taller
/tɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɔlɚ] /tɑːl/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɔlɚ] /ˈtȯl How to pronounce tall (audio)/ (ame, mw)
taller — 形容詞
- tallerpositive
- tallerercomparative
- tallerestsuperlative
1. comparative form of 'tall' — having more height than another person or thing, or
更高的
比另一人或物有更大高度
comparative form of 'tall' — having more height than another person or thing, or becoming greater in height than before.
Daichi is taller than his older brother now, even though he used to be shorter.
Daichi 現在比哥哥更高，雖然他以前比較矮。
comparison: taller than [noun]
The new lamp is taller than the old one and nearly reaches the window frame.
新燈比舊的更高，幾乎碰到窗框。
predicative comparison with object height
By spring, the tomato plants were taller than the fence beside Devika's garden.
到了春天，番茄植株長得比 Devika 家花園旁的柵欄更高。
Could we get a taller stool? Eli still cannot see over the kitchen counter.
我們可以拿一張更高的凳子嗎？Eli 還是看不到廚房檯面上方。
After two months of swimming practice, Christopher looked taller and stronger.
游泳練了兩個月後，Christopher 看起來更高也更壯了。
- higher
'Higher' usually focuses on position above the ground or another point, while 'taller' describes the vertical shape or height of a person or upright object.
- bigger
More general and less exact; it can refer to overall size, not specifically height.
- longer
Used for length along the main line of something, not for upright height.
- shorter
Direct opposite when comparing the height of people or upright things.
文法句型
taller than [noun]
a taller [noun]
grow/get taller
用法筆記
For people, trees, buildings, and other upright things, English normally prefers 'taller' rather than 'higher'. Sense 2 and sense 3 are figurative, but this sense is the ordinary physical comparison of height.
常見錯誤
2. comparative form of the figurative 'tall' meaning exaggerated — describing a sto
更離譜的
指故事或說法更難令人相信
comparative form of the figurative 'tall' meaning exaggerated — describing a story, excuse, or rumour that sounds even less believable than another one.
Mert's second excuse sounded even taller than the first one, so nobody believed him.
Mert 第二個藉口聽起來比第一個更離譜，所以沒人相信他。
figurative comparison: sound taller than [story]
By dinner, Tomás had turned a small delay into a much taller story.
到了晚餐時間，Tomás 已把一點小延誤說成更離譜的故事。
attributive: a taller story
The rumour grew taller with each repost from people who never checked the facts.
那則謠言每被轉發一次，就變得更離譜。
Each child tried to tell a taller tale about the stray cat in the park.
每個孩子都想講一個關於公園流浪貓的更離譜故事。
- more exaggerated
Neutral and direct; it states that the account has been stretched further.
- more far-fetched
Stronger in tone; it emphasises that the account strains belief.
- less believable
Plain description that focuses on how hard the listener finds it to accept.
- more credible
Describes an account that sounds easier to accept as true.
文法句型
a taller story
a taller tale
sound/grow taller
用法筆記
Most often modifies words like 'story', 'tale', 'excuse', or 'rumour'. It suggests growing exaggeration or improbability, not simply a statement that is false on purpose.
常見錯誤
3. comparative form of the figurative 'tall' meaning difficult — used for a demand
更艱鉅的
指要求或目標更難完成
comparative form of the figurative 'tall' meaning difficult — used for a demand or goal that seems harder or larger in scale than another one.
For Linh's team, funding the whole tour was a taller order than booking the bus.
對 Linh 的團隊來說，替整趟巡演籌到資金比訂巴士更艱鉅。
fixed phrase: a taller order than [task]
After the storm, reopening the school by Monday looked like a much taller order.
暴風雨過後，要在星期一前讓學校重新開放，看起來是更艱鉅的目標。
look like a taller order
Supplying three wedding halls in one day proved a taller order for the tiny bakery.
一天供應三個婚宴場地，對那家小麵包店來說是更艱鉅的要求。
Eve could fix one computer tonight, but repairing all twenty was a taller order.
Eve 今晚修好一台電腦沒問題，但把二十台全修完就是更艱鉅的事。
- more demanding
Focuses on how much effort, time, or attention the goal requires.
- more difficult
Neutral and broad; it states the higher level of difficulty without the idiomatic flavour.
- more formidable
More formal; suggests a challenge that feels large and intimidating.
- more manageable
Describes a goal or demand that feels easier to handle.
文法句型
be a taller order than [noun/gerund]
look like a taller order
prove a taller order
用法筆記
Usually appears in the fixed comparative phrase 'a taller order'. English rarely says 'a taller task' for this meaning, so switch to 'harder task' outside the phrase.