paper
/ˈpeɪpə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpeɪpər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpā-pər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈpeɪ.pər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpeɪ.pɚ/ (ame, ipa)
paper — 名詞
- papersingular
- papersplural
1. the thin, flat substance, usually pressed from wood pulp, that you can write on,
紙；紙張
可寫、印或包裝用的薄片材料
the thin, flat substance, usually pressed from wood pulp, that you can write on, print images onto, or sketch over; it is also chosen to wrap or protect items.
Maya tore a clean sheet of paper from her notebook.
Maya 從筆記本撕下一張乾淨的紙。
collocation: a sheet / piece of paper
The bakery wraps every loaf of bread in brown paper.
這家麵包店每條麵包都用牛皮紙包起來。
collocation: wrap [object] in paper
Recycling old paper saves a lot of trees each year.
回收舊紙每年可以省下很多樹木。
Carlos folded the bright red paper into a small origami crane.
Carlos 把那張鮮紅色的紙摺成一隻小紙鶴。
The printer ran out of paper halfway through Lina's essay.
Lina 的報告印到一半，印表機就沒紙了。
文法句型
a sheet/piece of paper
on paper
made of paper
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense. To count, use 'a sheet/piece of paper' or 'two pieces of paper', not 'two papers' (which means newspapers or academic articles — see senses 2 and 5).
常見錯誤
2. a printed publication, usually issued each day or week, that reports the latest
報紙
每天或每週出版的新聞刊物
a printed publication, usually issued each day or week, that reports the latest news together with comment, sport, and adverts.
Grandpa reads the morning paper at the kitchen table every day.
爺爺每天早上都在餐桌上看早報。
collocation: the morning / evening paper
There was a long article about the typhoon in yesterday's paper.
昨天的報紙有一篇關於颱風的長篇報導。
fixed phrase: in the paper
Marcus delivers the local paper to forty houses before school.
Marcus 上學前要送四十戶人家的當地報紙。
Most national papers in Taiwan now publish online as well.
台灣大多數全國性報紙現在也都會發行網路版。
Aunt Rosa keeps Sunday's paper to do the crossword later.
Rosa 阿姨把週日的報紙留下來，等晚點再玩填字遊戲。
文法句型
the [name] paper
today's paper
in the paper
用法筆記
Often shortened from 'newspaper'. Common with 'the' + day/place: 'the Saturday paper', 'the Taipei paper'. The plural 'papers' usually means several newspapers, not the material.
常見錯誤
3. (usually plural) the official documents, such as a passport or permit, that prov
證件
證明身分或權利的官方文件
(usually plural) the official documents, such as a passport or permit, that prove who someone is or what they are allowed to do.
The border guard asked Carlos to show his papers at the checkpoint.
邊境警衛在檢查站要 Carlos 出示證件。
collocation: show / produce one's papers
Without the right papers, refugees cannot legally work in the country.
沒有合法證件的難民無法在這個國家工作。
plural-only sense
Lina keeps her adoption papers in the small safe upstairs.
Lina 把領養證件放在樓上那個小保險箱裡。
The officer waved Mr. Chen through after checking his papers carefully.
警官仔細檢查陳先生的證件後就讓他通過了。
Travellers without papers were turned back at the airport gate.
沒有證件的旅客在機場登機口被擋了下來。
- documents
broader term; covers papers and digital records
- credentials
more formal; often professional or academic proof
- ID
informal; usually a single card such as a driver's licence
文法句型
one's papers
ask to see [someone's] papers
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense. Distinguish from sense 7 (loose pieces of writing): 'papers' here means specifically identity or permission documents, often demanded by police or officials.
常見錯誤
4. a test on a single subject, made up of questions printed on a sheet that student
考卷；試卷
單一科目的書面考試題目
a test on a single subject, made up of questions printed on a sheet that students answer within a fixed time.
Lina found this year's chemistry paper much harder than last year's.
Lina 覺得今年的化學考卷比去年難很多。
the [subject] paper
Students must finish the maths paper in ninety minutes.
學生必須在九十分鐘內寫完數學考卷。
Mr. Patel will mark all forty history papers by Friday afternoon.
Patel 老師會在星期五下午前改完那四十份歷史考卷。
Marcus left the room early after handing in his English paper.
Marcus 一交完英文考卷就提早離開教室。
The first paper of the entrance exam tests reading skills.
入學考的第一份考卷在測驗閱讀能力。
- exam
general word for any kind of test
- test
informal and broad; can be oral or written
- examination
formal full word for an exam
文法句型
take / sit a paper
the [subject] paper
用法筆記
Mainly British. In American English, 'exam' or 'test' is more common; 'paper' more often means an essay (sense 6). 'Sit a paper' is BrE; AmE prefers 'take a test'.
常見錯誤
5. a written study by an expert that presents new findings or arguments on one topi
學術論文
專家發表的研究報告
a written study by an expert that presents new findings or arguments on one topic, normally appearing in a journal or delivered at a conference.
Dr. Tanaka published a paper on coral reefs in Nature last month.
田中博士上個月在《自然》期刊發表了一篇關於珊瑚礁的論文。
publish a paper on [topic]
Professor Kim will present her latest paper at the Tokyo physics conference.
Kim 教授將在東京物理學研討會上發表她最新的論文。
present a paper at [event]
Three of his recent papers have been cited over a thousand times.
他近期有三篇論文被引用超過一千次。
The journal asked two specialists to review the paper before publication.
期刊在出版前請了兩位專家審查這篇論文。
Professor Lee co-authored a paper with his former PhD student.
Lee 教授和他以前的博士生合寫了一篇論文。
文法句型
a paper on [topic]
publish / present a paper
用法筆記
Used for serious published research, not student essays (compare sense 6). Subject is usually a researcher, professor, or institution. Common verbs: publish, present, submit, review, cite.
常見錯誤
6. a short written assignment that a student produces about one topic for a class o
報告；作業
學生為課堂寫的短篇文章
a short written assignment that a student produces about one topic for a class or course.
Maya is writing a paper on the Civil War for history class.
Maya 正在為歷史課寫一篇關於南北戰爭的報告。
write a paper on [topic]
The professor wants every paper handed in before Friday at noon.
教授要求大家在星期五中午前繳交報告。
Carlos stayed up late to finish his term paper on solar energy.
Carlos 熬夜把太陽能的學期報告寫完。
Lina got an A on her English paper about coming-of-age novels.
Lina 那篇談成長小說的英文報告拿了 A。
Each student must write a five-page paper to pass the course.
每位學生都必須寫一份五頁的報告才能通過這門課。
- essay
the most common word for school writing
- assignment
broader; can include problem sets, not just writing
- report
often based on facts or experiments rather than argument
文法句型
write a paper on [topic]
a [subject] paper
用法筆記
Mainly American English. Distinguish from sense 5: this one is student work for a course; sense 5 is expert research. Common phrases: 'term paper', 'research paper' (in the school-assignment sense).
常見錯誤
7. (plural) the various sheets carrying writing or print that a person owns or work
文件；資料
個人或工作上的書面紙張
(plural) the various sheets carrying writing or print that a person owns or works with, such as letters, notes, reports, or personal records.
After Grandpa died, we sorted through boxes of his old papers.
爺爺過世後，我們整理了好幾箱他的舊文件。
sort / go through someone's papers
Sarah keeps all her tax papers in a thick green folder.
Sarah 把所有報稅文件都放在一個厚厚的綠色資料夾裡。
The lawyer spread the papers across the long table to compare them.
律師把文件攤在長桌上，方便互相比對。
Marcus found his birth certificate buried under piles of office papers.
Marcus 在一堆辦公室文件下面找到了他的出生證明。
Please file these papers in the cabinet by the window.
請把這些文件歸檔到窗邊的櫃子裡。
文法句型
someone's papers
go through the papers
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (identity documents): sense 7 is broader, covering any personal or work-related documents. Often pre-modified: 'tax papers', 'court papers', 'office papers', 'family papers'.
常見錯誤
paper — 動詞
- paperpresent simple I / you / we / they
- papers3rd person singular
- papering-ing form
- paperedpast simple
1. to put decorative paper onto the inside walls of a room so that they are fully c
貼壁紙
在牆面上貼上裝飾用的壁紙
to put decorative paper onto the inside walls of a room so that they are fully covered.
Maya and her husband papered the nursery in soft yellow stripes.
Maya 和先生在嬰兒房貼上了柔黃色條紋的壁紙。
paper [room] in / with [pattern]
It took Carlos a whole weekend to paper the small bathroom.
Carlos 花了一整個週末才貼完那間小浴室的壁紙。
We plan to paper the dining room before Grandma visits next month.
我們打算在奶奶下個月來訪前，把飯廳的壁紙貼好。
The decorator papered all four walls with a pale floral pattern.
裝潢師父在四面牆上都貼了淡雅的花卉壁紙。
Lina decided to paint the kitchen instead of papering it again.
Lina 決定把廚房改成上漆，而不是再貼壁紙。
- strip
to remove old wallpaper from a wall
文法句型
paper a wall / room
paper [place] with [pattern]
用法筆記
Always transitive in this sense; takes a room or wall as object. Typically followed by 'with' or 'in' plus the pattern or colour. Distinguish from 'paint': you 'paint' walls with colour, but 'paper' them with sheets of pattern.
常見錯誤
paper — 形容詞
- paperpositive
- paperercomparative
- paperestsuperlative
1. produced from sheets of paper, card, or papier-mâché rather than from cloth, pla
紙做的
由紙張、紙板等做成的
produced from sheets of paper, card, or papier-mâché rather than from cloth, plastic, or metal.
The children wore tall paper hats at Maya's birthday party.
孩子們在 Maya 的生日派對上戴著高高的紙帽。
attributive: paper + [noun]
Carlos handed each guest a paper cup of fresh lemonade.
Carlos 給每位客人一個裝著新鮮檸檬汁的紙杯。
The cafe now uses paper straws instead of plastic ones.
這家咖啡店現在改用紙吸管，不再使用塑膠的。
Lina folded a small paper boat and floated it on the pond.
Lina 摺了一艘小紙船，放到池塘上漂。
The shop wraps every gift in colourful paper bags free of charge.
這家店免費替每份禮物都裝進彩色紙袋。
- paperboard
thicker; used for packaging boxes
- cardboard
much stiffer than ordinary paper
文法句型
paper + [noun]
用法筆記
Used directly before a noun (attributive). Cannot stand after a linking verb in this sense — say 'a paper cup' but not 'this cup is paper' (use 'made of paper' instead).
常見錯誤
2. having a texture, thinness, or feel that reminds you of paper, often used in com
紙般薄的
薄、乾或脆得像紙一樣
having a texture, thinness, or feel that reminds you of paper, often used in compounds such as 'paper-thin'.
Grandma's hands felt paper-thin and dry against Maya's cheek.
奶奶的手摸起來像紙一樣薄而乾，貼在 Maya 臉頰上。
compound: paper-thin
The chef sliced the carrots into paper-thin rounds for the salad.
主廚把紅蘿蔔切成薄如紙片的圓片，加進沙拉裡。
compound: paper-thin
After the long fever, Lina's skin looked pale and paper-dry.
Lina 高燒過後，皮膚顯得蒼白且乾如紙。
Carlos used a paper-thin sheet of gold leaf on the picture frame.
Carlos 在相框上貼了一片薄如紙的金箔。
The walls of this old wooden house feel almost paper-thin in winter.
這棟老木屋的牆面，到了冬天感覺薄得像紙一樣。
- papery
the standalone adjective form; same general meaning
- wafer-thin
even thinner; often used for food slices
- thick
the basic opposite of paper-thin
文法句型
paper-thin
paper + [thin/dry/white]
用法筆記
Most often appears in the compound 'paper-thin'. Suggests something is thin, dry, or fragile in a paper-like way; rarely stands alone before a noun.
3. involving routine office tasks such as filling forms, filing, and writing report
文書的
與文書處理或辦公雜務相關的
involving routine office tasks such as filling forms, filing, and writing reports rather than active or practical work.
After his accident, Marcus moved to a quiet paper job at headquarters.
Marcus 受傷後調到總部，做一份安靜的文書工作。
paper + [job / work]
Most of her morning is spent on dull paper work in the back office.
她整個早上多半都在後勤辦公室處理乏味的文書工作。
Detective Chen hated the paper side of police work the most.
Chen 警官最討厭警察工作裡文書的那一面。
The new manager promised to cut the team's paper duties in half.
新主管承諾要把團隊的文書工作量砍掉一半。
Many young doctors complain about the heavy paper load on their shifts.
許多年輕醫師都抱怨值班時文書工作量太重。
- clerical
more formal; standard term for office paperwork roles
- administrative
broader; covers planning and management duties too
- practical
involving hands-on work in the field, not at a desk
文法句型
paper + [job/work/role]
用法筆記
Always before a noun (attributive). Typical nouns: work, job, duties, side, load. Often carries a slightly negative tone, suggesting boring or excessive desk tasks.
4. existing only in writing or on paper, with no real strength, value, or effect in
名義上的
只存在於名義或書面上、實際無效的
existing only in writing or on paper, with no real strength, value, or effect in practice.
The hedge fund's twenty percent paper profit vanished as soon as the markets fell.
市場一下跌，那檔避險基金百分之二十的名義獲利就全沒了。
collocation: paper profit / loss
The rebel group is really just a paper army, with no trained soldiers behind it.
那個叛軍組織其實只是一支名義上的軍隊，背後並沒有受過訓練的士兵。
collocation: paper army / paper tiger
Without funding, the new law remains a paper promise to voters.
沒有經費支持，這項新法對選民只是空頭承諾。
Carlos called his rival a paper champion who had never beaten anyone strong.
Carlos 說他的對手只是紙上冠軍，從沒打敗過真正的強者。
Investors warned that the company's paper value far exceeded its real cash.
投資人警告，這家公司的帳面價值遠遠超過真正的現金。
- nominal
formal; existing in name only
- theoretical
existing only in idea, not in practice
文法句型
paper + [profit/army/promise/champion]
用法筆記
Always before a noun. Frequent collocations: paper profit, paper loss, paper tiger, paper army, paper promise. Closely related to the idiom 'on paper' (sense-7-area), but here functions as a flat modifier.
常見錯誤
5. (of a theatre audience) made up mostly of people who got in with free tickets ra
贈票的
（觀眾）多半是拿免費票進場的
(of a theatre audience) made up mostly of people who got in with free tickets rather than paying customers.
The producer admitted that opening night was largely a paper house.
製作人坦承，首演當晚的觀眾大多是拿贈票進場的。
collocation: a paper house
Critics noticed that the lively paper audience laughed at every joke.
影評人注意到，那些拿贈票進場的熱情觀眾每個笑點都笑。
collocation: a paper audience
Even with a paper crowd, the cast played the show with full energy.
即使台下都是拿贈票的觀眾，演員們仍卯足全力演出。
Director Watanabe worried that the strong paper attendance hid weak ticket sales.
Watanabe 導演擔心，看似熱絡的贈票觀眾人數其實掩蓋了票房不佳的事實。
- comp
shorthand for 'complimentary'; theatre slang for free tickets
- paying
describes audiences who bought their tickets
文法句型
paper + [audience/house/crowd]
用法筆記
Theatre jargon, mostly used by producers, agents, and reviewers. Always before nouns like 'house', 'audience', or 'crowd'. Implies that the seats are filled but not paid for.
6. (of a surface, especially leather or fabric) treated until it has the crisp, eve
紙感平滑的
表面處理得像紙一樣平滑
(of a surface, especially leather or fabric) treated until it has the crisp, even smoothness of paper.
The luxury wallets came in a soft, paper finish that felt expensive.
這款精品錢包採用柔軟的紙感平滑處理，摸起來很高級。
collocation: paper finish
Master craftsmen polish each leather strap to a fine paper smoothness.
資深師傅會把每條皮帶磨到擁有細緻的紙感平滑度。
The factory finishes its silk in a delicate paper texture.
這家工廠把絲料處理出細膩的紙感質地。
Lina liked the paper finish on the new notebook cover best.
Lina 最喜歡新筆記本封面上那種紙感平滑的觸感。
- smooth
everyday word; not specific to paper-like surfaces
- calendered
technical; pressed between rollers to get a smooth surface
- rough
the everyday opposite of a smooth, paper-like finish
文法句型
paper + [finish]
用法筆記
Specialist term in leather, paper, and textile manufacturing. Refers to a finish that mimics the crisp, even surface of fine paper.