subject
/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsəb-jikt -(ˌ)jekt/ (ame, mw) · /səbˈdʒekt/ (bre, ipa) · /səbˈdʒekt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsʌb.dʒekt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsʌb.dʒekt/ (ame, ipa)
subject — 名詞
- subjectsingular
- subjectsplural
1. the particular thing or idea that people are talking about, writing about, or th
主題
討論、思考或研究的對象
the particular thing or idea that people are talking about, writing about, or thinking about — for example, politics in a debate, or the plot of a novel being discussed in a book club.
The main subject of the meeting was the rising cost of rent in Taipei.
這次會議的主題是臺北房租不斷上漲的問題。
subject + of: identifies the topic of an event or text
Yara tried to avoid any subject that might upset her grandmother during dinner.
Yara 盡量避免在晚餐時提起任何可能讓祖母不開心的話題。
Climate change became the central subject of the professor's lecture this morning.
氣候變遷成了今天早上教授講座的核心主題。
When Sade brought up the subject of moving abroad, her parents looked worried.
當 Sade 提起移居國外這個話題時，她的父母看起來很擔心。
文法句型
subject + of + noun phrase
subject + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the most common meaning of 'subject' as a noun. It combines naturally with verbs like 'bring up,' 'discuss,' 'raise,' and 'avoid.'
常見錯誤
2. a particular branch of learning on which students receive lessons — for example,
科目
在學校或大學學習的知識領域
a particular branch of learning on which students receive lessons — for example, mathematics, history, biology, or art — at an educational institution such as a high school or a university.
Mathematics has always been Christopher's favourite subject at school.
數學一直是 Christopher 在學校最喜歡的科目。
favourite subject: adjective + subject collocation
The university offers over forty subjects in the science faculty alone.
光是理學院，這所大學就開設了超過四十個科目。
Sana chose to study three subjects in her final year: English, geography, and art.
Sana 在高三選了三科：英文、地理和美術。
Computer programming was added as a new subject at the school last September.
去年九月，電腦程式設計被加入為學校的新科目。
- course
more common in American English; often refers to a single class within a subject
- discipline
more formal; used for broad academic fields like 'the discipline of economics'
- field
suggests an area of study or professional work, broader than a single school subject
用法筆記
Use 'take' or 'study' with 'subject' to describe which courses a student is enrolled in. 'Do well in a subject' and 'struggle with a subject' are common learner phrases.
3. to deliberately start talking about something different, especially to avoid an
話題
刻意轉換談話內容以迴避某話題
to deliberately start talking about something different, especially to avoid an awkward or difficult conversation.
Whenever her father mentioned marriage, Mizuki quickly changed the subject.
每當她父親提到結婚的事，Mizuki 就會趕緊轉移話題。
change the subject: fixed phrase for avoiding a topic
The politician changed the subject whenever a reporter asked about the scandal.
每當記者問起那樁醜聞，這位政治人物就會轉移話題。
My uncle always changes the subject when we talk about his health problems.
每當我們談到叔叔的健康問題，他就會轉移話題。
Sana tried to change the subject, but her friend kept asking questions about the accident.
Sana 想轉移話題，但她的朋友一直追問那場事故的細節。
文法句型
change + the + subject
用法筆記
This is a fixed phrase. 'Subject' here always appears with 'the' and cannot be pluralised (*change the subjects). The phrase implies that the speaker is avoiding a topic, not just naturally moving on.
常見錯誤
4. the person, object, or scene that is shown or represented in a painting, photogr
題材
藝術或文學作品中描繪的人物或場景
the person, object, or scene that is shown or represented in a painting, photograph, book, film, or other creative work.
The subject of the photograph is an old fisherman mending his nets by the harbour.
這張照片的主體是一位老漁夫在港口邊修補漁網。
subject + of: identifies the focus of a creative work
For her art project, Trang chose homeless cats as her main subject.
Trang 選擇以流浪貓作為她美術作品的主要題材。
Élise prefers to paint landscapes, so nature is usually the subject of her work.
Élise 比較喜歡畫風景，所以大自然通常是她作品的主題。
The novel takes a difficult subject — civil war — and makes it feel personal.
這本小說選擇了一個艱難的題材——內戰——卻讓它讀起來很有個人感觸。
文法句型
subject + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Closely related to sense 1 (TOPIC), but specifically tied to creative works. If someone says 'the subject of the painting,' they mean what is depicted, not the general idea being discussed.
5. the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase in a sentence or clause that carries out what
主詞
句子中執行動作或被描述的名詞成分
the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase in a sentence or clause that carries out what the verb describes, or that a statement tells us something about — for example, 'the dog' in 'The dog barked loudly.'
In the sentence 'Eli runs every morning,' the subject is 'Eli.'
在「Eli 每天早上跑步」這個句子中，主詞是「Eli」。
identifying the subject in a simple sentence
To find the subject, ask who or what is doing the action of the verb.
要找主詞，問問看是誰或什麼在執行動詞的動作。
method to identify the subject in any sentence
Every complete English sentence must contain both a subject and a verb.
每一個完整的英文句子都必須包含主詞和動詞。
In questions, the subject often appears after the auxiliary verb rather than at the start.
在問句中，主詞通常出現在助動詞之後，而不是句首。
- object
the noun phrase that receives the action rather than performing it
文法句型
subject + verb
subject + of + noun phrase (a sentence, a clause)
用法筆記
This is a technical grammar term. Beginners often confuse the subject with the topic of a sentence — the grammatical subject is whichever noun controls verb agreement, not necessarily what the sentence is 'about.'
常見錯誤
6. a person who is a member of a particular monarchy or sovereign state and is expe
臣民
效忠於君主或主權國家的人
a person who is a member of a particular monarchy or sovereign state and is expected to be loyal to the ruling power, especially when that power is a hereditary monarch.
The queen delivered a speech that was broadcast to all her subjects across the nation.
女王發表演說，並向全國臣民廣播。
formal register: subjects of a monarch
As a British subject, Heloísa's grandfather could live in the United Kingdom.
身為英國臣民，Heloísa 的祖父有權居住在英國。
The king's subjects gathered in the town square to celebrate the royal wedding.
國王的臣民聚集在廣場上，慶祝王室婚禮。
Under the old empire, subjects paid a portion of their harvest as tax.
在舊帝國統治下，臣民必須繳納一部分收成作為稅賦。
用法筆記
This sense is primarily historical or formal. In modern contexts, 'citizen' is more common than 'subject' for describing a person's relationship to a country. 'Subject' is still used in some Commonwealth countries that recognise the British monarch as head of state.
subject — 動詞
- subjectpresent simple I / you / we / they
- subjects3rd person singular
- subjecting-ing form
- subjectedpast simple
1. to use force to bring a group or an entire nation under your complete control, r
征服
以武力使他人服從自己的控制
to use force to bring a group or an entire nation under your complete control, removing their freedom to resist or make their own choices.
The invading army subjected the local population to years of military rule.
入侵的軍隊迫使當地人民接受了多年的軍事統治。
subject + object + to: pattern showing enforced control
Chidi's research paper explores how colonial powers subjected entire regions for economic gain.
Chidi 的研究論文探討殖民強權如何為了經濟利益而征服整個地區。
The rebels fought fiercely because they refused to be subjected to the rule of a foreign dictator.
反抗軍奮力作戰，因為他們拒絕屈服於外國獨裁者的統治。
History shows that when one nation subjects another, lasting peace rarely follows.
歷史告訴我們，當一個國家征服另一個國家時，持久和平很少隨之而來。
文法句型
subject + object + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
This verb is almost always used with 'to' when specifying what control is imposed ('subjected to harsh treatment'). In passive constructions ('were subjected to') the meaning often overlaps with 'cause to experience' (the rejected_additions sense). The active voice ('The army subjected the town') carries the stronger subjugation meaning.
常見錯誤
subject — 形容詞
- subjectpositive
- more subjectcomparative
- most subjectsuperlative
1. having a tendency to experience or suffer from something, particularly when that
易受
容易受到某事物（尤其是不好的事）的影響
having a tendency to experience or suffer from something, particularly when that something is unwanted or negative — for example, a coastal town being subject to flooding, or a price being subject to change.
Low-lying villages near the coast are subject to flooding during every typhoon season.
沿海的低窪村莊每逢颱風季節就容易淹水。
be + subject + to: indicates vulnerability or exposure
Flight schedules are subject to change without notice during severe weather.
惡劣天氣期間，航班時刻表可能隨時變更，恕不另行通知。
Elderly people living alone are more subject to loneliness than those with family nearby.
獨居的年長者比有家人在身邊的人更容易感到孤獨。
All products sold in the store are subject to a five percent sales tax.
店內販售的所有商品都需加收百分之五的銷售稅。
- exposed to
more informal; emphasises lack of protection rather than likelihood
- prone to
suggests a natural tendency or weakness, not external conditions
- susceptible to
implies vulnerability to harm or influence, often physical
- immune to
not affected by something; opposite of vulnerable
- exempt from
officially excused from a requirement or condition
文法句型
be + subject + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always used in the construction 'be subject to + noun' (or noun phrase). 'Subject' is an adjective here and does not change form (*subjected to in this sense). Do not confuse with the verb 'subject to' (sense verb/1) which has a different meaning and uses 'subjected.'
常見錯誤
2. possible or valid only after a particular requirement is satisfied beforehand —
取決
必須先滿足某條件才能發生
possible or valid only after a particular requirement is satisfied beforehand — for example, a job offer being subject to a medical check, or a discount being subject to a minimum purchase.
The scholarship offer is subject to Ada maintaining a grade average above eighty percent.
這筆獎學金須視 Ada 能否維持平均成績在八十分以上而定。
be + subject + to + condition: indicates dependency
The contract is subject to both parties signing the agreement by Friday afternoon.
這份合約須經雙方在週五下午前簽署方可生效。
Admission to the programme is subject to the approval of the academic committee.
進入該課程就讀須經學術委員會核准。
The special discount is subject to a minimum purchase of two thousand dollars.
這項特別折扣須消費滿兩千元才能享有。
- contingent on
more formal; the closest formal synonym for this meaning
- dependent on
more common in everyday English; interchangeable with 'subject to' in this sense
- conditional on
emphasises the requirement nature of the condition
- unconditional
not dependent on any condition
- guaranteed
certain to happen regardless of conditions
文法句型
be + subject + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense adjective/1 (LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE). In this sense, 'subject to' means 'conditional on' — it is about a requirement that must be satisfied, not about vulnerability. The same 'be subject to' structure carries two different meanings depending on context.
常見錯誤
3. governed by the authority of an external power or ruler, with restricted ability
隸屬
受到其他國家或統治者的政治控制
governed by the authority of an external power or ruler, with restricted ability to direct one's own affairs or choose a path independently.
The island remained subject to the colonial government until it gained independence in 1965.
這座島嶼一直隸屬於殖民政府，直到 1965 年才獨立。
be + subject + to: political subordination meaning
For over three centuries, the region was subject to foreign rulers who exploited its resources.
三個多世紀以來，該地區一直受外國統治者管轄，資源遭到掠奪。
The treaty declared that the territory would be subject to the neighbouring kingdom.
條約宣布該領土將歸屬鄰國管轄。
A nation that is subject to another power cannot set its own trade policies.
一個受制於他國的國家無法自行制定貿易政策。
- subordinate
broader term; can refer to any lower position in a hierarchy, not only political
- subjugated
stronger, implying active force was used to establish control
- independent
self-governing; not controlled by an external power
- autonomous
self-ruling; having the freedom to make one's own decisions
文法句型
be + subject + to + noun phrase (a ruler, a government)
用法筆記
This sense is closely related to noun sense 6 (CITIZEN UNDER MONARCHY) and verb sense 1 (SUBJUGATE): if a people are 'subjected' (verb), they become 'subject to' (adj) a ruler, and individuals in that situation are 'subjects' (noun). The three POSes form a coherent meaning cluster around control and subordination.