schema

schema — noun

1. A simple drawing, diagram, or chart that shows the main parts of a system, theor

1.名詞B2
釋義

A simple drawing, diagram, or chart that shows the main parts of a system, theory, or plan and how those parts relate to each other.

例句

The architect drew a <hl>schema</hl> of the building's electrical system.

schema + of + [technical system]

Lucía's textbook shows a <hl>schema</hl> of the solar system with labelled orbits.

schema showing labelled spatial relationships

同義詞
  • diagram

    more general; a diagram can be any explanatory drawing, while a schema emphasises abstract relationships

  • outline

    focuses on the main shape or structure without visual detail; an outline is text-based, a schema is typically visual

  • schematic

    often used in engineering; a schematic is a specific type of schema using standardised symbols (e.g. circuit schematic)

文法句型

schema + of + [thing being shown]

[adjective] + schema

常見錯誤

❌Please draw a schema of the house layout.
✅Please draw a sketch of the house layout.
💡Use 'sketch' or 'diagram' for simple informal drawings; 'schema' suggests a more systematic, abstract representation of relationships.

2. In psychology and cognitive science, a mental structure stored in the mind that

2.名詞C1
釋義

In psychology and cognitive science, a mental structure stored in the mind that organises past experience and helps a person interpret new situations, solve problems, and respond to the world around them.

例句

Children build a mental <hl>schema</hl> for 'dog' by seeing several dogs.

mental schema + for + [concept] — formed through repeated experience

Professor Adisa says cultural <hl>schema</hl> shapes how we interpret gestures.

cultural schema — psychology domain collocation

同義詞
  • mental model

    more general and used outside psychology; a mental model is what a person believes about how something works, while a schema is a broader organising structure

  • cognitive framework

    slightly more formal; emphasises the organising function of the schema

  • knowledge structure

    descriptive term used in education research; less technical than 'schema'

文法句型

schema + for + [experience/behaviour]

[adjective] + schema

schema + of + [the world/knowledge]

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used in academic writing about psychology, education, or cognitive science. In formal academic English, the Greek plural 'schemata' (/ˈskiːmətə/) is sometimes preferred over 'schemas', though both are accepted. The psychologist Jean Piaget introduced the term in his theory of cognitive development.

常見錯誤

❌His wrong schema caused him to fail the test.
✅His existing schema for the topic was incomplete, so he struggled to understand the new material.
💡A schema is not 'right' or 'wrong'; it is a mental framework that may be underdeveloped, incomplete, or inaccurate.