reflect
reflect — verb
1. When a surface sends back light, sound, heat, or an image that reaches it, inste
When a surface sends back light, sound, heat, or an image that reaches it, instead of absorbing it or letting it pass through.
The calm lake reflected the tall pine trees and the grey sky above.
transitive: reflect + image noun phrase
A bike reflector works by bouncing back light from a car's headlights at night.
White curtains reflect sunlight, keeping the bedroom cooler on hot afternoons.
Sound reflects off stone walls, which is why old churches have such clear echoes.
The surface of the old pond reflected the cherry blossoms hanging above it.
- bounce back
more informal; often used for sound or light hitting a surface and returning
- mirror
suggests an exact reproduction of an image, like a mirror does
- throw back
less common; describes the physical action of a surface returning light or sound
- absorb
a surface that absorbs light or sound takes it in rather than sending it back
文法句型
reflect + noun (light / heat / sound / image)
reflect + off / from + noun
常見錯誤
2. To display or indicate that a certain situation, feeling, or quality exists — fo
To display or indicate that a certain situation, feeling, or quality exists — for example, a store's sales figures reflecting the economy, or a person's words reflecting their true beliefs.
Adaeze's calm voice reflected her confidence during the difficult group presentation.
reflect + noun for showing an inner state
The rising number of tourists reflects the growing popularity of the small coastal town.
A person's daily choices often reflect their true values more than their words do.
The new museum design reflects the city's desire to honor its immigrant history.
Christopher's kind treatment of strangers reflected the way his parents had raised him.
- indicate
more neutral; suggests that something points to a fact without necessarily being the cause
- reveal
stronger; suggests that something was previously hidden or not obvious
- demonstrate
more formal; implies clear evidence or proof
- show
simpler and more common in everyday speech
文法句型
reflect + noun (attitude / feeling / situation / quality)
用法筆記
Subject is often a situation, statistic, action, or behaviour rather than a person. When a person is the subject, the verb usually takes a quality or feeling as its object (e.g., 'Her smile reflected genuine happiness').
常見錯誤
3. To take quiet time to think about something carefully and seriously, often a pas
To take quiet time to think about something carefully and seriously, often a past event or a choice you need to make.
After the argument, Mert sat alone and reflected on the things he had said.
reflect on + noun for careful thought
Ilan took a quiet walk along the beach to reflect on his career choices.
Teachers often ask students to reflect on what they learned during a field trip.
Wren reflected that living in a new country taught her things no classroom could.
- ponder
more literary; suggests slow, careful consideration
- contemplate
implies looking at something from many angles over a longer period
- meditate on
suggests deep, quiet thought, sometimes with a spiritual or mental exercise quality
- ignore
to deliberately pay no attention to something
文法句型
reflect + on / upon + noun
reflect + that-clause (less common)
用法筆記
Commonly takes the preposition 'on' or the slightly more formal 'upon'. The that-clause pattern ('He reflected that...') is less frequent and belongs to a more literary register.
常見錯誤
4. To affect how other people view someone or something, giving a particular impres
To affect how other people view someone or something, giving a particular impression of their character, ability, or quality.
Camila's excellent work on the project reflected well on the entire design team.
reflect well/badly + on + noun for effect on reputation
The way a restaurant treats its customers reflects on its reputation in the local area.
Ryo's refusal to help his teammates reflected badly on his character according to the coach.
Élise's honesty in returning the lost wallet reflected positively on her family.
- speak well/badly of
more explicit and slightly formal; directly links behaviour to reputation
- say something about
more informal and vague; used to indicate an impression without judging
文法句型
reflect + well / badly / poorly / favourably + on + noun
reflect + on + noun
用法筆記
Nearly always appears with an adverb (well, badly, poorly, favourably, positively, negatively) before the preposition 'on'. The subject is typically an action, behaviour, or outcome rather than a person.