reflect

reflect — 動詞

1. When a surface sends back light, sound, heat, or an image that reaches it, inste

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

反射

光線、聲音或影像被表面彈回

When a surface sends back light, sound, heat, or an image that reaches it, instead of absorbing it or letting it pass through.

例句

The calm lake reflected the tall pine trees and the grey sky above.

平靜的湖面反射出高聳的松樹和上方的灰色天空。

transitive: reflect + image noun phrase

A bike reflector works by bouncing back light from a car's headlights at night.

自行車的反光板透過將汽車頭燈的光線彈回來運作。

同義詞
  • bounce back

    more informal; often used for sound or light hitting a surface and returning

  • mirror

    suggests an exact reproduction of an image, like a mirror does

  • throw back

    less common; describes the physical action of a surface returning light or sound

反義詞
  • absorb

    a surface that absorbs light or sound takes it in rather than sending it back

文法句型

reflect + noun (light / heat / sound / image)

reflect + off / from + noun

常見錯誤

❌The mirror refracted the light.
✅The mirror reflected the light.
💡'refract' means to bend light as it passes through something; 'reflect' means to send it back from a surface.
❌The glass reflected the sun and it broke into pieces.
✅The glass reflected the sunlight onto the wall.
💡'reflect' does not mean 'break' or 'shatter'.

2. To display or indicate that a certain situation, feeling, or quality exists — fo

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

反映；顯示

顯示某種情況或特質的存在

To display or indicate that a certain situation, feeling, or quality exists — for example, a store's sales figures reflecting the economy, or a person's words reflecting their true beliefs.

例句

Adaeze's calm voice reflected her confidence during the difficult group presentation.

Adaeze 冷靜的聲音反映出她在困難的小組報告中的自信。

reflect + noun for showing an inner state

The rising number of tourists reflects the growing popularity of the small coastal town.

遊客人數的增加反映了這個海邊小鎮越來越受歡迎。

同義詞
  • indicate

    more neutral; suggests that something points to a fact without necessarily being the cause

  • reveal

    stronger; suggests that something was previously hidden or not obvious

  • demonstrate

    more formal; implies clear evidence or proof

  • show

    simpler and more common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • hide

    to keep a feeling or quality from being seen or known

  • mask

    to cover or conceal something so that it does not show

文法句型

reflect + noun (attitude / feeling / situation / quality)

用法筆記

Subject is often a situation, statistic, action, or behaviour rather than a person. When a person is the subject, the verb usually takes a quality or feeling as its object (e.g., 'Her smile reflected genuine happiness').

常見錯誤

❌The report reflects about the problems in the school.
✅The report reflects the problems in the school.
💡'reflect' in this sense is transitive and does not take a preposition.
❌This reflects that the situation is getting worse.
✅This reflects the fact that the situation is getting worse.
💡'reflect' rarely takes a that-clause; use 'reflect the fact that' instead.

3. To take quiet time to think about something carefully and seriously, often a pas

3.動詞不及物B1
釋義

思考；反省

仔細且深入地思考，尤指過去的事或選擇

To take quiet time to think about something carefully and seriously, often a past event or a choice you need to make.

例句

After the argument, Mert sat alone and reflected on the things he had said.

爭吵過後，Mert 獨自坐著，反省自己所說過的話。

reflect on + noun for careful thought

Ilan took a quiet walk along the beach to reflect on his career choices.

Ilan 沿著海灘靜靜散步，思考自己的職涯選擇。

同義詞
  • ponder

    more literary; suggests slow, careful consideration

  • contemplate

    implies looking at something from many angles over a longer period

  • meditate on

    suggests deep, quiet thought, sometimes with a spiritual or mental exercise quality

反義詞
  • ignore

    to deliberately pay no attention to something

文法句型

reflect + on / upon + noun

reflect + that-clause (less common)

用法筆記

Commonly takes the preposition 'on' or the slightly more formal 'upon'. The that-clause pattern ('He reflected that...') is less frequent and belongs to a more literary register.

常見錯誤

❌I need to reflect my decision.
✅I need to reflect on my decision.
💡When the meaning is 'think carefully about', 'reflect' must be followed by 'on' or 'upon'.
❌She reflected about her childhood.
✅She reflected on her childhood.
💡Use 'on', not 'about', after this sense of 'reflect'.

4. To affect how other people view someone or something, giving a particular impres

4.動詞不及物B2
釋義

影響評價

影響他人對某人或某事的看法

To affect how other people view someone or something, giving a particular impression of their character, ability, or quality.

例句

Camila's excellent work on the project reflected well on the entire design team.

Camila 在專案中的出色表現為整個設計團隊帶來了良好的評價。

reflect well/badly + on + noun for effect on reputation

The way a restaurant treats its customers reflects on its reputation in the local area.

餐廳對待顧客的方式會影響它在當地的聲譽。

同義詞

文法句型

reflect + well / badly / poorly / favourably + on + noun

reflect + on + noun

用法筆記

Nearly always appears with an adverb (well, badly, poorly, favourably, positively, negatively) before the preposition 'on'. The subject is typically an action, behaviour, or outcome rather than a person.

常見錯誤

❌His actions reflect on the company as bad.
✅His actions reflect badly on the company.
💡Use an adverb directly before 'on', not a clause.
❌Your behaviour reflects on me.' (without specifying good or bad)
✅Your behaviour reflects well on me.' or 'Your behaviour reflects badly on me.
💡The sense requires an evaluation; without an adverb the sentence is vague.