notional
notional — 形容詞
- notionalpositive
- more notionalcomparative
- most notionalsuperlative
1. relating to an idea or theory that people think of or calculate as if it were re
概念上;理論
僅存在於想法中,非實際的
relating to an idea or theory that people think of or calculate as if it were real even though it has no physical form
The geography teacher drew a notional line across the map to show where the two countries once met.
地理老師在地圖上畫了一條概念上的界線,表示兩國當年交界的位置。
notional + noun referring to a boundary
Sophie's plan to open a bakery was still notional — she had not saved any money yet.
Sophie 開麵包店的計畫仍停留在概念階段——她還沒有存到錢。
still notional (predicative use with 'still')
The Okonkwo family drew up a notional budget of twenty thousand naira to see what they might afford.
Okonkwo 一家規劃了一份理論上的兩萬奈拉預算,看看他們買得起什麼。
A notional border runs through the lake, though no boats are stopped or checked.
湖面上有道概念上的邊界,不過沒有任何船隻會被攔下或檢查。
James argued that the company's notional value meant nothing until a real buyer appeared.
James 認為,在真正買主出現之前,那間公司的概念價值毫無意義。
- theoretical
Broadly interchangeable but 'theoretical' is more common and can relate to scientific frameworks; 'notional' is rarer and more about ideas in planning
- hypothetical
Stronger implication of 'what-if' or imagined scenarios, whereas 'notional' can simply mean 'conceptual'
- conceptual
Focused on the abstract idea itself; 'notional' often carries a hint that the idea is provisional or not yet real
- imaginary
Suggests something that exists only in the mind; 'notional' is less about fantasy and more about theoretical calculation or planning
文法句型
notional + noun
be + notional
用法筆記
Often used with intensifiers like 'purely,' 'merely,' or 'still' to emphasise that something exists only in theory and has no concrete reality.