being

being — noun

1. a person, animal, or other creature thought of as one separate individual

1.名詞C2
釋義

a person, animal, or other creature thought of as one separate individual

例句

No human being should sleep outside in winter.

human being

In the film, a green being steps out beside the village school.

a being from another world

同義詞
  • creature

    usually points more directly to an animal or living life form.

  • entity

    more formal and often used in technical, legal, or philosophical contexts.

  • life form

    commonly used in science fiction or scientific discussion about living things.

文法句型

a human being

a living being

a strange being

intelligent beings

用法筆記

Usually countable, especially in phrases like 'human being' and 'living being'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is an uncountable abstract noun about existence itself.

常見錯誤

❌There are many being on this island.
✅There are many beings on this island.
💡after 'many', use the plural countable form.

2. the condition of existing at all, especially in formal or abstract discussion

2.名詞C2
釋義

the condition of existing at all, especially in formal or abstract discussion

例句

New safety rules came into being after the factory fire.

fixed phrase: come into being

The town library came into being with gifts from local families.

同義詞
  • existence

    the closest everyday equivalent and usually the simplest substitute.

  • presence

    focuses more on someone or something being there than on existence in general.

  • reality

    often stresses what is true or actual, not only the fact of existing.

反義詞

文法句型

come into being

bring something into being

pass into being

用法筆記

Most often uncountable and especially common in the phrases 'come into being' and 'bring ... into being'. Distinguish from sense 1, where a being is a person, creature, or other separate thing.

常見錯誤

❌The plan came into a being last year.
✅The plan came into being last year.
💡the fixed phrase uses no article before 'being'.