states
states — 慣用語
1. a way of referring to the United States of America, especially when talking abou
美國
指美國的非正式說法
a way of referring to the United States of America, especially when talking about traveling there, living there, or working there
Renata moved to the States last year to study at a university in California.
Renata 去年搬到美國，準備在加州的一所大學讀書。
"the States" as a set noun phrase for the US
Have you ever been to the States? Joon goes to New York this spring.
你去過美國嗎？Joon 計劃今年春天去紐約旅行。
Paul spent ten years working in the States before returning to his hometown in Mexico.
Paul 在美國工作了十年，之後才回到墨西哥的家鄉。
The visa application asked whether Salma had any family living in the States.
簽證申請表上詢問 Salma 是否有家屬住在美國。
用法筆記
Always used with the definite article 'the'. This idiom only appears in the plural form 'States' — the singular 'State' does not carry this meaning on its own.
常見錯誤
states — 名詞
1. the particular condition that something or someone is in at a specific time, for
狀態；狀況
某物或某人在特定時間的狀況
the particular condition that something or someone is in at a specific time, for example being clean, broken, healthy, or in danger
The river was in a terrible state after the factory dumped waste into it.
工廠往河裡傾倒廢料之後，那條河的狀況變得非常糟糕。
collocation: in a terrible state
The government declared a state of emergency after the floods destroyed hundreds of homes.
洪水摧毀了數百間房屋後，政府宣布進入緊急狀態。
collocation: state of emergency
Hui checked the current state of the project before presenting it to the boss.
Hui 在向老闆報告之前，先確認了專案的目前進度。
The house was in such a poor state that no one dared to enter it.
那棟廢棄房屋的狀況非常差，沒有人敢走進去。
Doctors described the patient's state as stable but still in need of rest.
醫生形容病人的狀況穩定，但仍需要休息。
- condition
interchangeable in most contexts; slightly less formal
- situation
broader, focuses on circumstances rather than physical condition
- circumstances
more formal, often plural, focuses on external factors
文法句型
state of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of + noun' to specify the kind of condition (e.g., state of repair, state of emergency). Frequently used with adjectives describing quality: good/poor/terrible state.
常見錯誤
2. a particular mood or emotional condition that affects how someone thinks or beha
心境；情緒
影響人類思考或行為的心理狀況
a particular mood or emotional condition that affects how someone thinks or behaves
Dario was in a state of deep worry after his brother's accident at the factory.
Dario 因為哥哥在工廠發生意外，陷入深深的憂慮狀態。
collocation: in a state of + emotion noun
The children were in an excited state on the morning of their school trip.
孩子們在學校旅行當天早上顯得十分興奮。
Camille tried to calm down after getting into a panicked state over her exam results.
Camille 看到考試成績後陷入恐慌，努力讓自己冷靜下來。
Meditation helps Eli maintain a peaceful state of mind even during busy weeks at work.
靜坐冥想幫助 Eli 在忙碌的工作週仍保持心境平和。
Salma noticed that her grandmother's anxious state improved after the family visited her.
Salma 注意到祖母焦慮的心情在家人探望後好轉了。
- mood
shorter-term and more temporary than 'state of mind'
- frame of mind
emphasises the way someone is thinking about things
- emotional condition
more clinical or formal than 'state of mind'
文法句型
state of + emotion/mood noun
in a + adjective + state
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is limited to inner emotional or mental conditions, not physical states. Frequently occurs in the pattern 'in a [adjective] state' (e.g., in a confused state) or 'state of [emotion]' (e.g., state of shock, state of grief).
常見錯誤
3. a country that is an independent political unit with its own government, laws, a
國家
擁有獨立主權的政治實體
a country that is an independent political unit with its own government, laws, and territory
France is a European state with a long history of democratic government.
法國是一個擁有悠久民主歷史的歐洲國家。
The summit brought together leaders from every member state of the United Nations.
這次高峰會匯集了聯合國每一個會員國的領袖。
collocation: member state
Owen wrote his thesis on how small states maintain their independence in a global economy.
Owen 的論文主題是小國如何在全球化經濟中維持獨立。
The increase in trade between the two states led to closer diplomatic ties between them.
兩國之間的貿易增長促進了雙方更緊密的邦交關係。
In many countries, the church and the state are kept separate by law.
許多國家的法律規定政教分離。
- nation
emphasises the people and culture more than the political structure
- country
more general; can refer to geography, culture, or politics
- sovereign state
formal legal term emphasising independence and self-rule
文法句型
the + State
State + singular verb
用法筆記
Often capitalized (State) when used in official names. Frequently appears in fixed phrases: 'member state', 'nation-state', 'head of state', 'state visit'. The term emphasises the political/governmental structure rather than the geographical or cultural aspects of a country.
常見錯誤
4. a region inside a larger federal country, such as the United States, Germany, or
州；邦
聯邦制國家內的行政區劃
a region inside a larger federal country, such as the United States, Germany, or Australia, that has its own local government and some independent laws
Owen grew up in Texas, which is the second-largest state in the United States.
Owen 在德州長大，這是美國第二大州。
Bavaria is a state in southern Germany with its own parliament and flag.
巴伐利亞是德國南部的一個邦，擁有自己的議會和旗幟。
Each state in Australia has its own laws about education and public transport.
澳洲的每一個州都有自己的教育與交通法規。
Hui moved to another state when her company transferred her to California.
Hui 的公司將她調到加州，於是她搬到另一個州。
A long river marks the border between the two states.
一條長河劃分了這兩個州的邊界。
文法句型
[name] + state
state of + [name]
用法筆記
This sense refers specifically to sub-national units within a federation. The names of these units are usually capitalized (e.g., 'the State of Queensland'). Distinguish from sense 3: a 'state' in this sense is not an independent country — it belongs to a larger nation.
常見錯誤
5. the formal ceremony and dignified procedures that accompany official events of a
隆重儀式
國家元首正式場合的隆重排場
the formal ceremony and dignified procedures that accompany official events of a head of state
The queen's body lay in state for three days so people could pay their respects.
女王的遺體停放三天，以隆重儀式供民眾瞻仰。
fixed phrase: lie in state
The president arrived in full state for the opening of the new parliament building.
總統以全套隆重排場抵達，參加新國會大樓的啟用典禮。
phrase: in full state
A state funeral was held for the former prime minister with all the usual ceremony.
前首相以國葬之禮下葬，儀式莊嚴隆重，一切依循傳統。
The ambassador was received in state at the palace, with guards lining the entrance hall.
大使在皇宮受到隆重接待，入口大廳兩側有衛兵列隊。
文法句型
in state
state funeral
state occasion
用法筆記
Almost always used in fixed expressions: 'in state', 'lie in state', 'state funeral', 'state occasion'. The word cannot be used freely as a count noun with this meaning — you cannot say 'a state was held' to mean 'a ceremony was held.'