sex
/seks/ (bre, ipa) · /seks/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈseks/ (ame, mw)
sex — 名詞
- sexsingular
- sexesplural
1. the physical characteristic that makes a living thing male or female, based on b
性別
男性或女性的生理狀態
the physical characteristic that makes a living thing male or female, based on body parts, chromosomes, and hormones present from birth
The doctor recorded the baby's sex on the birth certificate at the hospital.
醫生在醫院的出生證明上記錄了嬰兒的性別。
collocation: baby's sex
On the form, each student circled whether their sex was male or female.
在表格上，每位學生圈選了自己的性別是男性還是女性。
Some fish species can change their sex naturally during their lifetime in the wild.
有些魚類在野外能在一生中自然改變性別。
A blood test can tell the sex of an unborn baby after a few weeks.
驗血可以在懷孕幾週後判斷未出生嬰兒的性別。
- gender
broader term that includes social and cultural identity, not just biology
- biological sex
explicitly distinguishes from gender identity
用法筆記
This sense refers to biological traits at birth. Distinguish from noun/4 (CATEGORY DIVISION), which focuses on the classification system rather than the physical state itself.
常見錯誤
2. all people who are male, or all people who are female, thought of as a single gr
兩性
男性或女性的整體群體
all people who are male, or all people who are female, thought of as a single group
The law forbids discrimination against any person on the basis of sex.
法律禁止基於性別對任何人進行歧視。
collocation: discrimination on the basis of sex
The study compared how the two sexes perform in science and mathematics at school.
該研究比較了兩性在學校的科學和數學成績表現。
collocation: the two sexes
Members of the opposite sex could not enter the dormitory after ten at night.
晚上十點後，異性成員不得進入宿舍。
Schools should offer the same sports opportunities to students of both sexes.
學校應為兩性學生提供同樣的運動機會。
- gender
now more common in legal and social contexts for this group sense
- the male sex / the female sex
more explicit but less frequent
用法筆記
Always used with 'the' before 'sex' or a determiner like 'both' ('both sexes', 'the sexes'). Common in formal, legal, and academic writing.
常見錯誤
3. physical activity that involves the touching of sexual body parts, especially be
性行為
涉及性器官的身體活動
physical activity that involves the touching of sexual body parts, especially between two people as part of an intimate relationship
The movie contains scenes of sex and violence and is not suitable for children.
這部電影包含性和暴力的場景，不適合兒童觀看。
register: formal warning context
The school's health class covers topics such as safe sex and how to prevent disease.
學校的健康課涵蓋安全性行為以及如何預防疾病等主題。
collocation: safe sex
Felix and his partner talked openly about sex with their marriage counselor before the wedding.
Felix 和伴侶在婚禮前坦誠地和婚姻諮商師討論了性方面的問題。
Many young people receive information about sex from friends rather than from parents or teachers.
許多年輕人從朋友而非父母或老師那裡獲得關於性的資訊。
- intercourse
more clinical and formal
- sexual intercourse
formal or medical term
- making love
softer, more romantic tone
用法筆記
Frequently used without an article in general discussions. Contrast with noun/1 (BIOLOGICAL STATE) and noun/5 (SEXUAL FEELINGS) — this sense describes the physical act itself.
常見錯誤
4. a category that a living thing belongs to, either male or female, based on how i
性別分類
生物依繁殖功能劃分的類別
a category that a living thing belongs to, either male or female, based on how it produces babies
On the application form, please indicate your sex by ticking one of the boxes provided.
在申請表上，請在提供的方格中勾選您的性別。
The vet said the sex of young rabbits is hard to tell just by looking.
獸醫說小兔子的性別很難僅用肉眼看出來。
collocation: sex of [animal]
In many birds, the sex of a chick cannot be told from its feathers alone.
在許多鳥類中，無法僅從羽毛判斷雛鳥的性別。
A DNA test can confirm the sex of rare birds in a zoo.
DNA 檢測可以確認動物園中稀有鳥類的性別。
- gender
increasingly preferred for humans, though gender includes identity beyond biology
- sex category
explicitly marks this as a classification concept
用法筆記
This sense names the classification system itself rather than describing a physical state (use noun/1 for that) or a social group (use noun/2). Frequently paired with 'of' to link an organism to its category.
5. the natural human interest in sex, including feelings of desire, thoughts about
性慾；性感
與性有關的感受與文化表現
the natural human interest in sex, including feelings of desire, thoughts about sex, and how people express themselves sexually
Hollywood movies are full of sex and glamour designed to draw large audiences.
好萊塢電影充滿性和魅力，旨在吸引大量觀眾。
register: entertainment/media context
The advertising campaign used sex to sell everything from perfume to sports cars on television.
這則廣告利用性感元素來推銷從香水到跑車的各種商品。
collocation: sex sells
Magazines for teenagers frequently include articles about relationships, love, sex, and romance.
青少年雜誌經常刊登關於戀愛、愛情、性和浪漫的文章。
Some critics argue that pop music relies too heavily on sex to attract young listeners.
有些評論家認為流行音樂太過依賴性感元素來吸引年輕聽眾。
- sexuality
broader term encompassing identity, orientation, and expression
- sexual desire
focuses on the feeling aspect
- eroticism
more formal, often associated with art and literature
用法筆記
This sense describes the psychological and cultural dimension of sex rather than the physical act (noun/3). Common in discussions about media, advertising, and social attitudes.
sex — 動詞
- sexpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sexes3rd person singular
- sexing-ing form
- sexedpast simple
1. to inspect an animal closely so that you can say what sex it has
鑑定性別
判斷動物為公或母
to inspect an animal closely so that you can say what sex it has
The farmer learned to sex the chicks by checking their wing feathers.
農夫學會了透過檢查翅膀羽毛來鑑定小雞的性別。
object: chicks / day-old chicks
A trained specialist can sex the young snakes without causing them any stress.
訓練有素的技術人員可以快速鑑定幼蛇的性別，且不會對牠們造成壓力。
Researchers had to sex each fish before placing them into separate breeding pools.
研究人員必須鑑定每條魚的性別，才能將牠們放入不同的繁殖池。
The zookeeper showed the students how to sex the adult turtles in the pond.
動物管理員向學生展示如何鑑定池塘中成年烏龜的性別。
- determine the sex of
the neutral human-appropriate equivalent
- identify the sex of
more formal, suitable for any species
文法句型
sex + noun phrase (animal type)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used for animals, particularly in farming, veterinary medicine, and scientific research. Not used for humans — 'determine the sex of' is the human equivalent.
常見錯誤
2. to make a person, product, image, or event seem more sexually exciting or appeal
挑逗；煽情化
增強性吸引力或性感效果
to make a person, product, image, or event seem more sexually exciting or appealing
The advertising team tried to sex up the brand with younger models and brighter packaging.
廣告團隊試圖用更年輕的模特兒和更亮眼的包裝來為品牌增添性感元素。
phrasal: sex up (make more sexually appealing)
Critics accused the director of trying to sex up the film with unnecessary nude scenes.
評論家指責導演試圖透過不必要的裸露鏡頭來煽情化這部電影。
The magazine editor decided to sex up the cover story with a more eye-catching photograph.
雜誌編輯決定用一張更引人注目的照片來為封面故事增添性感色彩。
Some musicians sex up their videos to get more views on social media platforms.
有些音樂人會為自己的影片煽情化，以在社群媒體上獲得更多觀看次數。
- sex up
the common phrasal verb form; informal
- sensualize
more formal, less common
- sexualize
more neutral; can describe making something sexual without the promotional angle
- tone down
make less sexually explicit
文法句型
sex + noun phrase; often 'sex up'
用法筆記
Most commonly appears in the phrasal form 'sex up' (make something more sexually attractive). Often used critically to suggest something is being cheapened or sensationalized.