non-material
/ˌnɒn.məˈtɪə.ri.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːn.məˈtɪr.i.əl/ (ame, ipa)
non-material — 形容詞
1. concerned with things like ideas, culture, or spiritual life rather than money o
非物質的
與金錢、財產無關，重精神或文化價值的
concerned with things like ideas, culture, or spiritual life rather than money or the objects people own.
Arjun argues that friendship and community are the non-material rewards of village life.
Arjun 認為，友誼與社群感是鄉村生活中非物質的回報。
predicative use: are the non-material rewards of [noun]
The charity values non-material gifts such as time, skills, and stories from volunteers.
這個慈善團體看重志工提供的非物質禮物，例如時間、技能與故事。
collocation: non-material gifts / contributions
For Élise, climbing offered non-material satisfactions that no salary could match.
對 Élise 來說，攀岩帶來薪水換不到的非物質的滿足感。
Many religions teach that the non-material side of life matters more than wealth.
許多宗教都教導人們：生命中非物質的那一面，比財富更重要。
- spiritual
narrower; focused on religion or the soul rather than the general non-money sphere
- intangible
overlaps when the contrast is with possessions, but more often means 'cannot be touched' (sense 2)
用法筆記
Frequently modifies abstract nouns of value (rewards, gifts, benefits, wealth, satisfactions). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense contrasts with money or possessions, not with physical existence in general.
常見錯誤
2. describing something that has no physical body or shape — for example, an idea,
無形的
沒有實體形狀，只存在於心智或概念中
describing something that has no physical body or shape — for example, an idea, a soul, or a piece of digital information that exists only in the mind or in code.
Philosophers have long debated whether the human mind is a non-material thing separate from the brain.
哲學家長久以來爭論：人類的心靈是否是獨立於大腦之外、無形的存在。
common context: mind / soul / consciousness as non-material
Software, music, and online courses are non-material products that customers download instead of receiving in a box.
軟體、音樂檔與線上課程都是非實體的產品，顧客用下載的方式取得，而不是收到盒裝商品。
collocation: non-material products / goods
Noor's essay argued that memory is a non-material record stored inside our neurons.
Noor 在論文中主張，記憶是儲存在神經元裡、無形的紀錄。
Many religions believe that after death, a non-material spirit travels to another world.
許多宗教相信，人死後，無形的靈魂會前往另一個世界。
- intangible
closest everyday equivalent — cannot be touched or held
- incorporeal
more formal and literary, often used of spirits or souls
- immaterial
in philosophy, near-identical to this sense; in everyday English usually means 'unimportant'
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about the absence of physical form (mind, soul, software), not about a contrast with money. Common in philosophy, theology, and computing contexts.
常見錯誤
3. connected to feelings such as love, comfort, or grief rather than to objects or
情感的
與感情、關懷有關，而非物品或金錢
connected to feelings such as love, comfort, or grief rather than to objects or money.
After the fire, the family needed non-material support — listening, hugs, and kind words from neighbours.
火災過後，這家人需要的是情感上的支持——鄰居的傾聽、擁抱與安慰的話語。
common collocation: non-material support
Stephanie said the card meant more to her than any gift, because of its non-material warmth.
Stephanie 說那張卡片比任何禮物都更打動她，因為帶有情感上的溫度。
Nurses are trained to recognise patients' non-material needs, especially fear and loneliness.
護理師受過訓練，要能察覺病人精神層面的需求，尤其是害怕與孤單。
Dario's grandmother left behind a non-material inheritance of stories and shared memories.
Dario 的奶奶留下的是精神層面的遺產：許多故事與共同的回憶。
用法筆記
Object nouns are typically emotional or relational (support, comfort, warmth, needs, inheritance, legacy). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 covers any non-monetary value (culture, ideas, skills); this sense narrows to feeling-related value.