EN: We use 'are arriving' (Present Continuous: be + verb-ing) to describe an action happening around now or a trend taking place during the current period.
中文: 使用「are arriving」(現在進行式:be動詞 + 動詞-ing)來描述目前正在發生,或是現階段持續進行中的動作或趨勢。
Many tourists are visiting the museum this week.
許多遊客這週正前來參觀這座博物館。
EN: The 'Queen of Spain fritillary' (Issoria lathonia) is a migratory butterfly well known across mainland Europe, but sightings in Britain are usually rare and treasured by local butterfly enthusiasts.
中文: 「Queen of Spain butterflies」(西班牙女王豹蛺蝶)是歐洲大陸常見的遷徙性蝴蝶,在英國通常非常罕見,因此若大量現身會引起當地昆蟲愛好者與媒體的高度關注。
EN: Use 'but' to connect two contrasting ideas. Notice that adverbs of frequency like 'rarely' usually go right before the main verb.
中文: 使用連接詞「but」(但是)來連接兩個呈現對比的句子。注意像「rarely」(很少、罕見)這類頻率副詞,通常放在一般動詞的前面。
He likes tea, but he rarely drinks coffee.
他喜歡喝茶,但他很少喝咖啡。
EN: In British English, people often distinguish between 'Europe' (meaning continental Europe) and 'Britain', reflecting the geographical and psychological separation of the British Isles from the mainland.
中文: 在英國日常用語中,人們常把「歐洲(Europe)」指代為「歐洲大陸」,並將其與「英國(Britain)」分開談論,體現出不列顛群島與歐陸本土之間的地理及文化區分。
EN: We use 'a few' with plural countable nouns to mean 'a small number of' (some, but not many). Adding 'only' highlights that the quantity is surprisingly small.
中文: 「a few」用來修飾可數名詞複數,表示「幾個、少數」(雖然不多但有一些)。加上「only」則強調數量很少、「只有少數」。
There are only a few cookies left in the box.
盒子裡只剩下幾塊餅乾了。
EN: Use 'flew from' to describe the past movement of flying starting from a specific place. 'Flew' is the past tense of the irregular verb 'fly'.
中文: 「flew from」用來描述過去從某個地點起飛或飛來。「flew」是不規則動詞「fly」的過去式。
The birds flew from Canada to Mexico for the winter.
那些鳥兒從加拿大飛到墨西哥過冬。
EN: Notice that 'the Netherlands' is one of the few country names in English that traditionally takes the definite article 'the', because the word itself is plural in form (meaning 'the low lands'). In contrast, countries like 'France' and 'Spain' do not take 'the'.
中文: 請注意,在英文中「the Netherlands」是少數需要加定冠詞「the」的國家名稱之一,因為其原意為複數形式的「低地國家」。相比之下,「France」和「Spain」前面則不需要加「the」。
EN: Use the Past Simple tense (e.g., 'laid', 'came') to talk about completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past. Two past actions can be connected using 'and'.
中文: 使用一般過去式(例如 'laid'、'came')來描述過去某個特定時間已經完成的動作。可以用連接詞 'and' 連接兩個過去發生的動作。
Birds built nests here, and baby birds flew away in summer.
鳥兒在這裡築巢,幼鳥在夏天飛走了。
EN: In British English, 'autumn' is the standard word for the season between summer and winter, whereas American English commonly uses 'fall'.
中文: 在英國英語中,介於夏天與冬天之間的季節通常稱作「autumn」,而美式英語則較常使用「fall」。
EN: Use 'hundreds of' followed by a plural noun or pronoun to express a large, approximate number of people or things.
中文: 使用「hundreds of + 複數名詞或代名詞」來表達「數以百計的……」或「好幾百個……」,用來表示數量很多但不確定的概數。
Hundreds of visitors came to the park yesterday.
昨天有數百名遊客來到這座公園。
EN: The River Thames flows through southern England, including London and out towards the North Sea through counties like Essex. In English, rivers usually take the definite article 'the' (e.g., 'the Thames', 'the Amazon'). Note that 'Thames' is pronounced /tɛmz/, with a silent 'h'.
中文: 泰晤士河(The River Thames)流經英格蘭南部,包括倫敦,並經由埃塞克斯等郡流入北海。在英文中,河流名稱通常會加上定冠詞「the」(如 the Thames)。特別注意「Thames」的發音為 /tɛmz/,其中的字母「h」不發音。
EN: The pattern 'call + someone/something + a name/description' means to name or describe someone or something as that thing.
中文: 句型「call + 某人/某物 + 名詞(稱呼或描述)」表示「把……稱作……」或「認為……是……」。
Many people call this city their home.
許多人把這座城市稱為他們的家。
EN: To ask a question using the modal verb 'can', place 'can' before the subject, followed by the base form of the verb: 'Can + Subject + Verb...?'. Here, 'and' connects two base verbs: 'become' and 'stay'.
中文: 使用情態助動詞「can」形成疑問句時,將「can」移到主詞前面,後面接原形動詞(Can + 主詞 + 原形動詞...?)。句中「and」連接了兩個並列的原形動詞「become」與「stay」。
Can they survive the cold winter and return next year?
牠們能否度過寒冬並在明年回來?
EN: In ecology and conservation discussions in Britain, a 'native species' refers to wildlife that has established itself naturally without human intervention, often carrying legal protection and conservation priority.
中文: 在英國的生態與保育討論中,「native species」(本土物種)指自然繁衍定居而非人為引進的物種。當某物種被認定為本土物種時,通常會獲得生態保護法規的重點關注。
EN: We use the Present Simple tense ('live') to talk about general truths, scientific facts, or habits that happen regularly.
中文: 我們使用現在簡單式(如本句中的 live)來描述普遍事實、科學真理或規律發生的習慣。
Birds build nests in trees every spring.
鳥類每年春天都在樹上築巢。
EN: In ecology and conservation, a 'native species' is defined not just by being present, but by maintaining a self-sustaining population over generations without human intervention. The phrase 'year after year' emphasizes this crucial ecological requirement.
中文: 在生態學與物種保育中,「本土物種(native species)」的定義不僅僅是出現於某地,更指該物種無須人類干預即可代代繁衍。「year after year(年復一年)」特別強調了這種長期、持續穩定生存的生態條件。
EN: We use 'In the last + [time period]' to talk about a period of time leading up to now. Because the actions happened at specific finished times in that period, we often use the Past Simple tense (e.g., 'survived').
中文: 我們使用「In the last + [一段時間]」來表示「在過去這段時間裡」。因為動作發生在該期間內的特定過去時刻,通常會搭配過去簡單式(例如:survived)。
In the last five years, he visited Japan only twice.
在過去五年裡,他只去過日本兩次。
EN: In Britain, winters are often damp and cold, making it hard for southern European insects like the Queen of Spain butterfly to overwinter and establish permanent native populations.
中文: 英國的冬季通常潮濕寒冷,因此像西班牙女王豹紋蝶這類原產於南歐的昆蟲很難在當地成功越冬並繁衍成為常駐的本土物種。
EN: Use 'think + (that) + sentence' to express what someone believes or predicts will happen in the future.
中文: 使用「think +(that)+ 完整句子」來表達某人的想法、觀點,或是對未來的預測(that 經常省略)。
I think it will rain tomorrow.
我想明天會下雨。
EN: Use 'by + verb-ing' to explain how something is done or what method is used.
中文: 使用「by + 動名詞 (-ing)」來表示達成某件事的方法或手段(意為「透過……」)。
You can improve your English by reading every day.
你可以透過每天閱讀來增進英文能力。
EN: Notice the British English spelling 'favourite' (with a 'u'), as this story takes place in Britain. In American English, it is spelled 'favorite'.
中文: 句中使用的是英式拼法「favourite」(含 u),因為這則新聞背景在英國。美式英語則拼寫為「favorite」。
重要單字附有 IPA 發音、定義、例句和互動式測驗。
在本文中: 很少、罕見地
在本文中: 秋天、秋季
在本文中: 專家
在本文中: 遷徙、移居
在本文中: 大膽的、勇敢的
在本文中: 物種
在本文中: 自然地、天然地
在本文中: 存活、度過(困難環境)
在本文中: 出現
在本文中: 毛毛蟲(蝴蝶或蛾的幼蟲)
片語包含類型標示、雙語定義、用法說明和例句。
An animal or plant that lives or grows naturally in an area and was not brought there by humans.
原生種、本土物種
To emerge from inside something (such as an egg, cocoon, or hiding place).
破繭而出、出來、孵化出現
Continuously or repeatedly each year for a long period of time.
年復一年、每年都
To produce eggs from the body (done by female birds, insects, fish, reptiles).
產卵、下蛋