specific
/spəˈsɪfɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /spəˈsɪfɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /spi-ˈsi-fik/ (ame, mw)
specific — 形容詞
- specificpositive
- more specificcomparative
- most specificsuperlative
1. only relating to one particular person, thing, group, or situation, rather than
特定的
只與某個特定的人事物有關
only relating to one particular person, thing, group, or situation, rather than to a general or broad range.
A specific set of tools is required for the kitchen renovation.
廚房翻修需要一套特定的工具。
specific + noun for particular purpose
The doctor recommended a specific treatment plan for Maeve's condition.
醫生針對 Maeve 的狀況推薦了一套特定的治療方案。
This type of allergy is specific to people who work with certain chemicals.
這種過敏症狀是接觸某些化學物質的人特有的。
Each age group has specific nutritional needs that the school menu must meet.
每個年齡層都有特定的營養需求，學校菜單必須滿足這些需求。
Yael downloaded a specific app designed for learning Mandarin characters.
Yael 下載了一個專為學習中文設計的特定應用程式。
- particular
more general than 'specific'; can mean 'especially great' as in 'particular importance', which 'specific' cannot.
- certain
less precise than 'specific'; often implies the speaker knows the identity but chooses not to name it.
- given
implies the item was already stated or assumed, rather than being singled out by its nature.
文法句型
specific + noun
specific to + noun
用法筆記
This sense can also appear after a linking verb: 'The training is specific to hospital staff.' Do not confuse with 'special', which emphasises unusual quality rather than particular connection.
常見錯誤
2. clearly and exactly stated, so that no doubt or confusion is possible about what
明確的
清楚明白、不含糊的
clearly and exactly stated, so that no doubt or confusion is possible about what is meant.
Can you be more specific about the time you expect to arrive?
你可以更明確地說你預計抵達的時間嗎？
be specific about + noun/wh-clause
The police officer asked for a specific description of the stolen bicycle.
警察要求提供被偷腳踏車的具體描述。
Jack gave very specific instructions on how to operate the machine safely.
Jack 針對如何安全操作這台機器給出了非常明確的指示。
The wedding invitation states the specific date and location of the ceremony.
婚禮邀請函上寫明了儀式的具體日期和地點。
Chidi was not specific enough about his reasons for leaving the project.
Chidi 對於離開這個項目的原因說得不夠明確。
文法句型
specific + noun
be + specific + about + noun/wh-clause
be + specific + in + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in requests ('Could you be more specific?') and in contrast with 'vague'. This sense does not take 'specific to' — that pattern belongs to sense 1 above.
常見錯誤
specific — 名詞
1. an object or tool that is specially designed or suited for a particular use, rat
專用物
為特定用途設計的工具或物品
an object or tool that is specially designed or suited for a particular use, rather than being a general-purpose item.
In the laboratory, the technician reached for a specific designed for measuring tiny liquid samples.
在實驗室裡，技術人員伸手去拿一支專為測量微量液體樣本而設計的專用物。
a specific = standalone noun for purpose-built tool
The workshop catalogue lists each specific along with the task it was built to perform.
工作坊的目錄中列出了每一件專用物及其設計要執行的任務。
A specific for cutting angled picture-frame corners requires a steady hand and a very sharp blade.
一件專為切割畫框斜角而設計的專用物需要穩定的雙手和非常鋒利的刀片。
The machinist ordered a specific for drilling microscopic holes in copper circuit boards.
機械師訂購了一件專用於在銅電路板上鑽微孔的專用物。
文法句型
a + specific + for + noun/verb-ing
a + specific + designed for + noun/verb-ing
用法筆記
[USAGE] In very formal or technical English, 'specific' can be used as a countable noun meaning a specialized tool or device. This usage is rare in modern everyday speech; learners are more likely to encounter 'a tool designed for...' or 'a purpose-built device'.
2. a drug, medicine, or treatment that is effective against a particular disease or
特效藥
針對特定疾病有效的藥物
a drug, medicine, or treatment that is effective against a particular disease or medical condition, rather than working on a wide range of illnesses.
Penicillin was the first widely available specific for treating bacterial infections in modern medicine.
青黴素是現代醫學中第一種廣泛應用於治療細菌感染的專效藥。
a specific = standalone noun for one-disease drug
Traditional healers used certain plant extracts as specifics against common tropical diseases.
傳統醫療者曾使用某些植物萃取物作為對抗常見熱帶疾病的特效藥。
specifics (plural) as countable noun
The research team is testing a new specific against drug-resistant infections in clinical trials.
研究團隊正在臨床試驗中測試一種對抗抗藥性感染的新特效藥。
Before modern antibiotics, doctors had few specifics for treating pneumonia effectively.
在現代抗生素問世之前，醫生幾乎沒有有效的特效藥來治療肺炎。
文法句型
a + specific + for + noun/verb-ing
specifics (plural) + for/against + disease
用法筆記
Technical term used mainly in medical or pharmacological writing. In everyday English, people are more likely to say 'a drug for...' or 'a treatment for...'.
3. a particular quality, feature, or characteristic that belongs to one person or t
特質；特性
某人或某事物的獨特特徵
a particular quality, feature, or characteristic that belongs to one person or thing and helps to set it apart from others.
The specific of this painting — its unusual use of light and shadow — is what art critics admire most.
這幅畫的特質——它對光影的不尋常運用——正是藝術評論家最讚賞的地方。
the specific of + noun = distinguishing quality
Each region has a specific that gives its cuisine a character found nowhere else in the country.
每個地區都有一項特質，讓其料理在全國各地中擁有獨一無二的風味。
The specific of Hyun's voice makes it easy to recognise on the phone, even in a noisy room.
Hyun 聲音的特質讓人在電話中很容易認出他來，即使在嘈雜的房間裡也一樣。
The specific that makes Felix's cooking so memorable is his use of fresh herbs from the garden.
Felix 的料理之所以令人難忘，就在於他使用花園裡新鮮香草這項特質。
- quality
more general; 'quality' can be positive or neutral, while 'specific' emphasises distinctiveness.
- characteristic
very close in meaning; 'characteristic' is more commonly used for distinguishing features.
文法句型
the + specific + of + noun
a + specific + that + clause
用法筆記
Quite formal and much less common than the adjective senses. The noun pattern 'the specific of...' appears mainly in literary or analytical writing. Learners at C1 level are more likely to encounter 'specific' as an adjective or 'specifics' (details) as a plural noun.
4. the precise details or exact pieces of information about something, as opposed t
細節；詳情
關於某事的具體資訊
the precise details or exact pieces of information about something, as opposed to the general or broad picture.
We agreed on the general plan and will discuss the specifics at the next meeting.
我們在總體計劃上達成了共識，細節將在下次會議討論。
specifics (plural) = particular details
The lawyer asked for the specifics of the agreement before signing anything.
律師在簽署任何文件之前要求提供合約的具體細節。
I understand the general idea, but I need the specifics before I can decide.
我了解大概的想法，但需要知道具體細節才能決定。
Can you give us the specifics of the travel arrangements for next week?
可以告訴我們下週行程安排的具體細節嗎？
- details
more common than 'specifics'; 'details' is neutral while 'specifics' emphasises exactness.
- particulars
slightly more formal than 'specifics'; often used in legal or official contexts.
- generalities
vague or broad statements, the opposite of precise details.
文法句型
the + specifics + of + noun
specifics + about + noun/wh-clause
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'specifics'. The singular 'specific' in this sense is extremely rare. Often contrasted with 'generals' or 'the big picture'.
常見錯誤
specific — 構詞成分
1. used as a suffix attached to a noun or adjective with a hyphen to mean 'relating
特定用途的
以連字號連接，表示只適用於某事物的
used as a suffix attached to a noun or adjective with a hyphen to mean 'relating only to that particular thing' or 'designed for that particular purpose'.
The hospital has a gender-specific ward for women who need extra privacy.
這家醫院設有女性專用病房，為需要更多隱私的女病人提供服務。
hyphenated combining form: gender-specific
This software includes a task-specific function designed only for data analysis.
這套軟體包含一個僅用於資料分析的特定任務功能。
The symptoms are disease-specific and do not appear in generally healthy patients.
這些症狀是特定疾病的表現，在一般健康患者身上不會出現。
The museum created age-specific activity sheets for children visiting the exhibition.
博物館為參觀展覽的兒童製作了分齡活動單。
文法句型
noun/adj + -specific
用法筆記
Very productive in academic, technical, and professional writing. Common compound forms include: 'species-specific', 'context-specific', 'domain-specific', 'culture-specific', 'age-specific', 'gender-specific'. Always hyphenated when used as a combining form.