obverse
/ˈɒbvɜːs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑːbvɜːrs/ (ame, ipa) · /äb-ˈvərs əb-, ˈäb-ˌvərs/ (ame, mw)
obverse — 名詞
1. the opposite or contrary version of an idea, situation, or quality — for example
反面；對立面
抽象觀念的相反或對立的一面
the opposite or contrary version of an idea, situation, or quality — for example, generosity is the obverse of greed, and joy is the obverse of sadness.
Reuben argued that public courage is often the obverse of private fear.
Reuben 主張，公開的勇氣往往是私下恐懼的反面。
the obverse of [abstract noun] for contrasting opposites
In Sayaka's essay, freedom appears as the obverse of duty rather than its enemy.
在 Sayaka 的文章裡，自由被呈現為責任的對立面，而不是它的敵人。
the obverse of [noun] rather than its enemy: contrastive framing
The minister claimed that strict rules are the obverse of true kindness.
部長聲稱，嚴格的規定其實是真正善意的反面。
Cheap goods on the shop floor are the obverse of poor wages in the factory.
店裡的廉價商品，正是工廠裡微薄工資的另一面。
Eitan saw kindness toward animals as the obverse of cruelty toward people.
Eitan 認為對動物的善意，正是對人類殘忍的對立面。
- opposite
everyday word for the same idea; far more common than 'obverse'
- converse
very close in this sense; equally formal and used in logic and argument
- counterpart
a matching opposite that completes a pair, not necessarily a contrary
- same
in the sense of identical rather than contrary
文法句型
the obverse of [noun]
用法筆記
Subject is almost always an abstract noun (a feeling, value, policy, or condition). Distinguish from sense 2 (the coin face): only sense 2 takes a physical object as its referent.
常見錯誤
2. the front face of a coin, medal, or banknote — the side that shows the most impo
正面
硬幣、獎章或紙鈔上的主圖那一面
the front face of a coin, medal, or banknote — the side that shows the most important picture, such as a head, ruler, or national symbol.
Lakan polished the silver coin and pointed to the queen's head on the obverse.
Lakan 把銀幣擦亮，指著正面上女王的頭像。
on the obverse: standard preposition for coin faces
The British penny shows the monarch on the obverse and Britannia on the reverse.
英國便士的正面是君主肖像，背面則是不列顛尼亞像。
obverse paired with reverse: standard collector contrast
Lara found that the obverse of the medal was scratched and the date was unreadable.
Lara 發現獎章的正面被刮花，上面的日期已經看不清楚。
Museum staff laid each gold coin face down so the obverse was protected.
博物館人員把每一枚金幣都面朝下放，以保護正面。
On the obverse of the new ten-dollar note, the artist drew a young farmer.
在新版十元紙鈔的正面，畫家畫了一位年輕的農夫。
- reverse
the standard pair word for the back side of a coin or medal
文法句型
the obverse of [a coin/medal]
用法筆記
Almost always paired in context with 'reverse' (the back side). Subject of the prepositional phrase is a coin, medal, banknote, or commemorative token — not any other flat object. Distinguish from sense 1 (the abstract opposite): only sense 1 takes an abstract noun.
常見錯誤
obverse — 形容詞
- obversepositive
- more obversecomparative
- most obversesuperlative
1. turned toward the person looking at it or toward an opponent — for example, the
正面的
朝向觀看者那一面的
turned toward the person looking at it or toward an opponent — for example, the obverse face of a stone tablet is the one a visitor reads first.
Luca traced the carved letters on the obverse face of the old temple stone.
Luca 沿著舊廟石碑正面的刻字描了一遍。
obverse face of [object]: attributive use
The obverse side of the shield was painted with a red dragon.
盾牌的正面繪有一條紅龍。
obverse side of [object]: typical collocation
Chidi photographed the obverse surface of the medal before sending it for repair.
Chidi 在送修之前，先拍下了那枚獎章的正面。
Rania asked the guide why the obverse wall of the tomb had no paintings.
Rania 向導遊詢問，為什麼墓室正面的牆上沒有任何壁畫。
- reverse
the standard pair word for the back-facing side
文法句型
obverse [side / face / surface]
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). Typical nouns: 'side', 'face', 'surface', 'wall'. Distinguish from sense 3 (purely abstract opposite): sense 1 always refers to a physical face that someone can see.
常見錯誤
2. shaped like an egg balanced on its small end — wider near the tip than at the st
倒卵形的
基部窄、頂端寬的（葉形）
shaped like an egg balanced on its small end — wider near the tip than at the stem, used in botany for leaves and petals such as a daisy petal.
Tara drew the obverse leaves of the young tree for her biology notebook.
Tara 為她的生物筆記本畫下了那棵小樹的倒卵形葉。
obverse [leaves]: botanical attributive use
The plant has small obverse petals that open like tiny green spoons in the sun.
這種植物有細小的倒卵形花瓣，在陽光下像一支支綠色的小湯匙。
small obverse [petals]: descriptive plant context
Christopher noticed the obverse shape of the seed pods as he walked through the field.
Christopher 走過田野時，注意到種莢呈倒卵形。
Botany students learn to tell obverse leaves from oval leaves by checking the base.
植物學的學生會藉由觀察基部，分辨倒卵形葉和橢圓形葉。
- obovate
the precise botanical Latin term; used in formal plant descriptions
- ovate
wider at the base than at the top; the standard contrasting leaf shape
文法句型
obverse [leaf / shape]
用法筆記
A specialist botanical term; rarely seen outside plant guides and biology lessons. Used only before a noun (attributive). Distinguish from sense 1 (a forward-facing physical face): sense 2 refers only to a tapering shape, not to a side.
常見錯誤
3. forming the contrary version of an idea, claim, or position — for example, an ob
相反的
與某主張或觀點相對立的
forming the contrary version of an idea, claim, or position — for example, an obverse argument states the opposite of what another speaker is saying.
Élise offered an obverse argument: poverty, not wealth, drives most great inventions.
Élise 提出一個相反的論點：推動偉大發明的，是貧窮而非財富。
obverse argument: contrastive proposal in debate
The judge wanted to hear the obverse position before reaching a final ruling.
法官希望先聽取相反的立場，再做出最後裁決。
obverse position: legal-style framing
Andrew wrote an obverse claim that quiet study, not group work, helps weak students most.
Andrew 提出相反的主張，認為對弱勢學生來說，安靜自學比小組學習更有幫助。
Brooke suggested an obverse reading of the poem, in which the lake stands for death.
Brooke 建議對這首詩做相反的解讀，把湖視為死亡的象徵。
- same
in the sense of identical rather than contrary
文法句型
the obverse [argument / position / claim]
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). Typical nouns: 'argument', 'position', 'claim', 'reading', 'view'. Distinguish from sense 1 (a physical facing surface): sense 3 always modifies an abstract noun.