young

/jʌŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [jˈʌŋ] /jʌŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [jˈʌŋ] /ˈyəŋ/ (ame, mw)

young — 形容詞

  • youngpositive
  • youngercomparative
  • youngestsuperlative

1. relates to a living being — a person, animal, or plant — that has recently come

1.形容詞A1
釋義

年輕的

形容人、動植物等出生不久的

relates to a living being — a person, animal, or plant — that has recently come into the world and has not yet reached full growth.

例句

Aylin's younger sister is only four and goes to preschool.

Aylin 的妹妹只有四歲，正在上幼稚園。

younger + noun (comparative form)

The young oak tree in the park was planted by the class last spring.

公園裡那棵年輕的橡樹是班上同學去年春天種的。

young + noun (of plants)

同義詞
  • youthful

    focuses on appearance, energy, or qualities rather than actual age

  • juvenile

    more formal or technical; often used in legal contexts; can sound negative for behaviour

  • junior

    comparative term used for position in a hierarchy or within a family

反義詞
  • old

    the most direct opposite for people, animals, and plants

  • elderly

    specifically of people; more polite than 'old'

文法句型

young + noun

be + young

younger + noun (comparative)

用法筆記

Use for people, animals, and plants. For objects, ideas, or events, use 'new' instead of 'young' (e.g., a new car, not a young car).

常見錯誤

❌She is young than me.
✅She is younger than me.
💡Use 'younger', not 'young', for comparisons between two people or things.
❌This is a young tradition.
✅This is a new tradition.
💡'Young' is for living things; 'new' is for ideas, customs, or objects.

2. placed after a person's full name when two relatives, most often a father and hi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

小某

置於姓名後，指同名親屬中較年輕者

placed after a person's full name when two relatives, most often a father and his son, share the same name — marks which one is the later-born of the pair.

例句

John D. Rockefeller the Younger gave much of his money to public causes.

John D. Rockefeller the Younger 把大量財富捐給公益事業。

pattern: [Name] the Younger

Pieter Bruegel the Younger produced many paintings in the style of his father.

Pieter Bruegel the Younger 創作了許多與父親風格相似的畫作。

同義詞
  • junior

    abbreviated as 'Jr.' in modern naming conventions; more common today than 'the Younger'

反義詞
  • the Elder

    used for the older of the two relatives sharing a name

文法句型

[Name] the Younger

用法筆記

This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'the Younger' (capitalised) directly after the person's full name. The abbreviation 'Jr.' is more common in modern American English.

3. designed in a style that appeals to children, teenagers, or other young people.

3.形容詞B1
釋義

青少向

為兒童或青少年設計的

designed in a style that appeals to children, teenagers, or other young people.

例句

The public library has a special section for young adult novels.

公立圖書館有一個專門的區域擺放青少年小說。

young adult + noun (common fixed phrase)

Amani wanted a young look for her brand's new clothing line.

Amani 希望她品牌的新服裝系列呈現青少向的風格。

young + noun (clothing line, audience, market — for suitability sense)

同義詞
  • youthful

    can overlap in meaning but usually describes appearance or spirit, not suitability of a product or event

  • teen-oriented

    narrower — refers specifically to teenagers rather than young people in general

反義詞
  • adult

    intended for grown-ups rather than young people

  • mature

    suitable for older audiences; the opposite of age-inappropriate-for-adults

文法句型

young + noun (suitability sense)

用法筆記

Often carries a judgement about appropriateness — saying something is 'too young' for someone implies it does not suit their age. Common in fashion, media, and entertainment contexts.

常見錯誤

❌This movie is young, so children will like it.
✅This movie is for young people, so children will like it.
💡'Young' on its own does not mean 'suitable for young people'; pair it with a noun like 'audience' or 'people'.

4. appearing to have a lower age than one actually has — describing someone who loo

4.形容詞B1
釋義

顯年輕

看起來比實際年齡小的

appearing to have a lower age than one actually has — describing someone who looks, feels, or acts as if they are younger than their real age.

例句

Lucas looks remarkably young for his age — people often mistake him for a student.

Lucas 看起來比實際年齡年輕很多——大家常誤以為他是學生。

young for + possessive + age

Apinya's grandmother is seventy-five but has a young face and walks briskly.

Apinya 的祖母七十五歲了，但臉上看起來很年輕，走路也很有精神。

young + noun (face, spirit, look, etc.)

同義詞
  • youthful

    very close in meaning; 'youthful' is more about qualities and spirit, while 'young' in this sense is more about physical appearance

反義詞
  • old-looking

    appearing older than one's actual age

  • aged

    showing signs of advanced age

文法句型

look/feel/stay/appear + young

young for + age

younger + than

用法筆記

Most common in the comparative form 'younger' (look younger, feel younger, act younger). The plain form 'young' alone does not carry this meaning — it must be used with a linking verb like 'look', 'feel', or 'stay'.

常見錯誤

❌My mother is young — people think she is forty.
✅My mother looks young for her age
💡people think she is forty.' — Adding 'for her age' clarifies it is about appearance vs. real age.

5. having little experience in a job, activity, or field, even if not especially sm

5.形容詞B2
釋義

資淺的

因經驗少而不夠老練

having little experience in a job, activity, or field, even if not especially small in age.

例句

The young team made several passing mistakes in its first away match.

這支資淺的球隊在第一場客場比賽裡傳球失誤好幾次。

young + team for limited experience

As a young teacher, Devika still asked colleagues for help after class.

作為一名資淺老師，Devika 下課後仍常向同事請教。

young + profession for inexperience

同義詞
  • inexperienced

    states the meaning directly, with no suggestion about age

  • green

    informal; often suggests someone is easily confused because they are new

  • junior

    often refers to lower rank as well as less experience

反義詞
  • experienced

    having done the work or activity many times

  • seasoned

    suggests long practical experience and confidence

文法句型

young + team/player/teacher/associate

a young + noun + still learning

用法筆記

Common with workers, players, teachers, or companies when the focus is on limited experience rather than actual age. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about being low in age, and sense 6, which is about something still developing.

6. newly formed or still developing, so not yet fully established.

6.形容詞B2
釋義

新興的

新出現或仍在發展中

newly formed or still developing, so not yet fully established.

例句

The startup is young, but its software already has loyal users.

這家新創公司仍屬新興階段，但它的軟體已經有一批忠實用戶。

young company in an early stage

A young democracy can change quickly after one difficult election.

新興的民主體制在一次艱難選舉後可能很快改變。

young + democracy / institution

同義詞
  • emerging

    often stresses that something is beginning to become noticeable

  • new

    broader and more neutral; does not always suggest ongoing development

反義詞
  • established

    already stable, recognized, and developed

  • mature

    fully developed after a longer period of growth

文法句型

young company / democracy / field / industry

be still young

用法筆記

Used for institutions, industries, scientific fields, and similar things that are new and still taking shape. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about the age of living things, and sense 5, which is about people or groups lacking experience.

常見錯誤

❌This is a young phone.
✅This is a new phone.
💡use this sense for fields or institutions that are still developing, not for ordinary objects.

young — 名詞