soil
/sɔɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /sɔɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsȯi(-ə)l/ (ame, mw)
soil — 名詞
- soilsingular
- soilsplural
1. the loose, dark substance on the ground that provides a place for plants to grow
土壤
植物生長的泥土層
the loose, dark substance on the ground that provides a place for plants to grow and obtain nutrients; it is made up of small pieces of rock, dead plant matter, and tiny living organisms.
Manuela mixed compost into the soil before planting tomatoes in early April.
Manuela 在四月初種番茄前，把堆肥混進土壤裡。
collocation: mix compost into the soil
The soil in the coastal region is very sandy and drains water extremely quickly.
沿海地區的土壤含沙量很高，排水非常快。
collocation: sandy soil
After the flood, the soil in the fields stayed too wet for the wheat crop.
大水過後，田裡的土壤積水太多，小麥無法生長。
Earthworms help keep garden soil healthy by moving air and water through it.
蚯蚓能幫助土壤保持健康，因為牠們在土中移動空氣和水分。
Hiro scooped up a handful of soil and checked its colour and texture carefully.
Hiro 抓起一把土壤，仔細檢查它的顏色和質地。
文法句型
soil (uncountable)
a/an ___ soil (when describing type)
用法筆記
Uncountable in general use ('the soil is dry'), but countable when referring to a specific variety ('a sandy soil', 'loamy soils').
常見錯誤
2. a nation's territory, especially when it relates to people's identity, loyalty,
國土
屬於某個國家的領地
a nation's territory, especially when it relates to people's identity, loyalty, or sense of where they come from.
After teaching in Germany for two decades, Yara returned to her native soil in Kenya.
Yara 在德國教書二十年後，回到了肯亞的故土。
collocation: native soil
The new agreement bans all testing of nuclear weapons on Australian soil.
這項新協議禁止在澳洲國土上進行任何核武測試。
The embassy sits on foreign soil but still follows the laws of its own country.
大使館位於外國領土上，但仍遵守本國的法律。
Imran felt a surge of pride competing in the Olympics on his home soil.
Imran 在自己的國土上參加奧運比賽時，心中充滿驕傲。
The treaty allows foreign troops to be stationed on Japanese soil with strict limits.
該條約允許外國軍隊以嚴格限制駐紮在日本國土上。
文法句型
possessive + soil
on/into + adjective + soil
用法筆記
Found chiefly in formal or literary contexts. Typically appears with a possessive adjective ('his native soil') or an adjective preceding it ('foreign soil', 'home soil'). Rarely used as a simple countable noun.
常見錯誤
3. the occupation or way of life of a farmer; agricultural work seen as a tradition
農耕
農業生產或農民生涯
the occupation or way of life of a farmer; agricultural work seen as a traditional or meaningful activity.
Theo's grandfather, a man of the soil, worked the same land for fifty years.
Theo 的祖父是個務農的人，在同一塊土地上耕作了五十年。
idiom: a man of the soil
The Tanaka family lived by the soil for centuries, growing rice in the mountain valley.
田中家族靠耕種為生好幾個世紀，在山谷裡種植稻米。
collocation: live by the soil
Priya left her city job and returned to the soil to start a vegetable farm.
Priya 辭去城裡的辦公室工作，回到田間創辦了自己的蔬菜農場。
Old poems celebrate the dignity of those who work the soil with their hands.
這些古老詩歌頌揚親手耕種者的尊嚴。
Adina went back to the soil, taking over the small organic farm her parents began.
Adina 回歸田園生活，接手父母開創的小型有機農場。
- farming
more direct and practical; refers to the activity itself
- agriculture
formal, industry-focused term
文法句型
the soil (as a way of life)
man/woman of the soil
work the soil
用法筆記
Restricted to fixed expressions such as 'a man/woman of the soil' (a farmer), 'work the soil' (work as a farmer), or 'live by the soil' (earn a living from farming). Sounds literary or old-fashioned in modern English.
常見錯誤
soil — 動詞
- soilpresent simple I / you / we / they
- soils3rd person singular
- soiling-ing form
- soiledpast simple
1. to get dirt, mud, or waste onto the surface of something, making it no longer cl
弄髒
使物體沾染汙穢
to get dirt, mud, or waste onto the surface of something, making it no longer clean.
Sofie soiled her new white trousers when she sat down on the wet grass.
Sofie 坐在潮濕的草地上，弄髒了她的新白褲子。
The baby had soiled her nappy by the time the plane landed in Tokyo.
飛機抵達東京時，寶寶已經把尿布弄髒了。
common object: soil a nappy / diaper
Obi asked the children to remove muddy boots so they would not soil the carpet.
Obi 叫孩子們脫掉沾滿泥土的靴子，以免弄髒地毯。
The puppy soiled the kitchen floor while everyone in the house was fast asleep.
小狗趁屋子裡所有人都熟睡時，把廚房地板弄髒了。
Christopher soiled his hands and shirt while repairing the rusty old garden fence.
Christopher 修理院子裡生鏽的舊籬笆時，弄髒了手和襯衫。
文法句型
soil + object
be/get soiled
soil + oneself
用法筆記
Frequently used for babies soiling their nappies or for pet accidents. Less common in everyday speech than 'dirty', 'get dirty', or 'make a mess'. Can be used figuratively: 'to soil one's reputation' (formal).