symbols
symbols — 名詞
- symbolssingular
- symbolsesplural
1. a mark or image that people understand to represent a different thing by general
符號
代表其他事物的標記
a mark or image that people understand to represent a different thing by general agreement — for instance, a red cross on a sign pointing to a hospital, or the heart shape used on a greeting card to express love.
Nora learned that a red heart is the common symbol for love in many countries.
Nora 學到紅心在很多國家是代表愛情的常見符號。
symbol for [concept]
On the road map, a thick blue line is the symbol for a highway.
在地圖上，粗藍線是高速公路的符號。
Owen drew a star symbol on the corner of the page to mark where the story began.
Owen 在紙頁角落畫了一個星星符號，標記故事從那裡開始。
Most mobile apps use a small house symbol to mean "return to the main screen."
大多數手機應用程式用小房子的符號表示「回到主畫面」。
The teacher pointed to the infinity symbol on the whiteboard and asked the class what it meant.
老師指著白板上的無限符號，問全班同學那是什麼意思。
常見錯誤
2. something that people understand to stand for an abstract quality or idea, such
象徵
代表抽象品質或觀念的事物
something that people understand to stand for an abstract quality or idea, such as peace, freedom, or hope — not through a direct picture but through cultural or emotional association.
For thousands of years, the dove has been a symbol of peace across many cultures.
數千年來，鴿子在許多文化中一直是和平的象徵。
symbol of + abstract noun
Tamar wore a simple silver ring as a symbol of her promise to always help others.
Tamar 戴了一只簡單的銀戒指，象徵她永遠幫助他人的承諾。
The Olympic flame travels around the world as a symbol of hope and friendly competition.
奧運聖火傳遞世界各地，作為希望與友好競爭的象徵。
In many cultures, the colour white at a wedding is a symbol of new beginnings.
在許多文化中，婚禮上的白色是嶄新開始的象徵。
Adaeze described the old mango tree as a symbol of strength for the whole village.
Adaeze 說那棵老芒果樹是全村力量的象徵。
- emblem
more formal and official — an emblem is deliberately chosen by a group to represent its values
- token
emphasises a physical object given as a sign of feeling — a token of thanks, a token of love
- representation
broader and more neutral — something that stands for or depicts something else
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the pattern 'a symbol of + abstract noun' (peace, freedom, hope, purity). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on a conventional mark that stands for a concrete thing (e.g. $ for dollar), while sense 2 links an object or image to an abstract idea.
常見錯誤
3. any written character or other mark that has a fixed meaning within a specialise
記號
數學、音樂、科學等專業標記
any written character or other mark that has a fixed meaning within a specialised area — for example, the letter π for the circle ratio in geometry, or the sharp sign ♯ in a musical score.
In maths class, Erik learned that the symbol π stands for the number 3.14.
在數學課上，Erik 學到符號 π 代表 3.14。
symbol stands for [value]
Lucía looked for the treble clef symbol at the beginning of each line of sheet music.
Lucía 在每行樂譜的開頭尋找高音譜號記號。
On the periodic table, the two-letter symbol for gold is Au.
在週期表上，金元素的符號是 Au。
Min wrote the chemical symbol H₂O on the board to show the structure of water.
Min 在黑板上寫下化學記號 H₂O 來說明水的結構。
The sharp symbol in a piece of music tells the player to raise the note by half a step.
樂譜中的升記號告訴演奏者要把音符升高半音。
- notation
a system of symbols, not a single symbol — 'musical notation' refers to the whole system
- character
a written letter or mark in a writing system, broader than technical symbols
- abbreviation
a shortened written form (e.g. 'Dr' for doctor), but not necessarily a symbol
用法筆記
Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense always involves a conventional notation within a specific field. The symbol has no emotional or cultural association — it is a technical sign with a fixed meaning (e.g. √ always means square root).
常見錯誤
4. an object, building, or place that people see as representing something larger,
象徵物
因文化歷史關聯而具代表性的物品
an object, building, or place that people see as representing something larger, such as a nation's history, a community's values, or a shared memory, because of deep cultural or historical connections.
The Great Wall has become a lasting symbol of Chinese civilisation around the world.
長城已經成為中華文明在全世界恆久的象徵物。
lasting symbol of [abstract]
Hari explained that the olive branch is an ancient symbol of peace in Mediterranean cultures.
Hari 解釋說，橄欖枝在地中海文化中自古以來就是和平的象徵物。
The old market square was restored as a symbol of the city's recovery after the earthquake.
舊市場廣場經過修復，成為這座城市震後復甦的象徵物。
For the local community, the school building became a symbol of hope for their children's future.
對當地社區而言，學校建築成了孩子們未來的希望象徵物。
Ari showed the class a photograph of the Berlin Wall and explained what it had symbolised during the Cold War.
Ari 向全班展示了一張柏林圍牆的照片，並解釋它在冷戰時期所象徵的意義。
- icon
a person or thing that is widely admired and seen as representing a particular culture or idea — often more informal and media-related
- landmark
a physical object or place with historical importance, but not necessarily symbolic meaning
- monument
a structure built specifically to commemorate something, whereas a symbol may be unplanned
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about something deliberately chosen to represent an abstract quality (e.g. a dove for peace), while sense 4 is about objects or places that have grown into symbols over time through events, history, or cultural use (e.g. a stadium that becomes a symbol of a city's spirit).
常見錯誤
symbols — 動詞
- symbolspresent simple I / you / we / they
- symbolses3rd person singular
- symbolsing-ing form
- symbolsedpast simple
1. to stand for or represent something, especially an abstract quality or idea — th
象徵（罕用）
作為…的標誌或代表
to stand for or represent something, especially an abstract quality or idea — the standard modern verb is 'symbolize' (American) or 'symbolise' (British).
In the ancient ritual, the lighting of a candle symbolizes the arrival of a new season.
在古代儀式中，點燃蠟燭象徵新季節的到來。
verb: [subject] symbolizes [abstract object]
Kwame explained that the patterns on the traditional cloth symbolize the unity of the people who wear them.
Kwame 解釋說傳統布匹上的花紋象徵穿戴者之間的團結。
symbolize + that-clause
The tree that the committee planted last spring now symbolizes the neighbourhood's hope for a safer street.
委員會去年春天種下的那棵樹，如今象徵社區對更安全街道的希望。
In traditional art, a phoenix rising from the ashes symbolized the idea of renewal after great hardship.
在傳統藝術中，浴火重生的鳳凰象徵著歷經苦難後的重新開始。
文法句型
symbolize + object
symbolize + that-clause
用法筆記
The verb 'symbol' is very rare in modern English. Almost all speakers and writers use 'symbolize' (American) or 'symbolise' (British) instead. This sense is included so that learners recognise the rare form when they encounter it, but in everyday writing and speech, always use 'symbolize' or 'symbolise'.