. in the position that is the shortest amount of time from a stated point in time
時間最近
距某個時間點間隔最短
in the position that is the shortest amount of time from a stated point in time
Of all the candidates, Jude graduated nearest to the application deadline.
所有候選人中，Jude 畢業的時間離申請截止日期最近。
verb + nearest + to + deadline (time point)
Sivan's new bakery will open on the Monday nearest to October the first.
Sivan 的新麵包店將在最接近十月一日的那個週一開幕。
the [day] nearest to + date
Nikhil wanted the flight that lands nearest to noon, but it was fully booked.
Nikhil 想搭降落時間最接近正午的那班航班，可惜已經客滿了。
Lakshmi chose the workshop dated nearest to her birthday weekend.
Lakshmi 選了日期最接近她生日週末的那場工作坊。
- closest
fully interchangeable in this sense
- farthest
the longest time away from the reference point
文法句型
verb + nearest + to + time noun
用法筆記
Less common than the distance sense and usually pairs with a specific date or clock time. Distinguish from sense 1 by what follows 'to' — a clock time or date signals this sense.
3. describes the attempt, version, or person that comes the closest to matching som
最接近
最接近某種狀態、品質或理想
describes the attempt, version, or person that comes the closest to matching some target quality, ideal, or feeling without actually reaching it
Piotr's painting comes nearest to capturing the feeling of that summer afternoon.
Piotr 的畫最接近那個夏日午後的感覺。
come + nearest + to + -ing (capturing)
Of all the recipes Sade tried, this one tastes nearest to her grandmother's cooking.
Sade 嘗過的所有食譜中，這一道的味道最接近她奶奶的手藝。
taste/sound/feel + nearest + to + reference
Among the early attempts, Quan's design came nearest to perfection.
早期的試作中，Quan 的設計最接近完美。
Alessia's gentle approach comes nearest to what we would call the ideal teaching style.
Alessia 溫柔的方式最接近我們所謂的理想教學風格。
- closest
'comes closest to' is just as natural and often more common in speech
文法句型
come + nearest + to + -ing/state
the X that comes nearest to + state
用法筆記
Frequently follows 'come' or a sense verb (taste, sound, feel) and is followed by 'to' + an -ing form or a noun naming the target state. Distinguish from sense 1 by the reference point: a state, quality, or abstract idea signals this sense, not a place.
4. used in negative phrases to stress that something is very far from the truth, an
遠遠不及
用於否定句，表示距目標遠得很
used in negative phrases to stress that something is very far from the truth, an amount, a quality, or a goal
Mateo's first guess was nowhere nearest to the right answer.
Mateo 第一次猜的答案距正確答案遠遠不及。
nowhere nearest to + reference (very far from)
The crowd at Anong's jazz concert last night was nowhere nearest to a thousand people.
昨晚 Anong 爵士演唱會的觀眾人數距一千人遠遠不及。
nowhere nearest to + amount
Tamás's homemade pizza was nowhere nearest to the one we had in Rome.
Tamás 手工做的披薩距我們在羅馬吃過的那一片遠遠不及。
Femi's running time was not anywhere nearest to a professional athlete's.
Femi 的跑步成績距職業選手的水準遠遠不及。
- nowhere near
more common in everyday English than 'nowhere nearest to'
- very close to
actually near the reference point
文法句型
not anywhere near (the) X
nowhere nearest to
用法筆記
Only appears in negative or near-negative phrases such as 'nowhere nearest to' or 'not anywhere nearest to'. Informal; many speakers prefer 'nowhere near' (without the superlative) in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
5. almost; very close to a quality or state, used in slightly old-fashioned or form
近乎；幾乎
文語、舊式用法，意為幾乎
almost; very close to a quality or state, used in slightly old-fashioned or formal writing
William's reply came nearest a confession, though he never said the actual words.
William 的回應近乎是一種坦承，雖然他並未實際說出口。
came nearest + a + noun (close to being)
Élise's behaviour that evening was nearest reckless, yet not quite dangerous.
Élise 那晚的舉止近乎魯莽，卻也尚未真的危險。
nearest + adjective (formal: almost)
Benjamin's silent stare was nearest an accusation, and Nicholas knew it.
Benjamin 無語的凝視近乎是一種控訴，Nicholas 心裡很清楚。
The poet's final letter was nearest a farewell, written with calm acceptance.
那位詩人最後的一封信近乎是一種告別，字裡行間流露平靜的接受。
文法句型
nearest + adjective
nearest + the + noun
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and rare in modern speech; 'almost' or 'very nearly' is the everyday choice. You will mainly meet this sense in older literary writing.
nearest — 介系詞
1. in the position that is the shortest physical distance from the thing or place t
緊鄰
緊接在某地點或物體旁邊
in the position that is the shortest physical distance from the thing or place that follows, with no 'to' between them
The two seats nearest the stage were reserved for the director and her family.
緊鄰舞台的那兩個位置保留給了導演和她的家人。
the [noun] nearest + place (no 'to')
Romi sat nearest the fire and warmed her cold hands quickly.
Romi 坐在緊鄰火堆的位置，很快就將冰冷的手烤暖了。
verb + nearest + the + place (no 'to')
The cottage nearest the lake belongs to a retired teacher named Olivia.
緊鄰湖邊的那間小屋是一位名叫 Olivia 的退休老師所有。
Min stood nearest the train doors, ready to step off at the next stop.
Min 站在緊鄰列車車門的位置，準備在下一站下車。
- closest to
the everyday equivalent; almost always includes 'to'
- farthest from
longest distance from a reference point
文法句型
the X nearest the Y
sit/stand/place nearest the noun
用法筆記
This sense drops the 'to' that the adverb usually takes ('sit nearest the door' vs 'sit nearest to the door'). Both are correct; the version without 'to' feels slightly more formal or literary. Distinguish from the adverb sense 1 only by the absence of 'to'.