Vocabulary
A CEFR-leveled core vocabulary library (A1–C2), each word with definitions, example sentences and audio, to grow your English vocabulary level by level.
Major Chip Breakthrough Shocks the Market! Learn Advanced Business English for "Semiconductors, Yield Rates, and Packaging" from Tech News
The latest chip technology breakthrough has shaken global stock markets. Want to discuss semiconductor trends with foreign clients but feel stuck? This article helps you master key tech terms like yield rate and packaging, break free from Chinglish, and confidently chat about trending tech news in English!
Heartbreaking Earthquake News: 4 Authentic Keywords for Reading International News and Expressing Condolences in English
Seeing news about the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan and wanting to express care in English, but only knowing S.O.S? This article compiles the most common disaster and rescue vocabulary from international news to help you easily understand CNN and BBC reports. Master key sentence patterns to send warm, authentic expressions of care to affected friends!
"I'm very success" Is Incorrect! Master success, successful, and succeed Once and for All
While the Chinese word for "success" can act as a noun, adjective, and verb all in one, English splits these roles into three distinct words. The most common mistake is inserting success where successful should be used. This post uses a "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural English" comparison to cover all three parts of speech for this word root, giving you practical rules of thumb you can use right away.
"Is it convenient?" "Thanks for your hard work!" These Chinese Polite Phrases Have No Direct English Equivalents
Translating Chinese polite phrases like "方便", "麻煩你了", "辛苦了", or "加油" into English often goes wrong. The key is learning how to express these polite phrases as "full sentences." This article compares common Chinglish mistakes made by many learners with natural expressions, teaching you how to say them correctly, sentence by sentence.
"Please help me photocopy" isn't "help me to...": Common Noun-as-Verb Mistakes in English
In Chinese, many nouns can temporarily function as verbs—such as "photocopy," "decide," or even "money." However, parts of speech in English are much more fixed. This article uses a "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic English" comparison to help you eliminate the most frequent noun-as-verb errors, making your sentences sound natural right away.
"Discuss about" Is Wrong! 5 Verbs Learners Frequently Incorrectly Add "about" or "on" To
Phrases in Chinese like "討論關於" (discuss about) or "強調在" (emphasize on) cause many learners to add an extra preposition, leading to mistakes like "discuss about" and "emphasize on." In fact, verbs such as discuss, emphasize, contact, mention, and marry should be followed directly by an object. This article uses a side-by-side comparison of "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural Phrasing" to help you eliminate these frequent mistakes in business and writing once and for all.
Stop Just Saying "So Expensive"! The Casual Phrase English Learners Get Stuck On Most
Shopping, bargaining, or complaining about rent—do you always just say "so expensive"? Upgrade your vocabulary with these "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic English" alternatives. Learn a rip-off, cost a fortune, way too expensive, and pricey to sound like a native speaker next time you talk about high prices.
"economic" or "economical"? Confusing Adjective Pairs That English Learners Get Wrong Most Often
"economic" means "relating to the economy," while "economical" means "thrifty" or "saving money"—a difference of just two letters that completely changes the meaning. This post uses a side-by-side "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic English" comparison to help you break down the most common root-sharing adjectives that trap learners, complete with practical tips you can take with you.
"borrow / lend" and "hope / wish": Two Pairs of Words English Learners Often Confuse
In Chinese, there is only one word each for "borrow/lend" and "hope/wish," but English separates them into two distinct words. The difference between borrow and lend lies in the direction of the arrow, while hope and wish depend on whether something is achievable. Use two simple tricks to master these common confusions once and for all.
"Taking medicine" isn't "eat medicine"! "Take" is the essential multi-purpose verb most English learners miss out on
While Chinese uses different verbs for "吃藥" (take medicine), "量體溫" (take one's temperature), and "拍照" (take a photo), English often handles them all with just "take." Learners frequently get stuck translating word-for-word into "eat" or "measure." Master the usage of "take" to make your English sound natural right away. This article uses a "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic Usage" comparison to help you master high-frequency "take" sentence patterns in one go.
"interested" or "interesting"? Master the Prepositions Behind Adjectives Once and for All
Since Chinese doesn't have the concept of pairing specific prepositions with adjectives, combinations like "good at," "interested in," and "afraid of" are often misused. This post uses a clear "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural English" comparison alongside a high-frequency error chart to help you memorize these phrases as complete units.
TSMC Earnings Call: How to Say Gross Margin, Operating Margin, and EPS in English
TSMC's investor conference has delivered stellar results once again! Want to stay updated on the hottest financial English? Today, Loopy will help you master the authentic English terms for gross margin, operating margin, and EPS with a single diagram. Easily understand international financial reports and chat about the stock market fluently with overseas clients!
Is it remember or remind? The "internal vs. external" rule to never mess up "remind me"
While the same Chinese word can mean both "remember" and "remind," English makes a clear distinction: *remember* is keeping something in mind yourself (internal), while *remind* is someone else causing you to remember (external). With this simple rule and common ✗→✓ error corrections, you will never get "remind me to call" wrong again.
win or beat? Most English Learners Get "I Beat You" Wrong
In Chinese, the word "贏" (win) can be followed by almost anything, but English distinguishes between win and beat. Trying to say "I beat you" as "I won you" completely changes the meaning. This post uses the most common mistakes learners make to help you clearly differentiate between win and beat once and for all, so you'll never get them wrong in sports, games, or lotteries again.
Stop Pointing at Menus Saying "This This"! Master Cooking Styles & Meat Cuts to Order Food Like a Local
Traveling abroad and freezing up when looking at an English menu? This guide covers common cooking methods, steak doneness, and cuts of meat so you can order with confidence!
"Starting Every Sentence with 'Actually'? The Single Most Overused English Word"
Textbooks translate actually as "in fact," leading many learners to start almost every sentence with it—making them sound constantly argumentative. This article uses a "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural Phrasing" comparison to help you distinguish between actually, actual, and how to properly say "actually," complete with a quick tip for instant judgment.
Who Can Surpass Messi? Learn Authentic English Football Terms Like "GOAT," "Prime," and "Ballon d'Or"
Is Messi truly the greatest player of all time? Ever get stuck trying to express your thoughts when debating with friends while watching a match? Today, Loopy takes you through the most exciting football topics to learn trending sports terms like GOAT, prime, and Ballon d'Or, so you can sound completely natural when talking about football in English!
"I very like" is wrong! The Most Common Mistakes Learners Make with "Very"
While a single word like "很" can modify almost anything in Chinese, the English word "very" can only modify adjectives and adverbs—never verbs. This post uses a dense comparison of "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic Expressions" to help you instantly spot the most common misuses of "very" and remember a quick, 3-second rule for getting it right.
A Crash Course for Casual Fans! Talk About "Underdogs, Groups of Death, and Defending Champions" in English: Essential 2026 World Cup Prediction Vocabulary
World Cup fever is here! Want to analyze the matches with international friends on social media but stuck for words? This article teaches you authentic English terms like "underdog" and "group of death" to discuss predictions. Skip the stiff rules and dive into social conversations with ease using natural, casual expressions!
fun vs. funny: Choose the Wrong Word and People Might Think You're Laughing at Them
Both mean "enjoyable" or "amusing" in many languages, but in English, they are completely different. fun means enjoyable, while funny means humorous or strange. Use the "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural English" comparison to master the differences in meaning, parts of speech, and pronunciation traps of fun and funny once and for all.
Tzuyu Going Solo and Not Renewing? Learn K-pop English for "Going Solo, Contract Expiration, and Contract Renewal" from TWICE Trends!
With all the buzz surrounding TWICE's contract renewals, do you know how to say "go solo, renew a contract, and contract expiration" in English? Today, Loopy takes you through trending K-pop news to easily learn practical entertainment and contract-related English, so you can level up your English while following your favorite stars!
World Cup Fever! How to Say "Place a Bet," "Upset," and "Odds" in English? Master Sports Betting Keywords and Chat Like a Native!
The World Cup finals are here! Want to watch the games and chat about sports betting with international friends, but getting tongue-tied? This article teaches you practical English terms like "place a bet," "upset," and "odds" so you can easily understand betting terminology and join the conversation!
"How to say" Is Incorrect! The Missing "do you" in Questions
When asking "How do you say this?" in Chinese, there is no subject, so translating it directly leaves out "do you"—a telltale mistake many learners make when asking questions. This article helps you master "How do you say..." and "What is this called?" so you can speak fluently in class or while traveling abroad.
Don't Be Too Casual in Emails to Teachers: Overly Informal Words Learners Most Frequently Misuse
Textbooks often teach just one word for a single concept, but spoken and formal English are actually two different versions. When writing emails, interviewing, or messaging teachers, many learners easily bring overly casual words like wanna, gonna, ASAP, and guy into formal settings, making them sound inappropriate. This article uses a "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic Expressions" approach to help you adjust your level of formality, useful for both professional and academic success.
World Cup Finals Pub Party! How to Order Draft Beer and Snacks in English? Super Practical "Sports Bar" Social Conversations
The World Cup finals are almost here—want to go to a sports bar and party with foreign fans? This article teaches you the most authentic English for draft beer and finger foods, as well as super practical social power phrases like "Put it on my tab," helping you order food with confidence and make friends effortlessly!
"Grace Period" and "Means-Testing Clause" in English: Practical Mortgage Vocabulary You Can Use
Buying a home is a major life milestone. Have you kept up with the recent trend of the "New Youth Guaranteed Housing Loan 3.0" mortgage policy? Loopy has compiled essential mortgage English vocabulary for you, such as "grace period" and "means-testing clause," allowing you to discuss current events using the most authentic expressions and effortlessly boost your practical English skills!
Taiwan Stocks Surge 893 Points in a 'One-Day Recovery'! How to Say 'Rebound' and 'Surge' in Authentic English?
Seeing the Taiwan stock market rebound strongly with heavyweights leading the rally, do you want to express it vividly in English business meetings but only know how to say "stock go up"? This article teaches you authentic verbs like rebound and bounce back to instantly make your business English presentations professional and engaging!
"失聯" and "抹黑" in English? Essential Political & Diplomatic Slanging Match Vocabulary for Cross-Strait News!
Have you been hearing "失聯" (lose contact) and "抹黑" (smear) in the news lately? This column uses current events to help you effortlessly learn authentic political and news vocabulary like go missing and smear, making international news much easier to understand!
US-China AI Battle! How to Say "Dominance, Election Interference, Win Over" in English? Key Words for Understanding International Current Affairs
US and Chinese leaders clash from afar, with AI dominance and geopolitics once again in the spotlight! Loopy takes you through the most authentic English to master high-frequency international news vocabulary such as "dominance, election interference, win over," making it easy to understand the global situation.
Shohei Ohtani's Knee Injury: English for "Flare-up of an Old Injury" and "Playing Through Pain"
Shohei Ohtani's left knee injury has sparked concern among fans. Want to talk about sports in English but only know how to say "hurt"? This article teaches you authentic sports English like "worsen", "flare up", and "play through pain", helping you easily understand sports news and talk about games fluently!
travel, trip, journey, tour: Figure Out These Four English Words Before You Talk About 'Traveling'
While a single Chinese phrase covers 'traveling to Japan,' in English you must choose the right word among travel, trip, journey, and tour. By comparing common Chinglish mistakes with authentic expressions, this article teaches you how to distinguish these four words before you head abroad, helping you speak naturally and fluently.
-tion or -sion? A Simple Spelling Rule You Can Tell from Verb Endings
decide becomes decision, and act becomes action. Both are noun suffixes, but why does one use -sion and the other -tion? Actually, you can tell just by looking at how the original verb ends. This article gives you a handy rule to take away, plus a quick guide to common noun suffixes, so you can spell long words with confidence.
-ful means 'with', -less means 'without': The easiest way to learn adjective suffixes in pairs
By memorizing one root word, you can easily learn both the -ful and -less versions at the same time, with their meanings being exact opposites. This article will guide you through using the 'with/without' pairing method to master careful/careless and hopeful/hopeless—learning two words at once while reducing your spelling anxiety.
-er or -or? How to Choose the Right Suffix for 'Someone Who Does Something' Every Time
teacher, actor, and scientist all refer to 'someone who does something,' but they have different suffixes. This article shares three quick tips to help you figure out whether to use -er, -or, or -ist, complete with a high-frequency word list. It also teaches you how to tell er and ed apart during dictation, making you a much more confident speller.
-able or -ible? A simple drop-the-suffix rule to tell them apart
Why does comfortable use -able while visible uses -ible? What's the actual difference? Actually, there is a super simple trick to tell them apart: drop the suffix and see if what's left is still a complete word. Master this trick, and along with this list of high-frequency -ible words, you'll never have to guess spelling again.
Stop Confusing spend, take, and cost: Master English Collocations for "Spending Time and Money" Once and for All
In Chinese, the single word "花" covers both time and money, but in English, you must choose the verb based on the subject: people use spend, situations/actions use take for time, and things use cost for price. Learn these collocations once and for all by comparing them with the most common Chinglish errors.
Why is the k in know Silent? A List of Silent English Letters and How to Memorize Them in Groups
The k in know, the w in write, and the b in thumb are written out but not pronounced, which often makes people anxious when spelling. In fact, these 'silent letters' almost always appear in clusters, and there is a history behind them. This article organizes six groups—kn-, wr-, -mb, -ght, ps-, and gn-—into a list, teaching you how to memorize them all at once using grouped visual memory so you can spell with more confidence.
Stop Spelling Letter by Letter: Recognize High-Frequency Words at a Glance
The most common words like the, was, and said actually slow down your reading when sounded out letter by letter. They should be treated like a picture and recognized at a glance. This article teaches you how to replace "letter-by-letter decoding" with "whole-word recognition." Combined with flashcard and timed-test training methods, you will turn high-frequency words into a reflex and instantly boost your sentence reading speed.
Stop Misusing senior/junior: How to Say 'School Senior,' 'Senior,' and 'Senior Colleague' in English
The Chinese concepts of 'school senior,' 'predecessor,' and 'senior colleague' do not map directly to the single word senior. When Taiwanese people use it directly to address classmates or colleagues, native speakers often find it confusing or mistake it to mean 'elderly person.' This article uses a side-by-side comparison of ✗ Chinglish → ✓ Idiomatic Phrasing to help you learn the correct terms to use on campus and in the workplace.
see, look, watch, hear, listen: Are you using these 'eye' and 'ear' English words correctly?
In Chinese, a single word for 'looking' or 'hearing' does it all, but English distinguishes between 'accidental' and 'intentional.' Group these five words into two rows and compare them with the sentences Taiwanese learners make mistakes on most often to memorize them once and for all. Easily master these high-frequency A2 basic words.
Master say, tell, speak, and talk once and for all: Choose the right word with just three questions
A single Chinese word for 'to speak' corresponds to four different English words, which learners often mix up. In fact, by asking yourself just three simple questions, you can choose the right one among say, tell, speak, and talk instantly. This article uses a '✗ Chinglish → ✓ Authentic English' comparison to help you learn the key differences between these four verbs once and for all.
ai in the Middle, ay at the End: How to Remember Homophonic Vowel Teams with Different Spellings and Never Misspell Them
rain and day are both pronounced /eɪ/, so why are their spellings different? Master this position rule: 'use ai/oi/ou in the middle of a word, and ay/oy/ow at the end of a word' to memorize these three common pairs of vowel teams all at once, and never write rain as raign or day as daiy again.
price, cost, fee, or fare? Stop mixing up these four English words for 'how much'
In Chinese, a single phrase 'how much' can get you anywhere, but English divides it into four words: use price for price tags, cost for expenses, fee for service charges, and fare for transit fares. Mixing them up won't lead to misunderstandings, but it immediately sounds like Chinglish. This article uses common mistakes made by Taiwanese learners to help you tell them apart once and for all.
uni-, bi-, tri-, multi-: Learn 10 Words at Once with Number Prefixes (Word Decomposition Series)
English has a group of prefixes that "know how to count": uni- means one, bi- means two, tri- means three, and multi- means many. Remember these little switches, and words like bicycle, triangle, and multimedia will easily unlock in clusters. This article will help you memorize 10 words from the number prefix family in groups, and even includes tips so you'll never confuse bi- and semi- again.
un-, in-, im-, dis-: 4 Negative Prefixes to Master Antonyms in One Go (Word Breakdown Series)
Learn just one negative prefix, and you can instantly add a whole list of antonyms to your vocabulary. This article will help you understand how to use and spell un-, in- (including im-, il-, ir-), and dis-, plus give you a paired-memorization method so you can learn two at a time, like happy→unhappy and possible→impossible.
was / were / went / said, came: Common words you see every day that actually hide high-frequency irregular past tense verbs
You already know words like was, were, went, said, and came, but did you realize they are actually in the past tense? This article pulls out the irregular past tense verbs hidden in common words all at once, complete with a base-form comparison table and identification tips to help you stop getting stuck when speaking in the past tense.
"according to my opinion" is Wrong: Natural Ways to Say "I Think" and "In My Opinion"
Many Taiwanese people blurt out according to my opinion when they want to say "I think," but unfortunately, this sounds like a broken sentence to native speakers. Through a series of "✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural expression" comparisons, this article will help you understand the division of labor between according to and in my opinion once and for all, so you'll never mix them up again in writing or speaking.
i before e, except after c: Is This Old Spelling Rule Actually Accurate?
The "i before e, except after c" rule you've memorized for years is actually only half right. This article fills in the key condition (it only counts when it sounds like "ee"), clearly explaining why we use ei after c (ceiling, receive) and ie elsewhere (believe, field). We also list four must-memorize exceptions—weird, seize, foreign, and protein—along with spelling tips and right-vs-wrong examples, so you'll never have to rely on luck again.
ee or ea, oo or ou: The Most Effortless Way to Remember Spellings That Sound Identical
The vowels in feel and meal are exactly the same, so why is one spelled ee and the other ea? Both food and soup are pronounced /uː/, yet their spellings are completely different. To be honest, there are no reliable rules for these spelling combinations, but a system of "memorizing in groups + trying oo first" can save you from a lot of guessing. Part of the "Learning Vocabulary Through Word Analysis" series.
do, make, have, get, take: How to Tell These 5 High-Frequency Verbs Apart and Master Them with Example Sentences
do, make, have, get, and take are the 5 most heavily used and easily confused verbs in English. This article uses real-life example sentences to help you grasp the core concept of each word, clearly explains the classic distinction between do and make, and teaches you the effortless method of "memorizing collocations in chunks." After reading this, you'll feel confident enough to start using them.
accommodation: How Many C's and M's? Group and Memorize the Double-Consonant Words That Trip You Up the Most
Does accommodation actually have two c's, two m's, or just one of each? Almost all of the most commonly misspelled words in English trip people up on "double consonants." This article strings them together into five groups—cc, mm, ss, rr, and ll. Combined with identification tips and right-versus-wrong examples, you will master notoriously difficult words like accommodation, recommend, and necessary once and for all, and never hesitate when writing again.
pre- (Before), post- (After), re- (Again): Expand a Whole Batch of Vocabulary at Once with 'Directional Prefixes'
The beginnings of many long words actually hide a sense of direction like 'before, after, above, below, between, again'. By learning these eight directional prefixes—pre-, post-, re-, sub-, super-, inter-, over-, and under-—you can instantly guess the meanings of words like preview, postpone, and rebuild when you see them. This is the fourth article in the 'Learning Vocabulary by Deconstructing Words' series, complete with a handy directional comparison chart you can save.
Don't Panic When Seeing New Words: 3 Steps to Guess Meanings by Breaking Down Prefixes and Suffixes
Many intimidatingly long words are actually made up of small building blocks. Once you learn to break a word down into three parts—prefix, root, and suffix—you can guess its general meaning without looking it up in the dictionary. This is the first article in our "Learning Vocabulary by Breaking Down Words" series, guiding you through 3 steps to unlock a whole host of new vocabulary.
5 High-Frequency Roots: Recognize port, dict, vis, scrib, and struct to Unlock Whole Clusters of Words at Once
Do you always memorize vocabulary only to forget it? Actually, many English words look similar because they share the same 'root'. This article will introduce you to 5 ultra-high-frequency roots: port, dict, vis, scrib, and struct. Each root is like a key that unlocks 5 or 6 words at once, allowing you to memorize words by 'families' from now on—making the process faster and much more permanent.
there / their / they're and to / two / too: The Most Commonly Misspelled Homophones, and One Trick to Instantly Tell Them Apart
They sound the same but are easy to get wrong—there/their/they're and to/two/too are some of the trickiest homophones among common words. This article compiles the most easily confused groups from the word list, giving you a meaning-based memory trick for each set so you can choose the right one in a split second and never hesitate about which one to use again.
Playing on your phone is not play phone! "play" is actually not as versatile as you think
In Chinese, the single word "玩" covers everything, but in English, play is only used for sports, instruments, and games. How do you say "scrolling on your phone" or "using the computer"? This article uses high-frequency example sentences that Taiwanese people get wrong every day to help you use play correctly, sentence by sentence.
Don't say open/close when turning lights on and off! turn on / turn off is the natural way!
In Chinese, a single word is enough to mean 'open/close', but in English, the phrasing changes depending on the object. For electrical appliances, you should say turn on / turn off, while open / close is used for doors and windows. This article uses a series of '✗ Chinglish → ✓ Natural English' comparisons to help you once and for all break this mother-tongue interference mistake that almost everyone makes.