separate
/ˈseprət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈseprət/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈse-pə-ˌrāt ˈse-ˌprāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsep.ər.eɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsep.ə.reɪt/ (ame, ipa)
separate — 形容詞
- separatepositive
- more separatecomparative
- most separatesuperlative
1. Describes two or more things that are not connected, not joined, or kept apart f
分開的
不在一起、各自獨立的
Describes two or more things that are not connected, not joined, or kept apart from each other — for example, separate rooms in a house, or a separate bank account that one person alone controls.
The children each have their own bedroom in separate parts of the house.
孩子們各自有自己的臥室，位於房子裡不同的區域。
collocation: separate parts / separate rooms
Shirin keeps her work files in a separate folder from her personal documents.
Shirin 把工作檔案放在一個獨立資料夾裡，和私人文件分開。
We agreed to sleep in separate beds after the argument.
吵架之後，我們同意分床睡覺。
A separate entrance for deliveries is located around the back of the building.
獨立的送貨入口設在建築物的背面。
The two events happened on separate dates, so nobody had to choose between them.
那兩場活動日期不同，所以大家不需要在其中做選擇。
- detached
specifically about physical buildings not joined to another
- independent
focuses on not being controlled or influenced by others
- distinct
emphasises clear differences in quality or identity
用法筆記
Often used before a noun to emphasize that two things are not shared: 'separate rooms', 'separate accounts'. Can also follow a linking verb: 'The kitchen is separate from the living room.'
常見錯誤
separate — 動詞
- separatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- separates3rd person singular
- separating-ing form
- separatedpast simple
1. To split or cut something into smaller pieces, groups, or sections — or for some
分開；分割
把整體切成較小的部分
To split or cut something into smaller pieces, groups, or sections — or for something to come apart this way on its own.
Otis used a knife to separate the orange into six even wedges.
Otis 用刀子把柳橙切成六等份。
transitive: separate + noun + into + parts
The road separates the old part of town from the new shopping district.
那條路把舊城區和新商業區隔了開來。
separate + noun + from + noun (acts as a barrier)
When you heat the butter, the milk solids separate from the clear fat.
加熱奶油時，奶類固體會和清澈的油脂分離開來。
Nora separated the laundry into three piles before washing anything.
Nora 在洗衣服之前先把衣物分成三堆。
The two halves of the board separated when Christopher dropped it on the floor.
Christopher 把那塊板子摔到地上時，它裂成了兩半。
文法句型
separate + noun phrase + into + noun phrase
separate (no object)
用法筆記
When used transitively, the object is what gets divided. The pattern 'separate X into Y' shows the resulting parts. 'Separate X from Y' focuses on removing X away from the whole.
常見錯誤
2. When people or things that are near each other move to different locations, or w
分散
使人或物分散到不同位置
When people or things that are near each other move to different locations, or when you cause them to go to separate spots.
The teacher separated the two boys after they kept whispering during class.
老師把那兩個男生分開，因為他們上課一直講話。
transitive: separate two people who are together
Camila and Ilan separated at the airport gate because their flights left from different terminals.
Camila 和 Ilan 在機場登機門分開了，因為他們的班機從不同航廈起飛。
Security guards separated the crowd into two lines outside the concert hall.
演唱會場外的保全人員把群眾分成兩排。
The dogs separated as soon as the owner shouted at them.
主人一喊，那幾隻狗就各自散開了。
After the film, the group separated outside and walked home in different directions.
電影結束後，一群人在外面分開，各自走不同的路回家。
文法句型
separate + noun phrase (people)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'separate + noun phrase (people)', meaning to cause them to stop being together. The intransitive use describes people parting ways naturally.
常見錯誤
3. To think of two items or people as not belonging in the same group, recognising
區分
認為兩者不同、不混為一談
To think of two items or people as not belonging in the same group, recognising a clear difference between them.
It is important to separate your personal feelings from your professional decisions.
把自己的個人情感和專業決策分開來看待，是很重要的。
separate + noun + from + noun
Saira finds it hard to separate her work life from her family life.
Saira 覺得很難把工作生活和家庭生活完全分開。
Good readers can separate the main idea from the supporting details in a paragraph.
好的讀者能夠區分一段文字中的主要觀點和輔助細節。
Tuan refused to separate the art from the artist's personal history.
Tuan 拒絕將藝術作品和藝術家的個人歷史分開來看待。
The report separates the issues into two categories: urgent and long-term.
這份報告把問題分成兩類：緊急事項和長期事項。
- distinguish
more formal; focuses on perceiving the difference
- differentiate
very formal; often used in academic writing
- tell apart
informal; used when the difference is not obvious
- confuse
mix up in one's mind
- lump together
treat different things as one group
文法句型
separate + noun + from + noun
常見錯誤
4. When a liquid mixture divides into different parts or layers that do not mix tog
分層；分離
液體分成不同的層次
When a liquid mixture divides into different parts or layers that do not mix together any more — for example, oil rising to the top of a salad dressing that has been sitting still.
If you leave vinaigrette sitting too long, the oil will separate from the vinegar.
油醋醬放太久的話，油會和醋分離開來。
intransitive: separate from [another liquid]
The egg whites separated from the yolks when Yasmin tapped the shell on the bowl.
Yasmin 在碗邊輕敲蛋殼時，蛋白和蛋黃就分開了。
Mateo noticed the cream had separated into thick cream on top and watery milk below.
Mateo 發現鮮奶油已經分層，上面是濃稠的奶油，下面是稀薄的水狀牛奶。
When the sauce cools down, the butter may separate and float to the surface.
醬汁冷卻之後，奶油可能會分離，浮到表面上。
文法句型
liquid + separates
separate into + layers/parts
用法筆記
Intransitive only — the liquid does the separating by itself. Typical in cooking instructions and chemistry descriptions.
常見錯誤
5. When a married couple decides to stop living together and ends their relationshi
分居
夫妻停止共同生活
When a married couple decides to stop living together and ends their relationship, usually as a step towards divorce.
After twenty years of marriage, Jin and his wife decided to separate.
結婚二十年後，Jin 和太太決定分居。
intransitive: a couple separates
Élise separated from her husband last year, but the divorce is not final yet.
Élise 去年和先生分居了，但離婚手續還沒辦完。
separate from + person
The couple separated amicably and agreed to share custody of their two children.
那對夫妻和平分居，並同意共同監護他們的兩個小孩。
Christopher and Camila separated for six months before deciding to get back together.
Christopher 和 Camila 分居了六個月，後來決定復合。
- reconcile
become friendly or married again after a separation
- stay together
continue the relationship
文法句型
couple + separates
用法筆記
Intransitive only. The subject is usually a married couple ('they separated') or one spouse ('she separated from her husband'). Not used transitively for this meaning — you do not 'separate someone' from their spouse.
常見錯誤
separate — 名詞
1. A copy of an article that is printed separately from the main journal or book wh
抽印本
從期刊中單獨印出的文章
A copy of an article that is printed separately from the main journal or book where it first appeared, usually given to the author.
The professor ordered fifty separates of her latest journal article to share at the conference.
那位教授訂了五十份她最新期刊論文的抽印本，準備在研討會上發放。
Librarians keep separates of key papers for students without access to the full journal.
圖書館員把重要論文的抽印本留下來，給無法查閱完整期刊的學生使用。
formal register: separates (noun)
Each researcher received a separate of the report before the official publication date.
每位研究人員在正式出版前，都拿到了一份報告的抽印本。
The graduate student asked the publisher for ten separates of her first published paper.
那位研究生向出版社要了十份她第一篇論文的抽印本。
用法筆記
This sense is technical and mainly found in academic publishing contexts. The more common word today is 'offprint'.
2. A piece of clothing sold as an individual item, meant to be paired with differen
可混搭單品
可與其他衣物搭配的單件服飾
A piece of clothing sold as an individual item, meant to be paired with different garments to form various outfits.
The store sells separates like skirts, blouses, and jackets that you can mix and match.
這家店賣的是裙子、上衣、外套這類可混搭的單品。
collocation: mix and match separates
Nora prefers buying separates rather than suits because she likes to create her own combinations.
Nora 偏好買單件服飾而不是套裝，因為她喜歡自己搭配。
A good wardrobe has basic separates that go with almost anything else you own.
好的衣櫃裡有幾件基本的單品，幾乎能搭配你其他的任何衣物。
The shop assistant showed Shirin separates that worked for the office or a party.
店員向 Shirin 展示了一些不論上班或參加派對都能穿的單品。
- mix-and-match pieces
more descriptive everyday term
- suit
a set of matching jacket and trousers or skirt
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural ('separates'). More common in fashion retail and tailoring contexts than in everyday conversation.