variation
/ˌveəriˈeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌveriˈeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌver-ē-ˈā-shən/ (ame, mw)
variation — 名詞
- variationsingular
- variationsplural
1. a difference in the amount, level, or degree of something when compared with the
變化；變動
數量或程度上的差異或改變
a difference in the amount, level, or degree of something when compared with the same thing at a different time or place.
The temperature in Taipei shows little variation between summer and winter.
台北的氣溫在夏季和冬季之間變化很小。
variation between [two things]
Doctors noted a wide variation in how patients responded to the same drug.
醫生注意到不同患者對同一種藥物的反應差異很大。
variation in [something]
Brandon checked the variation of monthly rainfall across the island.
Brandon 查看了全島每月降雨量的變化。
There is always some variation in the quality of hand-made goods.
手工製品的品質多少會有些變動。
Scientists measured the variation in heart rate during the experiment.
科學家測量了實驗過程中心率的變化。
- fluctuation
suggests repeated, often irregular changes over time, especially in numbers or levels
- difference
more general; does not imply change over time, just a lack of sameness
- diversity
focuses on variety among items in a group rather than change in one thing
- uniformity
the state of being the same across all cases
- consistency
the quality of staying the same over time
文法句型
variation (in/between/of + noun)
用法筆記
Commonly used with prepositions 'in' (the thing that changes) and 'between' (the things being compared). Both countable and uncountable forms are frequent; the uncountable form is more common when referring to the general concept of change.
常見錯誤
2. a product, design, or form that keeps the basic identity of the original while c
變體；變種
與常見形式略有不同的事物
a product, design, or form that keeps the basic identity of the original while changing certain minor features — a recipe with a new ingredient or a dress in a fresh colour are everyday examples.
Hui tried a new variation of the pasta dish by adding mushrooms.
Hui 嘗試在義大利麵中加入蘑菇，做了一種新變化。
This car is a modern variation on the classic design from the 1960s.
這款車是對1960年代經典設計的現代改良版。
variation on [a theme/tradition]
The artist painted several variations of the same mountain scene.
那位藝術家畫了好幾幅同一座山景的不同版本。
Each store sells its own variation of the popular rice cracker snack.
每家商店都有自己的暢銷米果零食版本。
Renata created a vegetarian variation of her grandmother's beef stew.
Renata 把外婆的燉牛肉食譜改成了素食版本。
- version
more neutral; a variation implies a deliberate change from an original
- adaptation
suggests the change was made to suit a new purpose or environment
- alternative
focuses on being a choice rather than a modified version
- standard
the original or usual version without changes
文法句型
variation (of/on + noun)
用法筆記
Typically used countably. 'Variation on a theme' is a common idiomatic pattern. 'Variation of' introduces a specific item; 'variation on' often introduces a creative adaptation of an established idea or design.
常見錯誤
3. a short piece of music that keeps the basic structure of a main tune but changes
變奏
基於同一主旋律改編的短曲
a short piece of music that keeps the basic structure of a main tune but changes its melody, rhythm, or harmony — often one of several such pieces that together form a larger work.
The pianist played a beautiful slow variation on the familiar folk tune.
鋼琴家以一段優美的慢節奏變奏演奏了那首熟悉的民歌。
variation on [a tune]
Elgar's Enigma Variations contain fourteen different variations on a hidden theme.
艾爾加的《謎語變奏曲》包含十四段基於隱藏主題的不同變奏。
Amira listened to the final variation, which was faster and louder than the rest.
Amira 聽完了最後一段變奏，這段比其他段落更快、更大聲。
In the second variation the composer changed the time signature entirely.
在第二段變奏中，作曲家完全改變了拍號。
文法句型
variation (on + a theme/tune)
用法筆記
Primarily a music theory term. Often appears in the fixed phrase 'variations on a theme'. Frequently used with ordinal numbers (first variation, second variation) to refer to sequential sections of a piece.