underestimate
/ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˌʌn.dəˈres.tɪ.mət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌn.dɚˈes.tə.mət/ (ame, ipa)
underestimate — 動詞
- underestimatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- underestimateshe / she / it
- underestimatedpast simple
- underestimating-ing form
1. to think that a cost, distance, or level of difficulty is actually smaller or le
低估
對數量、成本、難度等估計過低
to think that a cost, distance, or level of difficulty is actually smaller or less serious than it later turns out to be
Kevin underestimated his car repair costs and ran out of money before the job ended.
Kevin 低估了他的修車費用，結果工作還沒做完錢就花光了。
collocation: underestimate the cost
The number of wedding guests was badly underestimated, so the venue felt too small.
婚禮的賓客人數被嚴重低估，結果場地顯得太小。
passive with intensifier 'badly'
Nila's parents underestimated how hard it is to find a flat in the city centre.
Nila 的父母低估了在市中心找一間公寓有多困難。
The construction company had seriously underestimated the amount of steel needed for the bridge.
那家建築公司嚴重低估了建造這座橋所需的鋼材數量。
Liang realised he had underestimated the distance to the station by nearly two kilometres.
Liang 發現他把到車站的距離少估了將近兩公里。
- misjudge
broader in meaning — can apply to any wrong judgment, not just about size or amount
- miscalculate
more specific to numerical or quantitative errors
- underrate
formal and less common; often used for value or quality rather than size
- overestimate
direct opposite — to think something is larger or more serious than it actually is
文法句型
underestimate + noun phrase
be underestimated
underestimate + how/what clause
用法筆記
Frequently used with intensifying adverbs such as 'badly', 'seriously', 'grossly', or 'greatly'. The noun phrase after 'by' specifies the gap between the estimate and the real figure.
常見錯誤
2. to form a wrong opinion about someone's skill, strength, intelligence, or determ
小看
低估他人的能力或決心
to form a wrong opinion about someone's skill, strength, intelligence, or determination, believing them to be less capable than they actually prove to be
The chess champion underestimated his young opponent and lost the game within twenty moves.
那位西洋棋冠軍小看他的年輕對手，結果二十步內就輸了比賽。
underestimate a person directly
Ife's colleagues used to underestimate her, but her excellent results changed their opinion.
Ife 的同事以前總是看輕她，但她優異的成績改變了他們的看法。
Omar's swimming coach underestimated his speed — Omar proved him wrong by winning both heats.
Omar 的游泳教練低估了他的速度——Omar 以贏得兩場預賽來證明教練錯了。
The company underestimated Bilal's ability to learn new skills and lost him to a competitor.
那家公司低估了 Bilal 學習新技能的能力，結果被競爭對手搶走了他。
Élise felt that her teacher had consistently underestimated her talent for mathematics.
Élise 覺得老師一直低估了她在數學方面的天賦。
- underrate
more formal and slightly less common; often used in written rather than spoken English
- sell short
informal idiom; suggests not giving someone enough credit for their qualities
- undervalue
focuses on not recognising the true worth or importance of someone or something
- overestimate
to think that someone has more ability or skill than they actually have
- overrate
to have a higher opinion of someone than they deserve
文法句型
underestimate + noun phrase (person or ability)
underestimate + how/what clause
be underestimated
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense takes a person or a person's quality as the direct object, not a quantity or cost. The consequence is often that the person being underestimated proves the estimator wrong through superior performance.
常見錯誤
underestimate — 名詞
- underestimatesingular
- underestimatesplural
1. a judgment or calculation that sets the value, cost, or size of something at a l
低估（判斷）
比實際數值低的估計
a judgment or calculation that sets the value, cost, or size of something at a level lower than the true figure
The five-thousand-dollar cost was a serious underestimate — the final bill was nearly eight thousand.
原始預估的五千美元是個嚴重低估——最後帳單將近八千美元。
pattern: prove to be + a + [adjective] + underestimate
The government's underestimate of the number of refugees led to a shortage of food supplies.
政府對難民人數的低估導致糧食供應短缺。
underestimate + of + noun phrase
Isabela's two-hour estimate was a huge underestimate because of the holiday traffic.
Isabela 估計的兩小時車程因為假期塞車而成了嚴重的低估。
The company's first sales forecast was a big underestimate — actual sales were double.
公司對第一年銷售額的預測是個大低估——實際銷售量是預測的兩倍。
- miscalculation
broader — can refer to any kind of wrong calculation, not just one that is too low
- underestimation
the abstract noun form, often used in formal or academic writing
- overestimate
a judgment that is too high
文法句型
a/an + underestimate
underestimate + of + noun phrase
be + a + huge/serious/gross + underestimate
用法筆記
Commonly modified by adjectives such as 'serious', 'gross', 'huge', or 'massive'. The preposition 'of' introduces what the underestimate relates to.