zero
/ˈzɪərəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈzɪrəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈzɪə.rəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈzɪr.oʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈzir-(ˌ)ō ˈzē-(ˌ)rō/ (ame, mw)
zero — 數詞
1. the figure 0, used when counting to mean none of something or no amount.
零；0
計數時表示沒有的數字0
the figure 0, used when counting to mean none of something or no amount.
Antonia counted twelve apples and zero oranges in the wooden bowl.
Antonia 在木碗裡數出十二顆蘋果，但柳橙是零顆。
zero + plural noun for 'none'
The phone number ends in three zeros, so it is easy to remember.
這個電話號碼結尾連續三個零，所以很好記。
plural form 'zeros' as the digit
After the long drought, the village reservoir dropped to nearly zero.
經過長期乾旱，村裡的水庫水位幾乎降到零。
Type a zero before the dot when you write a small decimal like 0.5.
寫像 0.5 這樣的小數時，要在點之前打上一個零。
Arjun lost the chess match because he had zero pieces left on the board.
Arjun 輸了那盤棋，因為他棋盤上剩下零個棋子。
用法筆記
In British English the digit is often called 'nought' or 'oh' when read aloud (room 207 = 'two-oh-seven'). 'Zero' itself is the neutral, mathematical form.
常見錯誤
2. the mark labelled 0 on a scale of measurement, used as the dividing line between
零度；零點
刻度上標示為0的位置
the mark labelled 0 on a scale of measurement, used as the dividing line between positive and negative values — for example, the freezing point of water in Celsius.
By midnight, the temperature in Helsinki had fallen to ten below zero.
到了午夜，赫爾辛基的氣溫已經降到零下十度。
below zero = negative temperature
Hassan watched the fuel gauge slip toward zero as the truck climbed the hill.
Hassan 看著卡車爬坡時油量錶慢慢逼近零。
approach + zero on a gauge
Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius, so the puddles on the path turned to ice.
水在攝氏零度結冰，所以小路上的水窪都結成了冰。
The volume on Yuna's old radio was already turned right down to zero.
Yuna 那台舊收音機的音量早就被轉到了零。
Air pressure inside the test chamber dropped to zero within a few seconds.
測試艙裡的氣壓在幾秒內就降到了零。
- freezing point
specifically for water on the Celsius scale
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always refers to a position on a scale (temperature, pressure, volume, fuel) rather than a count of objects. Common with prepositions: 'at zero', 'to zero', 'below zero'.
常見錯誤
zero — 形容詞
- zeropositive
- more zerocomparative
- most zerosuperlative
1. describing an amount, count, or measured value that comes out to 0 when you chec
零的；歸零的
計算後數量為0的
describing an amount, count, or measured value that comes out to 0 when you check or calculate it.
The new diet drink claims to have zero calories per bottle.
這款新出的減肥飲料宣稱每瓶熱量為零。
zero + measurement noun
Our football team finished the season with two wins and zero losses.
我們足球隊整季的成績是兩勝零負。
Christopher checked his bank app and saw a zero balance in his savings account.
Christopher 打開銀行 App，看到儲蓄帳戶餘額為零。
The fitness app gave Priscilla a zero score for steps walked on Sunday.
健身 App 給 Priscilla 週日的步行成績打了零分。
- positive
of a value greater than zero
文法句型
zero + noun
用法筆記
Used before a noun, especially with countable measurements (calories, losses, balance). Often interchangeable with 'no' but feels more numerical and precise.
常見錯誤
2. absolutely none — a stronger, more emphatic way of saying that something is comp
毫無；絲毫無
強調某事物完全不存在
absolutely none — a stronger, more emphatic way of saying that something is completely missing or not given at all.
Noa had zero patience for her brother's pranks that morning.
那天早上 Noa 對弟弟的惡作劇毫無耐心。
emphatic: zero + abstract noun
The boss showed zero interest in our weekend project ideas.
老闆對我們週末的專案點子毫無興趣。
Mert has zero experience driving on snowy mountain roads.
Mert 完全沒有在雪山道路上開車的經驗。
The new manager has zero respect for people who arrive late.
新主管對遲到的人毫無敬意。
- no
neutral and universal; lacks the emphatic tone
- absolutely no
matches the strong tone but is two words
文法句型
zero + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is emphatic and pairs with abstract or non-countable nouns (patience, interest, respect, tolerance), not with measured quantities. Replacing it with 'no' is grammatical but loses the strong, slightly exasperated tone.
常見錯誤
zero — 名詞
1. the written sign 0, treated as a thing in its own right — for example when you t
零字；數字0
書寫符號0這個數字
the written sign 0, treated as a thing in its own right — for example when you talk about how many of them appear in a number, or about the symbol on a keyboard.
Minh wrote four zeros after the one to make the number ten thousand.
Minh 在 1 後面寫了四個零，組成一萬這個數字。
countable: a zero / four zeros
The little boy proudly drew a fat zero on his maths worksheet.
那個小男孩得意地在數學作業簿上畫了一個胖胖的零。
On most keyboards, the zero sits between the nine and the dash.
在大多數鍵盤上，零這個鍵就夾在九和減號之間。
Adisa explained that the Maya people used a shell shape to mean zero.
Adisa 解釋說，馬雅人用一個貝殼形狀來代表零。
用法筆記
Countable noun, plural 'zeros' (or, less commonly, 'zeroes'). Distinguish from sense 2: here zero is the visible symbol or digit; in sense 2 it is the place where measurement begins.
常見錯誤
2. the place on a scale or in a system where measuring or counting begins — for exa
起算點；基準
測量或計算的參考起點
the place on a scale or in a system where measuring or counting begins — for example the 0 line on a thermometer dial, or the spot from which a runner sets off.
Élise turned the dial back to zero before weighing the bag of flour.
Élise 在秤麵粉之前先把刻度盤轉回零點。
set to zero on an instrument
After the heater was switched on, the office finally rose above zero.
暖氣打開後，辦公室氣溫終於回到零點以上。
above zero = warmer than the starting mark
The runners reset the stopwatch to zero before the second race began.
第二場比賽開始前，跑者把碼錶歸零。
On this map, the zero is the lighthouse, and every distance is measured from it.
在這張地圖上，零點是燈塔，所有距離都從那裡量起。
- starting point
everyday phrase; not numerical
- datum
technical surveying term
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: a 'zero' here is a position, not a written digit. Common in scientific, sporting, and engineering contexts. Often follows 'to', 'above', 'below', or 'from'.
常見錯誤
zero — 動詞
- zeropresent simple I / you / we / they
- zeroes3rd person singular
- zeroing-ing form
- zeroedpast simple
1. to turn or set a measuring tool, counter, or display back to 0 so that the next
歸零；校零
把儀器讀數調整回0
to turn or set a measuring tool, counter, or display back to 0 so that the next reading starts fresh.
Iker zeroed the kitchen scale before adding the chopped onions.
Iker 在加入切好的洋蔥之前，把廚房磅秤歸零。
zero + object (instrument)
Please zero the trip meter every time you fill the tank with petrol.
請每次加滿油後都把里程錶歸零。
imperative; zero + counter
Luca zeroed the lab balance carefully so the chemistry results would be accurate.
Luca 仔細地把實驗室的天平歸零，這樣化學實驗結果才會準確。
Emma forgot to zero the stopwatch, so the timing for the swim was wrong.
Emma 忘了把碼錶歸零，所以那場游泳的計時是錯的。
文法句型
zero + object
用法筆記
Frequently in technical or scientific contexts. Object is always an instrument or counter (scale, gauge, meter, timer). Past tense and -ed/-ing forms keep the 'o': zeroed, zeroing.