contract n. [ˋkɑntrækt] 合約；契約 v. [kənˋtrækt] 簽合約；收縮
A written legal agreement between two people or businesses. / To make a legal agreement. / To become smaller or shorter. (兩人或企業間的書面法律協議。/ 簽訂法律協議。/ 變得更小或更短。)
Please read the contract carefully before signing. (簽署前請仔細閱讀合約。)
Metal contracts as it cools. (金屬遇冷會收縮。)
control n./v. [kənˋtrol] 控制
The power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events. / To determine the behaviour of. (影響或指導人們行為或事件進程的力量。/ 決定...的行為。)
He lost control of the car. (他失去了對車子的控制。)
You need to learn to control your temper. (你需要學會控制你的脾氣。)
conversation n. [͵kɑnvɚˋseʃən] 對話；交談
Talk between two or more people in which thoughts, feelings, and ideas are expressed. (兩人或多人之間表達想法、感受和觀點的談話。)
We had an interesting conversation about movies. (我們進行了一場關於電影的有趣對話。)
copy n. [ˋkɑpɪ] 副本；一份 v. 複製；抄寫
A thing made to be similar or identical to another. / To make a similar version of. (與另一物相似或相同的東西。/ 製作相似版本。)
Can you make three copies of this report? (你可以影印三份這份報告嗎？)
cost n. [kɔst] 成本；代價 v. 花費；價值 (三態常同形)
The amount of money needed to buy or do something. / To require the payment of (a specified sum). (購買或做某事所需的金額。/ 需要支付（特定金額）。)
We need to calculate the total cost. (我們需要計算總成本。)
The trip cost us a lot of money. (這次旅行花了我們很多錢。)
courage n. [ˋkɝɪdʒ] 勇氣 (不可數)
The ability to do something that frightens one; bravery. (做令人害怕的事情的能力；勇敢。)
It takes courage to admit your mistakes. (承認錯誤需要勇氣。)
course n. [kors] 課程；過程；一道菜
A series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject. / The way something progresses. / A part of a meal. (關於特定主題的一系列課程或講座。/ 某事進展的方式。/ 一餐中的一部分。)
I'm taking an English course this semester. (我這學期正在上英文課。)
What is the main course? (主菜是什麼？)
crime n. [kraɪm] 罪；犯罪行為
An action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law. (構成犯罪並依法應受懲罰的行為或不作為。)
Stealing is a serious crime. (偷竊是嚴重的罪行。)
crisis n. [ˋkraɪsɪs] 危機 (複數: crises [ˋkraɪsiz])
A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. (極度困難、麻煩或危險的時期。)
The country is facing an economic crisis. (這個國家正面临經濟危機。)
culture n. [ˋkʌltʃɚ] 文化
The ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society. (特定人群或社會的思想、習俗和社會行為。)
We should respect different cultures. (我們應該尊重不同的文化。)
cure n./v. [kjʊr] 治療；治癒；療法
A treatment that cures a disease. / To make someone with an illness healthy again. (治癒疾病的療法。/ 使病人恢復健康。)
Scientists are searching for a cure for cancer. (科學家們正在尋找治療癌症的方法。)
current n. [ˋkɝənt] 水流；電流；趨勢 adj. 目前的
A body of water or air moving in a definite direction. / A flow of electricity. / Happening or being used now. (朝特定方向移動的水體或氣流。/ 電流。/ 現在發生或使用的。)
Be careful of the strong current when swimming in the river. (在河裡游泳時要小心強勁的水流。)
custom n. [ˋkʌstəm] 習俗；海關 (常用複數 customs)
A traditional way of behaving or doing something. / The place where officials check goods coming into a country. (傳統的行為或做事方式。/ 官員檢查進口貨物的地方。)
Giving red envelopes is a Chinese custom during the Lunar New Year. (農曆新年發紅包是中國的習俗。)
damage n./v. [ˋdæmɪdʒ] 損壞；損害
Physical harm that impairs the value or usefulness of something. / To inflict physical harm. (削弱某物價值或用處的物理損害。/ 造成物理損害。)
The earthquake caused serious damage to the city. (地震對城市造成了嚴重損害。)
danger n. [ˋdendʒɚ] 危險 (不可數)
The possibility of suffering harm or injury. (遭受傷害或損傷的可能性。)
You are in great danger here. (你在這裡處於極大的危險之中。)
data n. [ˋdetə] 資料；數據 (通常視為不可數，但 datum 是單數)
Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. (為參考或分析而收集的事實和統計數據。)
We need more data to make a decision. (我們需要更多數據來做決定。)
death n. [dɛθ] 死亡
The end of the life of a person or organism. (人或有機體生命的終結。)
Everyone faces death eventually. (每個人最終都要面對死亡。)
debate n./v. [dɪˋbet] 辯論；爭論
A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly. / To argue about a subject. (在公開會議或立法機構中就特定主題進行的正式討論。/ 就某主題進行爭論。)
There was a lively debate about the new policy. (關於新政策有一場熱烈的辯論。)
debt n. [dɛt] 債務；欠款
A sum of money that is owed or due. (欠下或應付的款項。)
He is trying hard to pay off his debts. (他正努力償還債務。)
decision n. [dɪˋsɪʒən] 決定；決心
A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration. (經過考慮後達成的結論或決議。)
It was a difficult decision to make. (這是個很難做的決定。)
decrease n./v. [ˋdikris] / [dɪˋkris] 減少；降低
An instance of becoming smaller or fewer. / To become smaller or fewer. (變小或變少的例子。/ 變得更小或更少。)
There has been a sharp decrease in sales. (銷售額急劇下降。)
degree n. [dɪˋgri] 度數；程度；學位
A unit of measurement for temperature or angles. / The amount or level of something. / An academic rank conferred by a college or university. (測量溫度或角度的單位。/ 某物的數量或水平。/ 學院或大學授予的學術等級。)
You need a high degree of concentration for this task. (這項任務需要高度的專注力。)
She has a master's degree in economics. (她擁有經濟學碩士學位。)
delay n./v. [dɪˋle] 延遲；耽擱
A period of time by which something is late or postponed. / To make late or slow. (某事延遲或推後的時期。/ 使遲到或變慢。)
Sorry for the delay. (抱歉延誤了。)
democracy n. [dɪˋmɑkrəsɪ] 民主；民主制度
A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. (由全體人民或所有合格成員（通常透過選舉代表）進行統治的政府體制。)
Freedom of speech is important in a democracy. (言論自由在民主制度中很重要。)
department n. [dɪˋpɑrtmənt] 部門；(大學的)系
A division of a large organization such as a government, university, or business. (大型組織（如政府、大學或企業）的一個分支。)
Which department do you work in? (你在哪個部門工作？)
design n./v. [dɪˋzaɪn] 設計
A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function of something before it is made. / To plan the look or workings of something. (顯示某物製作前外觀和功能的計劃或圖紙。/ 規劃某物的外觀或運作方式。)
The design of the building is very modern. (這棟建築的設計非常現代。)
desire n./v. [dɪˋzaɪr] 渴望；慾望
A strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. / To strongly wish for. (強烈想要擁有某物或希望某事發生的感覺。/ 強烈希望。)
He has a strong desire for knowledge. (他對知識有強烈的渴望。)
difference n. [ˋdɪfərəns] 差異；差額
A point or way in which people or things are not the same. (人或事物不相同的方面。)
What's the difference between these two words? (這兩個字之間有什麼差異？)
difficulty n. [ˋdɪfə͵kʌltɪ] 困難；難度
The state or condition of being difficult. (困難的狀態或情況。)
He had great difficulty learning English at first. (他起初學英文有很大的困難。)
direction n. [dəˋrɛkʃən] 方向；指示；管理
The course along which someone or something moves. / Instructions on how to do something. / Management or guidance. (某人或某物移動的路線。/ 如何做某事的指示。/ 管理或指導。)
Are we going in the right direction? (我們走的方向對嗎？)
discovery n. [dɪˋskʌvərɪ] 發現
The action or process of discovering or being discovered. (發現或被發現的行動或過程。)
The discovery of penicillin changed medicine forever. (青黴素的發現永遠改變了醫學。)
discussion n. [dɪˋskʌʃən] 討論
The action or process of talking about something in order to reach a decision or to exchange ideas. (為了達成決定或交換想法而談論某事的行動或過程。)
We need to have a serious discussion about this. (我們需要就此進行認真的討論。)
disease n. [dɪˋziz] 疾病
An illness affecting humans, animals, or plants. (影響人類、動物或植物的疾病。)
Heart disease is a serious health problem. (心臟病是個嚴重的健康問題。)
distance n. [ˋdɪstəns] 距離
The amount of space between two places or things. (兩地或兩物之間的空間量。)
Keep a safe distance from the car in front. (與前車保持安全距離。)
division n. [dəˋvɪʒən] 分開；部門；除法
The action of separating something into parts. / One of the parts into which something is divided. / The process of dividing one number by another. (將某物分成部分的動作。/ 某物被分成的部分之一。/ 一個數除以另一個數的過程。)
The division of the company into smaller units was necessary. (將公司分成較小單位是必要的。)
We learned multiplication and division in math class. (我們在數學課學了乘法和除法。)
doubt n./v. [daʊt] 懷疑
A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction. / To feel uncertain about. (不確定或缺乏信念的感覺。/ 對...感到不確定。)
There is no doubt that he is telling the truth. (毫無疑問他在說實話。)
drama n. [ˋdrɑmə] 戲劇；戲劇性事件
A play for theatre, radio, or television. / An exciting or emotional event or situation. (用於劇院、廣播或電視的劇本。/ 令人興奮或情緒化的事件或情況。)
She is studying drama at university. (她在大學研讀戲劇。)
Don't create unnecessary drama. (別製造不必要的戲劇性事件。)
dream n./v. [drim] 夢想；做夢
A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. / A cherished aspiration or ambition. / To experience dreams during sleep. (睡眠中腦海裡出現的一系列想法、影像和感覺。/ 珍視的渴望或抱負。/ 在睡眠中做夢。)
My dream is to travel the world. (我的夢想是環遊世界。)
duty n. [ˋdjutɪ] 責任；義務；關稅
A moral or legal obligation; a responsibility. / A tax levied on certain goods. (道德或法律上的義務；責任。/ 對某些商品徵收的稅。)
It's your duty to take care of your parents. (照顧父母是你的責任。)
You have to pay import duty on these goods. (你需要為這些商品支付進口關稅。)
edge n. [ɛdʒ] 邊緣
The outside limit of an object, area, or surface. (物體、區域或表面的外部界線。)
Be careful not to fall off the edge of the cliff. (小心別從懸崖邊掉下去。)
education n. [͵ɛdʒʊˋkeʃən] 教育
The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. (接受或給予系統性指導的過程，尤指在學校或大學。)
Everyone has the right to education. (每個人都有受教育的權利。)
effect n. [ɪˋfɛkt] 效果；影響
A change which is a consequence or result of an action or other cause. (作為行動或其他原因的後果或結果的變化。)
The medicine had an immediate effect. (藥效立竿見影。)
effort n. [ˋɛfɚt] 努力；力氣
A vigorous or determined attempt; physical or mental exertion. (有活力或堅定的嘗試；體力或腦力的消耗。)
Success requires hard work and effort. (成功需要努力工作和付出。)
element n. [ˋɛləmənt] 元素；要素
A part or aspect of something abstract, especially one that is essential or characteristic. / A basic substance in chemistry. (抽象事物的組成部分或方面，尤指必要或具特徵性的。/ 化學中的基本物質。)
Trust is an important element in any relationship. (信任是任何關係中的重要元素。)
Water is composed of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. (水由氫和氧兩種元素組成。)
emotion n. [ɪˋmoʃən] 情緒；情感
A strong feeling deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. (源於個人情況、心情或與他人關係的強烈感覺。)
He tried to hide his emotions. (他試圖隱藏自己的情緒。)
emphasis n. [ˋɛmfəsɪs] 強調；重點
Special importance, value, or prominence given to something. (賦予某物的特殊重要性、價值或顯著性。)
The emphasis should be on quality, not quantity. (重點應該放在品質，而不是數量。)
詞彙小叮嚀：
- 抽象名詞通常是不可數的 (advice, courage, culture, danger, death, democracy, difficulty, duty, education, effect, effort, emotion, emphasis, energy, environment, envy, equality, error, existence, experience, failure, fame, fault, favor, fear, flavor, freedom, friendship, fun, fury, future, government, growth, guidance, habit, health, heat, heaven, hell, height, help, honesty, hope, horror, humor, hunger, idea, importance, income, independence, influence, information, injury, innocence, interest, internet, invention, joy, justice, knowledge, lack, laughter, law, leisure, length, level, liberty, life, light, luck, magic, manner, marriage, mass, matter, meaning, means, memory, mercy, method, might, mind, mistake, misunderstanding, mood...)，但有些在特定情況下可數 (如 a beauty, an idea, different cultures)。
- 很多抽象概念詞彙有名詞和動詞形式 (aim, blame, book, bother, box, break, burn, camp, care, cause, change, charge, cheat, check, cheer, circle, clap, command, comment, concern, conflict, contact, control, copy, cost, cover, cry, cure, cut, damage, dance, deal, debate, decrease, delay, desire, design, doubt, dream, end, envy, exercise, export, face, fail, fall, fancy, fear, fight, figure, file, fill, finish, fire, fix, flow, focus, fool, force, form, found, freeze, function, gain, glue, grade, greet, guess, guide, hammer, hand, handle, hate, heat, help, hike, hit, hold, hop, hope, hunt, hurry, hurt, influence, interest, interrupt, interview, invite, joke, judge, kick, kill, kiss, knock, labor, lack, last, laugh, lecture, let, lie, lift, light, like, line, list, lock, look, love, mail, manage, mark, marry, match, matter, mean, meet, mend, mention, mind, miss, mix, mop, move, multiply, murder, nail, name, need, nod, note, notice, offer, order, organize, own, pack, paint, pardon, park, pass, paste, pause, pay, pick, pin, pity, place, plan, plant, play, please, plug, point, poison, pop, pour, practice, praise, pray, present, press, prevent, print, process, produce, progress, project, promise, pronounce, protect, prove, provide, pull, punish, push, put, puzzle, question, quit, race, raise, rate, reach, record, refuse, regard, regret, relax, remain, remind, rent, repair, repeat, reply, report, represent, request, require, research, reserve, respect, rest, result, return, review, reward, ring, rise, rob, roll, row, rule, run, rush, sail, satisfy, save, schedule, score, search, seat, sense, sentence, separate, serve, set, shake, shame, shape, share, shine, shop, shout, show, shut, sign, silence, sing, skate, sleep, slide, slow, smell, smile, smoke, soak, solve, sort, sound, speed, spell, spend, spread, spring, squash, stamp, start, stay, steal, steam, step, stick, stop, store, study, succeed, suggest, suit, supply, support, suppose, surf, surprise, sweep, swing, switch, talk, tape, taste, tear, test, thank, think, throw, tidy, tie, tip, tire, touch, tour, train, translate, travel, treasure, trouble, trust, try, turn, type, upset, use, value, visit, vote, wait, wake, walk, want, warn, wash, waste, watch, wave, weigh, welcome, win, wish, wonder, work, worry, wound, wrap, write, yawn)。
- 這是抽象概念的第二部分，持續累積這些詞彙能幫助你表達更深入的想法。