balance
balance — 動詞
1. to stay steady without falling, or to place something so that it stays steady.
站穩；放穩
保持不倒，或把東西放穩
to stay steady without falling, or to place something so that it stays steady.
Mira balanced on the low wall while tying her shoe.
Mira 綁鞋帶時在矮牆上努力站穩。
balance on + narrow surface
The waiter balanced three soup bowls on one arm.
服務生把三碗湯穩穩地托在一隻手臂上。
balance + object + on + body part
A red pencil balanced on the edge of the desk.
一枝紅色鉛筆穩穩地停在桌邊。
To cross the stream, Leo balanced carefully on two wet stones.
為了過溪，Leo 小心地在兩塊濕石頭上站穩。
The mechanic balanced the spare tire on a wooden box.
技師把備胎放穩在木箱上。
文法句型
balance on + noun
balance + noun + on + noun
用法筆記
Intransitive use often takes 'on' to show the narrow surface or point of support. In transitive use, the object is usually something easy to drop, such as a tray, box, or wheel.
常見錯誤
2. to divide your effort or resources between different demands and keep any one of
兼顧；權衡
讓不同需求都安排得當
to divide your effort or resources between different demands and keep any one of them from taking over.
Nadia balances teaching with caring for her two young children.
Nadia 在教書的同時，也兼顧照顧兩個年幼的孩子。
balance A with B
The cafe must balance low prices against rising food costs.
那家咖啡店必須權衡低價與上漲的食材成本。
balance A against B
Our team balanced speed and safety during the bridge repair.
我們的團隊在修橋時兼顧速度與安全。
Even on holiday, Jin balances family time and work calls.
Jin 就算放假，還是得兼顧家人時間和工作電話。
A good mayor balances local needs with long-term city plans.
好的市長要權衡在地需求與長期的城市規劃。
文法句型
balance A with B
balance A against B
用法筆記
This sense usually names two competing needs after the verb, often with 'with' or 'against'. Distinguish from sense 3 and sense 4, which are specifically about accounts, budgets, or spending.
常見錯誤
3. to check an account or set of records and make the money coming in match the mon
對帳；平帳
核對帳目使借貸相符
to check an account or set of records and make the money coming in match the money going out.
Each Friday, Priya balances the shop account before going home.
每到星期五，Priya 回家前都會先替店裡對帳。
balance + account
After lunch, Rosa balanced last month's sales record for the bakery.
午飯後，Rosa 把麵包店上個月的帳目對清了。
balance + financial record
Before the meeting, the hotel balanced every room account by hand.
開會前，飯店用手工把每個房間的帳目對清。
Ben stayed late to balance the club account for April.
Ben 為了把四月的社團帳目平帳，留到很晚。
At the end of June, the farm balanced its feed account.
六月底時，那座農場把飼料帳目對清了。
文法句型
balance + account
balance + records
用法筆記
The object is usually an account, a set of books, or another record of money. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 3 is the checking step, while sense 4 is the broader aim of not spending too much.
4. to manage costs so you do not spend more than you earn or receive.
收支打平
讓花費不超過收入
to manage costs so you do not spend more than you earn or receive.
After losing one job, Elena balanced the family budget by cutting travel costs.
失去一份工作後，Elena 靠減少旅費讓家裡的預算收支打平。
balance + budget by + -ing
The town balanced its books without raising bus fares.
那座城鎮在不調漲公車票價的情況下，做到了收支打平。
balance the books
To balance their budget, the couple stopped eating out on weekdays.
為了讓預算收支打平，那對夫妻平日不再外食。
Rising rent made it harder for Sam to balance his monthly budget.
房租上漲，讓 Sam 更難把每月預算收支打平。
The school balanced its spending with the money from ticket sales.
學校用售票收入來支應開銷，讓整體收支打平。
- overspend
to spend more money than you have planned or received
- run a deficit
to end with spending higher than income
文法句型
balance + budget
balance + books
balance + spending with + income
用法筆記
The object is usually a budget, books, spending, or finances. Distinguish from sense 3, where you check account figures directly rather than control overall costs.
常見錯誤
balance — 名詞
1. the skill of keeping your body upright without falling, with your weight held st
平衡感
站立或移動時不跌倒的能力
the skill of keeping your body upright without falling, with your weight held steady as you stand, walk, or move.
Eva lost her balance on the icy step outside the station.
Eva 在車站外結冰的台階上突然失去平衡。
lose your balance
After the push, Noah kept his balance and stayed on the ladder.
被推了一下之後，Noah 仍保持平衡，沒有從梯子上掉下來。
keep your balance
The dance teacher trained the class to improve their balance.
舞蹈老師訓練全班提升平衡感。
A strong wave knocked Priya off balance near the rocks.
一個大浪讓 Priya 在岸邊岩石旁失去平衡。
- steadiness
a plain word for not shaking or falling
- equilibrium
more formal and often used in science or medicine
- instability
lack of physical steadiness
- unsteadiness
the state of being shaky or close to falling
文法句型
lose/keep/regain your balance
throw [someone] off balance
用法筆記
Often follows verbs such as 'keep', 'lose', 'regain', and 'throw'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about fairness between things rather than bodily steadiness.
常見錯誤
2. a state in which different needs, interests, or parts stay in fair or suitable a
均衡；平衡
各方需求維持合宜比例
a state in which different needs, interests, or parts stay in fair or suitable amounts instead of one side having too much.
The coach helped Mia find a balance between schoolwork and tennis practice.
教練幫 Mia 在課業和網球練習之間找到平衡。
a balance between [two things]
Good parents keep a balance between rules and kindness at home.
好的父母會在家裡維持規矩和關愛之間的平衡。
The menu strikes a balance between low prices and fresh food.
這份菜單在低價格和新鮮食物之間取得了平衡。
There must be a balance between work and rest on the trip.
這趟旅行中，工作和休息之間一定要有平衡。
- equilibrium
more formal; often used for stable systems or ideas
- proportion
focuses on the right relative amount of each part
- fairness
stresses equal treatment more than equal amount
- imbalance
too much weight or importance on one side
文法句型
a balance between [two things]
strike/find/keep a balance
用法筆記
Usually appears with 'between' when two sides are compared, or with verbs such as 'find', 'keep', and 'strike'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about staying upright.
常見錯誤
3. in the phrase 'on balance', used when you give a final opinion after comparing t
整體來看
比較各方後的整體判斷
in the phrase 'on balance', used when you give a final opinion after comparing the main facts for and against something.
On balance, the family chose the smaller flat near the station.
整體來看，這家人選了車站附近那間較小的公寓。
fixed phrase: on balance
The train is slower, but on balance it is the cheaper choice.
火車雖然比較慢，但整體來看是更便宜的選擇。
On balance, Mr. Wu thinks the new plan will work better.
整體來看，Mr. Wu 認為新計畫會做得更好。
The idea seemed odd, yet on balance it could save time.
這個想法看起來雖怪，但整體來看可能會省時間。
- overall
shorter and less formal when giving a general judgment
- all things considered
a longer phrase with the same summarizing function
文法句型
on balance, ...
..., but on balance ...
用法筆記
Only used in the fixed phrase 'on balance', usually near the start of a sentence or clause. Distinguish from sense 2, which names the fair state itself rather than the final judgment.
常見錯誤
4. the money still left in an account, bill, or fund, or the part of a total that r
餘額；結餘
帳戶裡剩下或尚未付清的金額
the money still left in an account, bill, or fund, or the part of a total that remains after some has been used or paid.
Nina checked her balance before paying for the train tickets online.
Nina 在線上買火車票前先查看了餘額。
check your balance
After one payment, the balance on the bill was fifty dollars.
付了一次款之後，這張帳單的結餘是五十美元。
the balance on [a bill/account]
Our class still has a small balance left in the trip fund.
我們班的旅行基金裡還有一點餘額。
The bank app shows your balance at the top of the screen.
銀行 App 會在畫面上方顯示你的餘額。
- remainder
more general word for what is left after part is taken away
- amount due
used when the remaining sum still needs to be paid
- funds
broader word for money available to use
文法句型
check your balance
a balance of [amount]
the balance on [a bill/account]
用法筆記
Often used for bank accounts, bills, and funds, and commonly follows verbs such as 'check', 'show', and 'pay off'. Distinguish from sibling noun/5, where 'balance' means the money handed back after a purchase.
常見錯誤
5. cash a seller gives back when you hand over more than the price of what you are
找零
付款超過售價時退回的錢
cash a seller gives back when you hand over more than the price of what you are buying.
The cashier counted out my change and placed two coins on the tray.
收銀員把我的找零點好後，放了兩枚硬幣在托盤上。
cash payment: count out change
After buying the sandwich, Nora waited for her balance at the counter.
買完三明治後，Nora 在櫃台等她的找零。
Please take your balance before you leave the ticket window.
離開售票窗口前，請先拿走你的找零。
After the bus fare, the driver handed Sam his balance in coins.
付完公車票錢後，司機把找零用硬幣還給 Sam。
There was no balance to collect because Leo paid the exact amount.
因為 Leo 付得剛好，所以沒有找零可拿。
文法句型
give [someone] their balance
take your balance
用法筆記
Often follows a possessive, especially 'your' or 'my', in shops, taxis, and ticket windows. Distinguish from sense 4: that sense is money still in an account or left over, not cash handed back in a sale.
常見錯誤
6. on speakers, headphones, or other music equipment, the setting or sound relation
聲道平衡
左右聲道的音量比例或控制
on speakers, headphones, or other music equipment, the setting or sound relationship that decides how much you hear from each side.
Ben turned the balance left when the right speaker sounded too loud.
Ben 在右邊喇叭太大聲時，把聲道平衡往左調。
set the balance left/right
The DJ checked the balance before the school concert began.
學校音樂會開始前，DJ 先檢查了聲道平衡。
check the balance
My headphones need better balance because voices come from one side.
我的耳機需要更好的聲道平衡，因為人聲幾乎都從同一邊傳來。
During the test, the teacher adjusted the balance on the music player.
測試時，老師調整了音樂播放器上的聲道平衡。
文法句型
adjust/check/set the balance
set the balance left/right
用法筆記
Usually appears with verbs such as 'adjust', 'check', and 'set', and often with 'left' or 'right'. This sense belongs to audio equipment, not fairness or money.
常見錯誤
7. a weighing tool with one pan on each side of a central beam, used to compare how
天平
兩端有秤盤、用來比較重量的器具
a weighing tool with one pan on each side of a central beam, used to compare how heavy two things are.
In science class, Nora used a balance to compare two small rocks.
在自然課上，Nora 用天平比較兩顆小石頭。
use a balance to weigh [something]
The shopkeeper put rice on one side of the balance and weights on the other.
店主把米放在天平的一邊，另一邊放砝碼。
The gold seller checked the ring on a small balance by the window.
賣金飾的人在窗邊用一個小天平檢查那枚戒指。
Old markets often kept a balance beside the cash box.
老市場裡常把天平放在錢箱旁邊。
- scales
the more common everyday word for weighing equipment
- beam scale
more exact term for this older two-pan type
文法句型
use a balance to weigh [something]
put [something] on the balance
用法筆記
Countable and often used with verbs such as 'use', 'put', 'weigh', and 'compare'. Distinguish from modern 'scale', which can also mean an electronic weighing machine.