literal

literal — adjective

1. The plainest and most direct way to read a word, without figurative or symbolic

1.形容詞B1
釋義

The plainest and most direct way to read a word, without figurative or symbolic layers.

例句

The literal meaning of 'fox' is a wild animal, not a clever person.

literal meaning vs. figurative meaning

When Ayana said she was 'dying of laughter,' she did not mean that literally.

同義詞
  • basic

    simpler and less technical; covers core meaning but lacks the contrast with figurative

  • exact

    emphasises precision rather than the basic-or-figurative distinction

  • denotative

    technical term used in linguistics; much more formal and less common

反義詞
  • figurative

    the direct opposite — meaning extended through metaphor or imagery

  • metaphorical

    similar to figurative; refers specifically to comparison-based extensions of meaning

文法句型

the literal meaning/sense of [noun]

literal + noun

用法筆記

Frequently contrasted with 'figurative' or 'metaphorical' in language-learning contexts. This sense is the most common and appears in all registers.

常見錯誤

❌She took his comment literally' (when meaning she misunderstood).
✅She took his comment at face value and missed the joke.
💡'literally' as an adverb often accompanies this sense, but the key is contrasting with figurative intent.

2. Describing a translation or transcription that reproduces each word of the origi

2.形容詞B1
釋義

Describing a translation or transcription that reproduces each word of the original exactly, without adapting the phrasing to sound natural in the target language.

例句

A literal translation of the French phrase sounds awkward in English.

collocation: literal translation + sounds awkward

Reema's word-for-word translation of the German poem sounded very unnatural in English.

同義詞
  • verbatim

    stronger emphasis on exact repetition; often used for speech and quotations rather than translation

  • word-for-word

    more colloquial and transparent; interchangeable but less formal

  • exact

    broader meaning; can refer to precision in any context, not only translation

反義詞
  • idiomatic

    describes language that sounds natural in the target language, adapted rather than copied

  • free

    used in translation studies for versions that prioritise naturalness over word-level accuracy

文法句型

literal translation/rendering/version of [text]

用法筆記

Almost exclusively used attributively before nouns like 'translation,' 'rendering,' or 'version.' Predicative use ('this translation is literal') is possible but less common.

3. Describing a person, statement, or work that stays strictly with facts or obviou

3.形容詞B2
釋義

Describing a person, statement, or work that stays strictly with facts or obvious details and shows no creative imagination or emotional depth.

例句

Padma's literal description of the sunset failed to capture its beauty.

collocation: literal description / literal mind

Erik's literal mind could not appreciate the abstract paintings at the gallery.

同義詞
  • prosaic

    more formal; suggests a dry, uninspired quality in writing or speech

  • matter-of-fact

    emphasises a practical, emotionless tone rather than lack of creativity specifically

  • unimaginative

    more direct and negative; focuses solely on absence of creative thinking

反義詞
  • creative

    opposite in the sense of producing original or imaginative work

  • imaginative

    stresses the ability to form new ideas and mental images

文法句型

literal + noun (mind, description, account)

subject + be + literal

用法筆記

Carries a mildly negative connotation. Often used to criticise art, writing, or thinking that is overly factual and fails to engage the audience.

literal — noun