proportion
/prəˈpɔːʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /prəˈpɔːrʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /prə-ˈpȯr-shən/ (ame, mw)
proportion — 名詞
- proportionsingular
- proportionsplural
1. a share or part of a total amount, shown by comparing its size against the full
佔比
某部分在總體中所佔的比例
a share or part of a total amount, shown by comparing its size against the full thing it belongs to
A large proportion of the budget goes to education and health care.
預算中很大一部分用於教育和醫療保健。
proportion + of + noun
Only a small proportion of applicants received an interview invitation.
只有少數申請者獲得了面試邀請。
The survey found that the proportion of older workers has risen steadily since 2010.
調查發現，自2010年以來年長勞工的佔比持續上升。
Women make up a growing proportion of students in engineering programmes.
在工程科系中，女學生的佔比正在逐漸增加。
Arjun calculated what proportion of the pizza each child should get.
Arjun 算了算每個小孩應該分到多少比例的披薩。
- share
more general; does not necessarily imply a numerical comparison to a whole
- percentage
always stated as a number out of 100; narrower than proportion
- fraction
emphasises the part-whole relationship in mathematical terms
文法句型
proportion + of + noun
常見錯誤
2. the relationship between two things expressed by comparing their sizes, numbers,
比率
兩個事物之間的數量對比關係
the relationship between two things expressed by comparing their sizes, numbers, or levels against each other
The proportion of men to women in the class was roughly three to one.
班上男生與女生的比率大約是三比一。
proportion + of + noun + to + noun
Dario checked the proportion of sugar to flour before baking the cake.
Dario 在烤蛋糕前確認了糖與麵粉的比率。
The village has a much higher proportion of elderly residents than the national average.
這個村莊的老年居民比率遠高於全國平均。
Astrid noticed that the proportion of time spent on meetings kept growing each month.
Astrid 注意到開會花掉的時間比率每個月都在增加。
- ratio
more precise in technical and mathematical contexts; used with numbers
- rate
usually compares change over time or frequency of events
- relationship
less precise and not necessarily numerical
文法句型
proportion + of + noun + to + noun
proportion + of + noun + and + noun
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense compares two independent quantities rather than a part to its whole. The pattern 'proportion of X to Y' is specific to this sense.
常見錯誤
3. the way that different parts of an object, building, or image relate to each oth
勻稱
各部分之間大小和諧、美觀的關係
the way that different parts of an object, building, or image relate to each other in size, creating a pleasing or balanced appearance
The architect designed the house with perfect proportion between the rooms and the windows.
建築師設計的房子在房間與窗戶之間達到完美的勻稱。
proportion between + plural nouns
Jessica admired the classical statue for its grace and sense of proportion.
Jessica 欣賞古典雕像的優雅與勻稱感。
The painting feels wrong because the figures are out of proportion with the background.
這幅畫看起來不對勁，因為人物與背景不成比例。
Valentina adjusted the drawing until the head and body were in proportion.
Valentina 調整素描，直到頭部與身體達到勻稱。
- imbalance
lack of proportion or equilibrium between parts
文法句型
in proportion
out of proportion
用法筆記
Often used in the fixed phrase 'in proportion' or 'out of proportion' to describe how parts of a design relate to each other aesthetically.
4. the general size, scale, or extent of something, especially when describing how
規模
某事物的尺寸、範圍或程度
the general size, scale, or extent of something, especially when describing how large or significant it is
The charity faced a crisis of enormous proportions after the earthquake.
地震之後，該慈善機構面臨一場規模極大的危機。
of + adjective + proportions
Jiwoo was surprised by the true proportions of the building once she stood beside it.
Jiwoo 站到建築物旁邊時，才驚訝地發現它真正的規模。
The flooding reached catastrophic proportions across three provinces.
洪水在三個省份達到了災難性的規模。
Romi could not grasp the proportions of the crowd from her hotel window.
Romi 從旅館窗戶往外看，無法判斷人群的規模。
文法句型
of + adjective + proportions
proportions of + noun
用法筆記
Very often used in the plural form 'proportions' with an adjective to describe the scale or seriousness of something, especially in news reports.
5. the degree of importance or seriousness that someone attaches to a situation, ev
輕重
對事情重要或嚴重程度的衡量
the degree of importance or seriousness that someone attaches to a situation, event, or problem, especially in fixed phrases about keeping a balanced view
Talia tried to keep the argument in proportion and not let small things upset her.
Talia 試著客觀看待這場爭執，不讓小事影響心情。
keep + noun + in proportion
The media coverage was out of all proportion to the actual incident.
媒體報導的誇張程度與實際事件完全不成比例。
Obi warned his team not to blow the mistake out of proportion.
Obi 警告他的團隊不要把那個錯誤小題大作。
A person with a sense of proportion knows when to laugh at their own problems.
有分寸感的人懂得何時可以對自己的問題一笑置之。
- perspective
similar meaning but focuses on seeing things clearly rather than evaluating size or seriousness
文法句型
in proportion + to + noun
out of proportion + to + noun
用法筆記
This sense almost exclusively appears in fixed expressions. The phrase 'out of (all) proportion' usually takes 'to' to introduce the point of comparison.
常見錯誤
6. a mathematical statement showing that two ratios are equal, written as an equati
比例式
數學中表示兩個比值相等的等式
a mathematical statement showing that two ratios are equal, written as an equation that compares one pair of numbers with another, such as 4/2 = 10/5
The teacher wrote a proportion on the board to show how two ratios match.
老師在黑板上寫了一個比例式，說明兩個比值如何相等。
Darius solved the proportion by cross-multiplying the numbers in the equation.
Darius 透過交叉相乘解出了這個比例式。
solve + proportion + by + verb-ing
Amira explained that a proportion states that the fraction 3/6 is the same as 1/2.
Amira 解釋說，比例式說明了 3/6 和 1/2 這兩個分數是相等的。
In the proportion 8/12 = 2/3, the numbers 8 and 3 are called the extremes.
在比例式 8/12 = 2/3 中，8 和 3 稱為外項。
- equation
broader; any mathematical statement showing equality, not limited to ratios
文法句型
proportion + stating + that-clause
用法筆記
A specialised mathematical term. In this sense proportion is always a statement of equality between two ratios, not a single ratio by itself.
常見錯誤
proportion — 動詞
- proportionpresent simple I / you / we / they
- proportions3rd person singular
- proportioning-ing form
- proportionedpast simple
1. to make something the right size or amount for the situation it is in, so that i
調整比例
讓某事物的大小符合其他事物的需要
to make something the right size or amount for the situation it is in, so that it fits or works well with other things around it
The benefits are proportioned according to how many years each worker has contributed.
福利金根據每位勞工繳納的年數按比例調整。
passive: proportioned according to + noun
Obi proportioned the servings so that every guest got an equal share of the meal.
Obi 調整了份量，讓每位客人都分到等量的餐點。
The company proportioned its spending to match the expected income for the quarter.
公司按比例調整支出，使其與該季度的預期收入相符。
The shelves were proportioned to fit exactly inside the narrow alcove in the hallway.
這些層架經過比例調整，恰好能放入走廊上狹窄的壁凹。
文法句型
proportion + noun + to + noun
be proportioned + adverb
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice. The pattern 'proportion something to something' specifies what the adjustment is based on.
2. to shape or arrange the parts of something so that they create a balanced, attra
使勻稱
安排各部分使之達到和諧均衡
to shape or arrange the parts of something so that they create a balanced, attractive whole
The sculpture is beautifully proportioned, with every curve flowing into the next.
這座雕塑各部分的比例非常勻稱，每一道曲線都自然流暢。
be beautifully proportioned
Valentina proportioned the garden so that the tall plants sat behind the shorter ones.
Valentina 把花園設計得很勻稱，讓高大的植物排在矮小植物的後面。
The rooms in the old house were oddly proportioned, with tiny windows and high ceilings.
老房子裡的房間比例很奇怪，窗戶很小但天花板很高。
The well-proportioned doorway gave the entrance a sense of elegance and calm.
勻稱的門口為入口帶來一種優雅平靜的感覺。
文法句型
be well proportioned
be beautifully proportioned
用法筆記
Very commonly appears as the past participle 'proportioned' modified by an adverb such as 'well', 'beautifully', 'perfectly', or 'oddly'.
3. to divide and give out an amount or share of something among different people, g
分配
按計劃將某物分給不同的人或用途
to divide and give out an amount or share of something among different people, groups, or uses in a planned way
The committee proportioned the remaining funds among the three charities equally.
委員會將剩餘資金平均分配給三家慈善機構。
proportion + noun + among + plural noun
The estate was proportioned between the two daughters according to their father's final instructions.
遺產根據父親的最終指示分配給兩個女兒。
Each region will receive resources proportioned on the basis of its population size.
各地區將根據人口規模按比例獲得資源。
The inheritance was proportioned fairly among all five grandchildren.
這筆遺產公平地分配給五位孫子女。
- apportion
more common in modern usage; identical meaning
- allocate
broader; can mean reserving resources without physically dividing them
- distribute
general term for giving things out, not necessarily in planned shares
- withhold
to keep back rather than give out
文法句型
proportion + noun + among/between + plural noun
用法筆記
A formal and relatively rare sense, used mainly in legal, financial, or administrative contexts. 'Apportion' is more common for this meaning.