drama

drama — noun

1. a television programme or film category that focuses on serious subjects and emo

1.名詞A2
釋義

a television programme or film category that focuses on serious subjects and emotional stories, rather than ones meant mainly to make people laugh.

例句

Sven enjoys watching historical dramas about the Roman Empire.

collocation: historical drama / TV drama / crime drama

The new drama on Channel Nine won Best Screenplay at the Seoul Drama Awards this year.

同義詞
  • series

    broader term; a series can be drama, comedy, or documentary

  • production

    formal term for any TV or film work, not limited to drama

反義詞
  • comedy

    the opposite genre, intended to be funny

文法句型

drama about [topic]

historical/period/family drama

用法筆記

Countable when referring to a specific programme ('a new drama'); uncountable when referring to the genre in general ('I prefer drama to comedy').

常見錯誤

❌I watched a drama comedy last night.
✅I watched a dramedy / comedy-drama last night.
💡A drama and a comedy are different genres; use 'comedy-drama' or 'dramedy' for a blend.
❌That show is a drama series, so it is always funny.
✅A drama series is serious or exciting, not funny.
💡Learners often confuse 'drama' with 'comedy' because both are TV genres.

2. a written work that tells a story through the words and actions of actors perfor

2.名詞B1
釋義

a written work that tells a story through the words and actions of actors performing on a stage, or adapted for radio or television.

例句

Iris wrote a short drama for the school theatre competition.

collocation: write a drama

The drama was first performed in a small theatre in Dublin in 1998.

同義詞
  • play

    the most common everyday word for a theatre piece

  • stage play

    emphasises that it is performed in a theatre

  • theatrical work

    formal, used in literary or academic contexts

文法句型

drama by [playwright]

drama about [topic]

用法筆記

This sense is always countable. It refers to the script or the work itself, not the performance — use 'production' or 'show' for a specific staging.

常見錯誤

❌I am going to a drama tonight.
✅I am going to see a play tonight.
💡In everyday English, 'play' is more natural than 'drama' for a theatre performance.

3. the branch of literature and performance that involves writing and staging plays

3.名詞B2
釋義

the branch of literature and performance that involves writing and staging plays, studied as a subject in schools and universities.

例句

Baraka studied drama and literature at a university in Nairobi.

uncountable: drama as an academic subject

The course covers drama from ancient Greece to modern Britain.

同義詞
  • theatre

    overlaps in meaning but 'theatre' also includes performance, staging, and production

  • stagecraft

    more specific to the technical skills of theatre production

  • dramatic art

    formal synonym used in academic contexts

文法句型

study drama

drama and [other art form]

用法筆記

Uncountable in this sense — do not use 'a drama' or 'dramas' when referring to the art form or field of study.

常見錯誤

❌She has a degree in a drama.
✅She has a degree in drama.
💡When referring to the subject or art form, drama is uncountable and takes no article.

4. an unexpected event or chain of events that causes people to worry or feel stron

4.名詞B1
釋義

an unexpected event or chain of events that causes people to worry or feel strong emotions, often involving a lot of activity or conflict.

例句

There was a big drama at the airport when the flight was cancelled.

collocation: big drama

Niran's family has had a lot of drama since they moved — arguments about the new house and the children's school.

同義詞
  • scene

    often used for an emotional public argument; more specific

  • turmoil

    stronger, suggesting confusion and disorder

  • incident

    neutral; a factual event without the emotional tone

反義詞
  • calm

    a state of peace with no conflict or excitement

  • routine

    ordinary, uneventful events

文法句型

a drama when/where...

family drama

full of drama

用法筆記

Common in informal speech. Often used in phrases like 'there was drama' or 'full of drama'. Can be countable ('a drama') for a specific incident or uncountable ('lots of drama') for an atmosphere of conflict.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting had a drama.
✅The meeting had some drama.
💡When used uncountably to mean 'tension or conflict', do not use 'a drama'. Use 'there was drama' or 'some drama'.

5. the exciting or emotionally involving character of a situation or performance, c

5.名詞B2
釋義

the exciting or emotionally involving character of a situation or performance, created by action, conflict, or strong feelings.

例句

The courtroom was full of drama as the judge announced the verdict.

collocation: full of drama

Aylin loves the drama of political debates during election season.

the drama of [something] — pattern for sources of excitement

同義詞
  • excitement

    broader, more general; drama suggests tension and conflict specifically

  • intensity

    focuses on the strength of emotion rather than the action

  • tension

    emphasises suspense and anticipation

反義詞
  • calm

    absence of excitement or strong emotion

  • peace

    a state without conflict or disturbance

文法句型

full of drama

add drama to [something]

drama of [something]

用法筆記

Uncountable only. Refers to the atmosphere or quality, not a specific event. Distinguish from sense 4: 'a drama' (a countable event) vs 'drama' (uncountable, the quality of excitement).

常見錯誤

❌The game had a lot of dramas.
✅The game had a lot of drama.
💡In this sense drama is uncountable, so 'dramas' (plural) is incorrect.
❌There was a drama in the match.
✅There was drama in the match.
💡When referring to excitement as a quality, do not use the indefinite article.