superior
/suːˈpɪəriə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [supˈɪriɚ] /suːˈpɪriər/ (ame, ipa) · [supˈɪriɚ] /su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər/ (ame, mw) · /suːˈpɪə.ri.ər/ (bre, ipa) · [supˈɪriɚ] /səˈpɪr.i.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
superior — 形容詞
- superiorpositive
- more superiorcomparative
- most superiorsuperlative
1. Markedly better in quality, standard, or performance when compared against typic
優質；卓越
質量、水準或表現優於同類的
Markedly better in quality, standard, or performance when compared against typical alternatives of its kind. For instance, a superior product outperforms ordinary versions, and a superior student earns higher grades than most classmates.
The hotel offers superior service at a lower price than its main competitor.
這家旅館以比主要競爭對手更低的價格提供優質服務。
pattern: superior + at + noun phrase
Élise received a scholarship because of her superior academic record.
Élise 因為優異的學業成績獲得了獎學金。
collocation: superior academic record
This leather is far superior to the cheaper materials used by other brands.
這種皮革遠比其他品牌使用的廉價材料優質。
Tomás was chosen for the elite squad due to his superior physical fitness.
Tomás 因為超群的體能入選了精銳小隊。
Store-brand products are sometimes superior in quality to the expensive name brands.
自有品牌的產品有時在品質上比昂貴的名牌產品更優秀。
- better
more general and less formal than superior
- top-notch
informal; emphasizes the highest end of quality
- first-rate
slightly old-fashioned but still common for excellent quality
- outstanding
focuses on standing out noticeably from the rest
- inferior
the direct opposite in quality or standard
文法句型
superior + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
When making a direct comparison, the preposition is always to (never than): 'Product A is superior to Product B.'
常見錯誤
2. Behaving or speaking in a way that shows you believe you are better, more import
高傲；自大
表現得自以為高人一等的態度
Behaving or speaking in a way that shows you believe you are better, more important, or more intelligent than other people, often in an unpleasant or rude manner.
The waiter gave us a superior smile when we asked about the menu.
那位服務生聽到我們問菜單時，露出了高傲的笑容。
collocation: superior smile
Adisa disliked his boss's superior attitude during team meetings.
Adisa 不喜歡老闆在團隊會議上的高傲態度。
collocation: superior attitude
Speaking in a superior tone only makes people less willing to listen to you.
用高傲的口氣說話只會讓別人不願意聽你說話。
Harper found Cole's comments about her accent rather superior and rude.
Harper 覺得 Cole 對她口音的評論相當傲慢無禮。
- condescending
more direct and common; implies talking down to someone
- arrogant
broader; describes a person's general belief in their own importance
- snobbish
suggests looking down on people of lower social class or taste
- haughty
more formal and literary; suggests proud contempt for others
- humble
opposite of showing self-importance
用法筆記
This sense always describes a person's behaviour or expression of attitude, not objective quality. It carries a negative judgment.
常見錯誤
3. Having a higher position, level of authority, or status within an organization,
上級；較高階
在組織或社會中地位更高的
Having a higher position, level of authority, or status within an organization, society, or system. For example, a superior officer in the military or a superior court in the legal system.
New soldiers must salute any superior officer they encounter on the base.
新兵必須向在基地遇到的任何上級軍官敬禮。
collocation: superior officer
A captain is superior to a lieutenant in the navy chain of command.
在美國海軍的指揮體系中，上校的階級高於中尉。
pattern: is superior to — hierarchical comparison
The Supreme Court is superior to all lower courts in the federal legal system.
最高法院的地位高於聯邦司法體系中的所有下級法院。
Min was promoted to a superior position after only two years with the firm.
Min 進公司僅兩年就晉升到了較高階的職位。
A superior body must approve any changes to the organisation's rules.
組織規章的修改必須經上級機構批准。
- higher-ranking
more transparent and commonly used for people
- higher-level
focuses on position in a hierarchy rather than personal rank
- senior
emphasises experience or length of service rather than rank
- subordinate
a person under someone else's authority
- junior
lower in rank or position
文法句型
superior + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
When ranking two entities within the same hierarchy, use 'superior to': 'A colonel is superior to a major.' Can also describe a court of appeals or governing body with authority over lower-level bodies.
常見錯誤
4. Positioned above another body part, situated nearer the head. Used mainly in med
上方；上位
位於身體較高處靠近頭部的
Positioned above another body part, situated nearer the head. Used mainly in medical and anatomical descriptions of the human body.
The superior vena cava returns blood from the upper body to the heart.
上腔靜脈將血液從身體上半部送回心臟。
domain: medical terminology; collocation: superior vena cava
In anatomy class, students learned that the mouth is superior to the chin.
在解剖課上，學生們學到口腔的位置在下巴的上方。
pattern: is superior to — anatomical position
The superior lobe of the right lung showed signs of infection on the scan.
掃描顯示右肺上葉有感染跡象。
A small fracture was found on the superior edge of the patient's shoulder blade.
病人的肩胛骨上緣有一處小骨折。
- inferior
the anatomical opposite — closer to the feet
用法筆記
In anatomy, superior is the standard directional term meaning 'toward the head.' The opposite is inferior ('toward the feet'). Not used in everyday descriptions of body position.
superior — 名詞
- superiorsingular
- superiorsplural
1. A person who holds a higher rank or position than someone else within an organis
上司；長官
在組織中職位等級更高的人
A person who holds a higher rank or position than someone else within an organisation, such as a manager, director, or officer whom others must report to.
Every new employee reports directly to their immediate superior for the first three months.
每位新進員工在前三個月都直接向直屬上司報告。
collocation: immediate superior
Kian decided to speak to his superior about the unfair workload distribution.
Kian 決定向上司反映工作分配不均的問題。
The office staff bought a birthday present for their departing superior.
辦公室同仁合買了一份生日禮物送給即將離職的上司。
Padma always addresses her superiors with respect and a professional tone.
Padma 總是懷著敬意以專業的語氣與長官交談。
- boss
less formal and more general; can refer to any manager
- manager
specific to workplace roles; less formal than superior
- supervisor
someone who directly oversees day-to-day work
- subordinate
a person under someone else's authority
- junior
someone lower in rank or position
用法筆記
Usually refers to someone within the same organisation rather than external authorities. Frequently used with possessive determiners: my superior, her superior, their superiors.