underlying
/ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-dər-ˈlī-iŋ/ (ame, mw)
underlying — 形容詞
- underlyingpositive
- more underlyingcomparative
- most underlyingsuperlative
1. Describes a cause, reason, feeling, or quality that is real and produces noticea
潛在的
存在但不易察覺的
Describes a cause, reason, feeling, or quality that is real and produces noticeable effects, but is not easy to see or notice directly. For example, a hidden emotional problem that causes a person's physical pain, or the real reason behind a disagreement that nobody names out loud.
The underlying cause of Mateo's back pain was stress, not a physical injury.
Mateo 背痛的潛在原因是壓力，而非外傷。
underlying cause + of + noun for hidden source
Putri sensed an underlying tension in the team even though everyone was smiling.
Putri 感覺到團隊中有一種隱藏的緊張氣氛，即使每個人都在微笑。
underlying tension — atmosphere beneath the surface
The report examines the underlying reasons why so many students leave school early.
這份報告探討了這麼多學生提早離校的潛在原因。
Eitan could not explain the underlying fear that kept him awake at night.
Eitan 說不出是什麼潛在的恐懼讓他在夜裡睡不著。
文法句型
underlying + noun (cause/reason/problem)
用法筆記
Commonly paired with nouns like cause, reason, problem, issue, tension, motive, meaning. This sense emphasises that the real cause is hidden beneath a visible or surface-level situation.
常見錯誤
2. Describes a system, structure, data set, or financial asset that acts as the sup
基礎的
作為支撐或計算基礎的
Describes a system, structure, data set, or financial asset that acts as the support or foundation that other things rest on. For example, the technology that powers a software application, or the assets that give a financial product its value.
The app looks simple, but the underlying technology uses a complex machine-learning model.
這款 App 看似簡單，但其底層技術使用了複雜的機器學習模型。
underlying technology — technical foundation of a system
Before buying shares in a fund, investors should examine the underlying assets.
購買基金股份之前，投資人應檢視其基礎資產。
underlying assets — financial foundation of an investment
Karim designed an underlying database that stores all the customer records securely.
Karim 設計了一個底層資料庫，用來安全地儲存所有客戶資料。
The underlying structure of the building uses steel beams to support the weight.
這棟建築的基礎結構使用鋼樑來支撐重量。
- basic
less technical; simply describes the simplest level
- foundational
emphasises that everything else rests on this layer
- core
the central, most essential part of something
- surface-level
the visible or outward layer that people interact with directly
文法句型
underlying + noun (system/structure/data/asset)
用法筆記
Frequently used in finance and computing contexts. In finance, 'underlying asset' refers to the real asset that a derivative or fund is based on. In computing, 'underlying system' or 'underlying infrastructure' refers to the hardware or software that supports an application.
常見錯誤
3. Located in a physical layer immediately under a solid outer covering, such as ea
底層的
位於固體表面以下的
Located in a physical layer immediately under a solid outer covering, such as earth, stone, or water. This is the most concrete meaning of the word, describing what you would find if you dug down or looked underneath.
The construction crew discovered an underlying layer of solid clay just two metres down.
建築團隊在沙層下方僅兩公尺處發現了一層堅硬的黏土。
underlying layer — physical stratum beneath the surface
The underlying rock in this region is granite that formed millions of years ago.
這個地區底下的岩層是數百萬年前形成的花崗岩。
The river eroded the topsoil and exposed the underlying bedrock.
河水侵蝕了表土，露出了下方的岩盤。
Drilling through the sand revealed an underlying layer of limestone.
鑽過沙層後，發現了下方有一層石灰岩。
- beneath
more common as a preposition; less natural as an adjective
- subsurface
technical term used in geology and engineering
- surface
the top or outermost layer that you can see or touch
文法句型
underlying + physical noun (rock/layer/soil)
用法筆記
This is the original literal meaning of 'underlying'. It is less common in everyday speech than the figurative senses. You will most often find it in geology textbooks, construction reports, and descriptions of soil or rock layers.
4. Describing the most basic or essential principle, belief, condition, or quality
根本的
最基本；核心的
Describing the most basic or essential principle, belief, condition, or quality from which all other aspects of a situation, argument, or system come. For example, the core belief that shapes a whole set of policies, or the fundamental issue that a society must address before other problems can be solved.
Do you accept the underlying principle that every citizen deserves equal treatment under the law?
你是否接受每名公民都應受法律平等對待這個根本原則？
underlying principle — interrogative frame for questioning a core belief
Meera and Asher actually share the same underlying beliefs about community development.
Meera 和 Asher 對於社區發展其實有著相同的根本信念。
Short-term aid helps, but we must address the underlying issues of poverty and inequality.
短期援助有幫助，但我們必須解決貧窮與不平等這些根本問題。
Many educators now challenge the underlying assumption that exams are the best measure of a student's ability.
許多教育工作者如今開始質疑「考試是衡量學生的最佳方式」這個根本假設。
- fundamental
very close in meaning; 'fundamental' often sounds more formal and absolute
- basic
simpler and more general; may suggest simplicity rather than hidden depth
- essential
focuses on being absolutely necessary rather than being below the surface
- superficial
concerned only with surface-level details, not the core
文法句型
underlying + noun (principle/belief/issue/assumption)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 points to a hidden cause that produces an observable effect (e.g. stress causes pain), while sense 4 points to the most basic principle that everything else in a system follows from (e.g. fairness is the basis of law). Sense 4 is closer to 'fundamental' or 'foundational' in meaning.