surface
/ˈsɜːfɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɜːrfɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsər-fəs/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsɜː.fɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɝː.fɪs/ (ame, ipa)
surface — 名詞
- surfacesingular
- surfacesplural
1. the visible outer boundary of any physical thing; the side or top area that you
表面
物體的外層或頂層
the visible outer boundary of any physical thing; the side or top area that you can see or touch.
A thin layer of dust covered every surface in the old library.
老舊圖書館裡的每個表面都覆蓋了一層薄薄的灰塵。
collocation: every surface / surface of [object]
The surface of the wooden table felt rough and needed sanding.
那張木桌的表面摸起來很粗糙，需要打磨。
Dewi noticed a crack running along the surface of the bathroom mirror.
Dewi 注意到浴室鏡子的表面有一道裂痕。
This cleaning spray is safe to use on painted surfaces and glass.
這種清潔噴霧可以安全地用於油漆表面和玻璃上。
The surface of the pond was covered with green leaves and lily pads.
池塘的表面覆蓋著綠色的荷葉和睡蓮。
文法句型
the surface of [object]
[adjective] surface
用法筆記
Frequently paired with 'of' to specify the object whose outer layer is being described. Countable when referring to a specific area or object ('the surface of the desk'), but can be uncountable in general reference ('surface area').
常見錯誤
2. the specially prepared top layer of ground where a sport is played, such as gras
鋪面
運動場地的最上層
the specially prepared top layer of ground where a sport is played, such as grass, clay, or artificial material.
The rain made the tennis surface too slippery for the match to continue.
雨水讓網球場的鋪面變得太滑，比賽無法繼續。
pattern: [sport] surface — describes playing area
Football players prefer natural grass surfaces over artificial ones.
足球員偏好天然草皮鋪面勝過人工鋪面。
The groundskeeper rolled the clay surface to keep the court smooth for the tournament.
場地管理員把紅土鋪面壓平，好讓球場在比賽期間保持平整。
Basketballs bounce differently on wooden surfaces compared to concrete ones.
籃球在木質鋪面上的彈跳方式和在水泥地面上的不一樣。
文法句型
[adjective] surface
playing surface
court/pitch surface
3. the horizontal top area of a table, desk, or similar item where you put objects
檯面
家具上可放置物品或工作的平面
the horizontal top area of a table, desk, or similar item where you put objects or do tasks.
Shanti wiped the kitchen surface clean before rolling out the dough.
Shanti 把廚房檯面擦乾淨，然後開始揉麵團。
collocation: kitchen surface / work surface
A hot pan left a dark burn mark on the wooden surface of the counter.
一個熱鍋在木質流理檯面上留下了一圈黑黑的燒痕。
Make sure the surface of the desk is clear before you start writing.
在開始寫字之前，請先確保書桌的檯面是空的。
Otis placed his laptop on the sturdy surface of the old oak table.
Otis 把他的筆電放在那張老橡木桌堅固的檯面上。
文法句型
[adjective] surface
on the surface
work surface
4. the way a person, situation, or thing appears at first, especially when the real
表象
未必符合實際情況的外在模樣
the way a person, situation, or thing appears at first, especially when the real truth is different or hidden beneath.
On the surface, the company looked profitable, but the accounts told a different story.
這間公司表面上看起來獲利良好，但帳目顯示的是另一回事。
phrase: on the surface — at first glance
Beneath her calm surface, Élise was extremely nervous about the job interview.
Élise 平靜的表象之下，其實對工作面試緊張萬分。
The problem goes deeper than what you can see at surface level.
這個問題比你表面上看到的要深入得多。
These two policies look similar on the surface, but they work very differently in practice.
這兩項政策表面上看起來相似，但實際運作起來很不一樣。
His cheerful surface hid years of disappointment and regret.
他那愉快的外表下，隱藏了多年的失望與遺憾。
- appearance
broader term; can refer to visual look or outward impression without hidden-reality contrast
- facade
implies deliberate deception or a false front that hides something negative
- exterior
emphasises the outward show, especially of a person's character or mood
文法句型
on the surface
beneath the surface
at surface level
用法筆記
Almost always used with a prepositional phrase ('on the surface', 'beneath the surface') or as part of a contrast between appearance and reality. Rarely used alone without such framing.
常見錯誤
surface — 動詞
- surfacepresent simple I / you / we / they
- surfaces3rd person singular
- surfacing-ing form
- surfacedpast simple
1. to move upward through water and reach the top, after being underwater for a per
浮出
從水下上升到水面
to move upward through water and reach the top, after being underwater for a period of time.
The swimmer surfaced after holding his breath for almost a minute.
那名泳者閉氣將近一分鐘後才浮出水面。
intransitive: surface after [activity]
A large whale surfaced close to the tour boat, splashing everyone on deck.
一頭大鯨魚靠近觀光船浮出水面，濺得甲板上所有人一身水。
The submarine surfaced quietly near the harbour entrance at dawn.
那艘潛水艇在黎明時分靜靜地浮出港灣入口附近的水面。
Obi surfaced from the swimming pool and took a deep breath of fresh air.
Obi 從游泳池裡浮出水面，深深吸了一口新鮮空氣。
文法句型
surface from [depth/place]
surface for [purpose]
常見錯誤
2. to put a hard, smooth layer of material on a road, path, floor, or other outdoor
鋪設
在道路或地面鋪上一層硬質材料
to put a hard, smooth layer of material on a road, path, floor, or other outdoor area to make it durable and usable.
The council plans to surface the old gravel path with asphalt next spring.
市議會計劃明年春天用柏油鋪設那條舊碎石步道。
pattern: surface [area] with [material]
Workers surfaced the car park with a special material that prevents weeds from growing.
工人用一種特殊的防草材料鋪設停車場地面。
The garden path was surfaced with small round stones that felt nice underfoot.
那條花園小徑是用小小的圓石鋪設而成的，走在上面感覺很舒服。
Jiwoo noticed that the driveway had been recently surfaced and was still dark black.
Jiwoo 注意到車道最近才鋪設過，表面還是深黑色的。
- dig up
to remove the surface layer of a road or path
文法句型
surface [area] with [material]
[area] is surfaced with [material]
用法筆記
Commonly used in the passive voice ('the road was surfaced') or with 'with' to specify the covering material. The active voice typically has a governing body or construction crew as subject.
3. to become known, noticed, or publicly visible after being hidden, forgotten, or
顯露
隱藏的資訊或感受變為人所知
to become known, noticed, or publicly visible after being hidden, forgotten, or kept secret for some time.
New documents have surfaced that could change the outcome of the trial.
一些新的文件已經曝光，可能改變審判的結果。
pattern: [information] surfaces — becomes publicly known
Old tensions between the two teams surfaced during the championship match.
兩支隊伍之間舊有的緊張關係在冠軍賽期間顯露了出來。
His anger surfaced when he heard the unfair decision from his manager.
聽到主管不公平的決定後，他的怒氣顯露了出來。
It later surfaced that the company had been hiding losses for several years.
後來有消息傳出，這間公司好幾年來一直在隱瞞虧損。
A photo from the wedding has surfaced online after being missing for a decade.
一張婚禮照片在失蹤十年後出現在網路上。
- emerge
very similar in meaning; 'emerge' can also refer to physically coming out of a place
- come to light
idiomatic; emphasises that something was previously unknown
- appear
broader; can mean any kind of coming into sight or existence
文法句型
[feeling/information] surfaces
surface after [event]
it surfaced that [clause]
用法筆記
Subject is typically a piece of information (documents, evidence, news), a feeling (anger, excitement, tension), or a problem. Very common in news and reporting contexts. Can be used with the impersonal 'it' structure: 'It surfaced that...'
常見錯誤
4. to leave your bed and start your day, particularly after sleeping later than usu
起床
起床（尤指較晚起床時）
to leave your bed and start your day, particularly after sleeping later than usual.
Tamar finally surfaced at one o'clock after staying up until three in the morning.
Tamar 熬夜到凌晨三點，最後下午一點才起床。
informal register: surface at [time] — wake up late
Do not expect Christopher to surface before midday on weekends.
別指望 Christopher 在週末中午之前會起床。
Min surfaced from the bedroom just as the guests were arriving for lunch.
就在客人快來吃午餐的時候，Min 才從臥室裡出來。
The children surfaced early on Christmas morning, bursting with excitement and joy.
孩子們在聖誕節早晨很早就起床了，滿懷興奮與喜悅。
- go to bed
to get into bed to sleep
- stay in bed
to remain in bed instead of getting up
文法句型
surface at [time]
surface from [bed/room]
用法筆記
Informal and slightly humorous or ironic. Common in casual conversation about sleeping habits. Not used in formal writing or about serious situations.
常見錯誤
surface — 形容詞
- surfacepositive
- more surfacecomparative
- most surfacesuperlative
1. found or happening at the top level of the ground or a body of water, as opposed
地表
在地面或水面上運作或發生的
found or happening at the top level of the ground or a body of water, as opposed to underground, underwater, or in the sky.
The navy keeps a large surface fleet stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
海軍在太平洋部署了一支大型的地表艦隊。
domain: military — surface fleet vs submarine fleet
Surface mining is much cheaper than digging deep tunnels underground.
地表採礦比挖掘深層地下隧道便宜得多。
Surface water from rivers and lakes is used to supply the local town.
來自河流和湖泊的地表水被用來供應當地城鎮。
Kasia studies the effects of pollution on surface soil and groundwater alike.
Kasia 研究污染對地表土壤和地下水的影響。
- aboveground
specifically contrasts with underground; less common
- top
general word for the highest part; not technical
- overground
British English; contrasts with 'underground' especially for railways
- underground
located beneath the ground
- subsurface
below the surface of land or water
- aerial
operating in the air
文法句型
surface [noun]
surface [activity]
用法筆記
Attributive only — always placed before a noun. Never used predicatively (*'This mine is surface'). Contrasts with 'underground', 'underwater', 'subsurface', or 'aerial'. Common in technical and semi-technical contexts.
2. relating only to the obvious or easily seen aspects of something, without lookin
表層
僅涉及表面而未深入核心的
relating only to the obvious or easily seen aspects of something, without looking at deeper or more important qualities.
Their friendship was only a surface relationship built on convenience at work.
他們的友誼僅止於職場便利的表層關係。
pattern: surface [noun] — only on the most basic level
The report gave only a surface analysis of the economic crisis in the country.
那份報告對國家的經濟危機只做了表層分析。
A surface understanding of the law is not enough to give proper legal advice.
對法律只有表層的理解，不足以提供適當的法律建議。
João realised that his surface knowledge of Japanese would not help him in Tokyo.
João 意識到他對日語的表層認識在東京幫不上忙。
- superficial
stronger negative connotation; implies fault or inadequacy
- shallow
informal; suggests lack of depth in thinking or feeling
- cursory
describes a quick, not-thorough examination; more formal
文法句型
surface [noun] — superficial [noun]
用法筆記
Attributive only in this sense ('surface understanding', 'surface level'). Often carries a mildly critical tone, implying that a deeper or more serious analysis is needed. 'Surface' is less harsh than 'superficial'.