advance
advance — 動詞
1. to keep going steadily toward a place or goal, or to push someone or something n
前進；推進
向前移動或將某物往前推
to keep going steadily toward a place or goal, or to push someone or something nearer to that point — used both for real movement (soldiers crossing a field) and for figurative steps closer to a target.
The soldiers advanced slowly across the muddy field at dawn.
士兵們在黎明時分緩緩地前進，穿越泥濘的田野。
intransitive: advance + adverbial of manner / place
Heavy rain forced the climbers to advance one careful step at a time.
大雨迫使登山隊員每次只能小心地前進一步。
Rashida advanced the small wooden piece three squares on the board.
Rashida 把那枚小木棋在棋盤上往前推進三格。
Rescue teams advanced toward the trapped miners through narrow tunnels.
救援隊穿過狹窄的隧道，朝受困的礦工那邊推進。
The hikers could only advance another two kilometers before sunset.
登山客在日落前最多只能再前進兩公里。
文法句型
advance + (toward / on / into) + place
advance + object
用法筆記
Subject is often a group on a journey or mission (army, team, expedition); typically followed by a direction or distance phrase rather than a simple object.
常見錯誤
2. to help an idea, project, career, or area of knowledge get to a better or more d
促進；推動
幫助學問、事業或計畫往前發展
to help an idea, project, career, or area of knowledge get to a better or more developed stage — for example, new research that pushes medicine forward, or a job change that helps your career.
Dr. Yael's research helped advance our understanding of malaria.
田中博士的研究促進了我們對瘧疾的了解。
advance + understanding / knowledge (typical object)
Volunteering at the clinic advanced Yusuf's career in public health.
在診所當志工推動了 Yusuf 在公衛領域的職涯發展。
advance + career / cause / interests
The new microscope advanced the team's work by several months.
新顯微鏡讓團隊的工作往前推進了好幾個月。
Solar panels and wind farms have advanced steadily over the past decade.
太陽能板和風力發電場在過去十年穩定地發展進步。
Imani joined the lab hoping to advance the cause of clean water in rural villages.
Imani 加入實驗室，希望能推動鄉村乾淨用水的這項工作。
文法句型
advance + abstract noun (knowledge / cause / career)
用法筆記
Frequently passive in academic writing ('our knowledge has been greatly advanced by…'). Typical objects are abstract: knowledge, science, a cause, someone's career, a project.
常見錯誤
3. to give someone money now that they would normally only receive later — for exam
預付；先付
把錢提早付給某人
to give someone money now that they would normally only receive later — for example, paying a worker a week's wages early, or lending a sum that will be paid back from future earnings.
The publisher advanced Rosa five thousand dollars against future book royalties.
出版社先預付了 Rosa 五千美元，作為未來書籍版稅的部分款項。
ditransitive: advance + person + amount
Nadia asked her boss to advance her next month's salary for the hospital bill.
Nadia 為了支付醫療費用，請老闆預付她下個月的薪水。
advance + somebody + amount of money
The bank refused to advance any more cash until the loan was repaid.
在貸款還清之前，銀行拒絕再預付任何現金。
Aunt Rosa advanced the family enough money to buy plane tickets home.
Rosa 阿姨先給了那家人足夠的錢，讓他們能買機票回家。
- withhold
to keep money back rather than release it
文法句型
advance + somebody + amount
advance + amount + to somebody
用法筆記
Almost always takes a person and an amount as objects; the assumption is that the money will later be deducted, repaid, or earned. Distinguish from sense 2 (PROGRESS): here the object is money, not knowledge or a cause.
常見錯誤
4. to offer a theory, argument, or proposal so that other people can think about it
提出（觀點）
提出理論、論點或建議供人討論
to offer a theory, argument, or proposal so that other people can think about it and decide whether they agree — common in academic writing, debates, and meetings.
Dr. Patel advanced a bold theory about why the bees were disappearing.
Patel 醫師提出了一個大膽的理論，解釋蜜蜂為什麼正在消失。
advance + a theory / hypothesis (academic)
Several economists advanced different arguments at the climate policy hearing.
好幾位經濟學家在氣候政策聽證會上提出不同的論點。
The mayor advanced a proposal to turn the empty parking lot into a community garden.
市長提出一項提案，要把那塊空蕩的停車場改造成社區花園。
In her thesis, Rashida advanced the view that early sleep improves memory in teenagers.
Rashida 在論文裡提出觀點，主張早睡能改善青少年的記憶力。
- propose
more neutral; 'advance' suggests defending the idea, not just naming it
- put forward
everyday equivalent; less formal than 'advance'
- submit
very formal; common in legal and academic writing
- withdraw
to take a proposal or argument back
文法句型
advance + a theory / argument / view / proposal
用法筆記
Largely confined to formal contexts (academic papers, courts, policy debates). Object is almost always an abstract noun like theory, argument, claim, proposal, or view — never a physical thing.
常見錯誤
5. (of a share price, currency, or market index) to go up in value — used in busine
上漲；上升
股價或行情數值往上走
(of a share price, currency, or market index) to go up in value — used in business reporting when a stock or rate climbs higher.
Tech shares advanced sharply after the company announced strong sales.
公司公布亮眼的銷售數字後，科技股大幅上漲。
intransitive: shares / stocks + advance (finance register)
The Tokyo index advanced by 1.8 percent on Monday morning.
東京指數週一早上上漲了百分之一點八。
advance + by + percent / amount
Oil prices advanced steadily through the cold winter weeks.
在寒冷的冬天裡，油價持續穩定上漲。
Gold advanced to a record high after the central bank cut interest rates.
央行降息後，黃金價格一路上漲到歷史新高。
文法句型
advance + by + amount / percent
advance + to + price
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a price, share, currency, or index — never a person. Common in financial news; in everyday speech, people say 'go up' or 'rise' instead.
常見錯誤
advance — 名詞
1. a step toward a more developed state in some area of life — such as a new discov
進步；進展
知識或行動上的向前一步
a step toward a more developed state in some area of life — such as a new discovery in science, or the steady forward push of an army across a region.
Recent advances in cancer treatment have given many patients longer lives.
癌症治療的最新進展讓許多病患能活得更久。
advances in + field of knowledge
The advance of the rebel forces stopped at the river when the bridge was destroyed.
叛軍部隊的推進在橋被炸毀後，停在了河邊。
the advance of + group of people / army
Solar power has made enormous advances since Imani first installed his panels.
自從 Imani 第一次裝太陽能板以來，太陽能技術已有巨大的進步。
The textbook lists every major advance in chemistry from 1900 to today.
這本教科書列出了 1900 年到今天化學界每一項重要的進展。
Villagers fled their homes as soon as they heard about the army's advance.
村民一聽說軍隊正在推進，就趕緊離開家。
- progress
uncountable; 'an advance' is one specific step, while 'progress' is the general movement
- breakthrough
stronger; suggests a single dramatic discovery
- improvement
broader and more everyday
文法句型
advance in + field
the advance of + noun
用法筆記
Plural 'advances' is typical when listing discoveries or improvements ('advances in medicine'). Singular with 'the' is typical for a specific forward movement of troops or a project.
常見錯誤
2. a sum of money handed over before it is normally due — for instance, part of an
預付款
在正式時間之前先支付的款項
a sum of money handed over before it is normally due — for instance, part of an author's payment given before the book is finished, or wages paid days before payday.
The novelist received a large advance for her second book about Tokyo.
這位小說家為她寫東京的第二本書拿到了一筆相當可觀的預付款。
advance for + work to be done (publishing)
Nadia asked her manager for a small advance on next month's pay.
Nadia 向經理請求預支下個月薪水的一小部分。
advance on + future income
The actor lived on an advance from the studio while filming in New Zealand.
這位演員在紐西蘭拍片期間，靠片商的預付款生活。
Most credit cards charge a high fee for a cash advance from an ATM.
大部分信用卡從提款機預借現金時都會收高額手續費。
- loan
broader; a loan need not be against future earnings
- down payment
different direction — paid by buyer before goods are delivered
- prepayment
more formal; full payment before service
文法句型
an advance on + something
a cash advance
用法筆記
Usually countable: 'an advance', 'two advances'. Common in publishing (author advances) and employment (advances on wages). Distinguish from sense 1: here the meaning is a payment, not progress.
常見錯誤
3. an effort by one person to flirt with another, hoping that romance or sex might
求愛舉動
想開展戀愛或性關係的試探
an effort by one person to flirt with another, hoping that romance or sex might follow — often used when the attempt is unwanted, awkward, or reported as a complaint at work.
Yusuf firmly rejected the manager's unwanted advances at the office party.
Yusuf 在公司派對上斷然拒絕了主管那些不受歡迎的求愛舉動。
reject / refuse + somebody's advances
Two waiters complained about the chef's repeated advances during late shifts.
兩位服務生抱怨主廚在深夜班一再對他們示好調情。
Rashida was flattered by Imani's gentle advances at the bookstore.
Rashida 在書店裡對 Imani 那種溫和的示好覺得受寵若驚。
The novel ends when the duke's advances toward the maid are finally noticed.
小說的結尾是公爵對那名女僕的求愛舉動終於被人發現了。
- pass
informal; 'make a pass at someone' is the everyday equivalent
- overture
more formal; can be romantic or simply friendly
- flirtation
lighter, often mutual and playful
文法句型
make advances (to / toward somebody)
reject somebody's advances
用法筆記
Almost always plural ('advances'), and almost always with a possessive ('his advances', 'her advances'). The verb is usually 'make', 'reject', 'refuse', or 'welcome'. Often carries a negative or formal tone, especially in workplace or legal contexts.
常見錯誤
4. an upward move in what a traded item — like a share, currency, or commodity — co
漲幅；上漲
市場價格或價值向上走的一次變動
an upward move in what a traded item — like a share, currency, or commodity — costs or is worth on the market, often reported in business news as a single day's gain.
The newspaper reported a sharp advance in oil prices after the storm.
報紙報導，那場風暴過後油價出現大幅上漲。
advance in + price / value
Investors cheered the steady advance in tech stocks throughout April.
整個四月科技股穩定上漲，投資人都很滿意。
A small advance in gold matched the drop in the dollar that morning.
那個早上黃金的小幅上漲，剛好對應到美元的下跌。
Analysts expect another advance in housing prices before the new tax law begins.
分析師預期在新稅法上路前，房價還會再上漲一波。
文法句型
an advance in + price / value
用法筆記
Restricted to financial reporting; in everyday talk people say 'a rise' or 'an increase'. Distinguish from sense 1 (PROGRESS): here the subject is a price, not a field of human activity.
常見錯誤
advance — 形容詞
1. (only before a noun) made, arranged, or sent ahead of the time something actuall
事先的；預先
在事情發生前安排好或寄出的
(only before a noun) made, arranged, or sent ahead of the time something actually takes place — as in tickets bought before the show, or a warning given before bad weather arrives.
The hotel offers a discount for advance bookings made online.
這家飯店為線上事先預訂的客人提供折扣。
advance + booking / reservation (typical fixed pair)
Without advance warning of the storm, the fishermen were caught at sea.
因為沒有風暴的事先警告，漁夫們在海上措手不及。
advance + warning / notice
Rashida made an advance payment to hold the wedding hall for June.
Rashida 為了把婚禮場地保留到六月，先付了一筆預付款。
The teacher gave the class advance notice that Friday's test would be harder.
老師事先通知全班，週五的考試會比較難。
- early
broader; 'early booking' and 'advance booking' overlap, but 'early' simply means before the usual time
- prior
formal; common in 'prior notice', 'prior approval'
- preliminary
implies a first version that may change later
- last-minute
the opposite extreme — done just before the event begins
文法句型
advance + warning / notice / booking / payment
用法筆記
Only used directly before a noun (attributive); never after a linking verb. So 'an advance booking' is fine, but 'the booking is advance' is wrong — say 'is in advance' instead.