once
once — 副詞
1. one time only, or one time in each period you name.
一次
一回，或每段時間一次
one time only, or one time in each period you name.
Maya has driven a tractor only once, on her uncle's farm.
Maya 只在叔叔的農場開過一次拖拉機。
only once for a single occurrence
The twins call their grandmother once a week after Sunday lunch.
那對雙胞胎每週日午餐後都會打一次電話給祖母。
once + a week for regular frequency
Carlos checked the door lock once before leaving the apartment.
Carlos 出門前檢查過一次門鎖。
I saw snow in Tainan once, when I was six.
我六歲那年在台南看過一次雪。
- one time
a looser paraphrase; less natural than 'once' in most everyday sentences
- a single time
more emphatic when you want to stress the number
- repeatedly
shows that something happens again and again
- often
focuses on high frequency rather than one occurrence
文法句型
once + clause
once + a/an + time unit
用法筆記
With a period noun, it marks one event in each period: once a week, once a night. Without that time phrase, it usually means only one occasion.
常見錯誤
2. at the same moment, with more than one thing happening together.
同時
在同一時刻一起發生
at the same moment, with more than one thing happening together.
Three phones rang at once during the meeting with the bank.
跟銀行開會時，三支電話同時響了。
at once = at the same time
The children all shouted at once when the cake appeared.
蛋糕一端出來，孩子們同時叫了起來。
Rain and strong wind hit the tents at once after midnight.
半夜過後，雨和強風同時打上帳篷。
Lina cannot answer two customers at once at the busy stall.
Lina 在熱鬧的攤位上沒辦法同時回答兩個客人。
- simultaneously
more formal and common in written English
- together
weaker, because it does not always stress the exact same moment
- separately
shows that events or actions happen apart from each other
- one by one
emphasises sequence instead of simultaneity
文法句型
at once
do two things at once
用法筆記
Almost always appears in 'at once'. Distinguish from the idiom 'at once' meaning 'immediately'; here the focus is simultaneity.
常見錯誤
3. on this occasion, unlike what usually happens.
這次倒是
和往常不同，就這回如此
on this occasion, unlike what usually happens.
For once, Marcus arrived early and brought coffee for everyone.
Marcus 這次倒是提早到了，還替大家帶了咖啡。
for once = unlike the usual pattern
For once, the printer worked well before the morning class began.
那台印表機這次倒是很順，在早上上課前就印好了。
The baby slept through the night for once after the fever.
寶寶退燒後，這次倒是一覺睡到天亮。
For once, our team kept the kitchen clean after lunch.
我們隊這次倒是午餐後把廚房收乾淨了。
- for a change
more conversational; often expresses relief or surprise
- unusually
more descriptive and less tied to the fixed phrase
- as usual
shows that nothing different happened this time
文法句型
for once + clause
用法筆記
Usually in the fixed phrase 'for once' and often near the start of the clause. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 3 comments on an unusual result, while sense 4 gives permission for a one-time exception.
常見錯誤
4. only on this occasion, as a special exception to the usual rule.
破例一次
只在這回通融或答應
only on this occasion, as a special exception to the usual rule.
I'll lend you my bike just this once, so be careful.
這台腳踏車我破例借你一次，你要小心騎。
just this once = single exception
The guard let Maya in just this once without her pass.
警衛這次破例讓 Maya 進去，雖然她沒帶通行證。
Mrs. Lin agreed to swap shifts just this once for Carlos.
Lin 太太這次破例答應和 Carlos 換班。
Dad said we could order pizza just this once after finals.
爸爸說考完試後，這次可以破例叫披薩。
- this time only
plain paraphrase often used in warnings or instructions
- as a special case
more formal and common in written notices or official speech
- every time
shows that the action is normal, not exceptional
- as a rule
states the usual policy rather than an exception
文法句型
just this once
this once
用法筆記
Usually follows a promise, refusal, or request: 'just this once'. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense allows an exception instead of describing what was unusual.
常見錯誤
5. used when the same situation or problem comes back another time.
舊事重演
同樣情況再度發生
used when the same situation or problem comes back another time.
Once again, the train stopped outside Taichung for forty minutes.
火車又在台中外面停了四十分鐘，真是舊事重演。
once again before the main clause
The old roof leaked once again during last night's storm.
老屋頂又一次在昨晚的暴風雨裡漏水。
Once again, voters asked the mayor about rising food prices.
選民又一次問市長，為什麼食物價格一直漲。
The dog barked once again when the postman reached the gate.
郵差走到門口時，那隻狗又一次叫了起來。
- for the first time
marks a new event instead of a repeated one
文法句型
once again + clause
clause + once again
用法筆記
Most often appears as sentence-level 'once again' to comment on a familiar situation returning. Distinguish from sense 6, which asks for one extra performance of an action, and from sense 7, which more often shows a previous state coming back.
常見錯誤
6. one additional time, especially when you want to do or hear something again.
再一次
把動作或話再做一遍
one additional time, especially when you want to do or hear something again.
Please play the last line once more for the choir.
請把最後那一句再唱一次，讓合唱團跟上。
once more after an action verb
Maya knocked once more before opening the classroom door.
Maya 開教室門前又敲了一次門。
The guide asked us to read the map once more.
導覽員要我們把地圖再看一次。
Can you explain that step once more with a simple example?
你可以用一個簡單的例子，再解釋一次那個步驟嗎？
- again
neutral and very common, but less explicit about the extra round
- over again
more conversational, especially in American English
文法句型
verb + once more
用法筆記
Most often appears as 'once more' after verbs like say, read, hear, or try. Distinguish from sense 5, which more often introduces a situation returning again.
常見錯誤
7. so that an earlier state, feeling, or condition is there again.
回復原狀
狀態回到先前那樣
so that an earlier state, feeling, or condition is there again.
After the nurse smiled, Mr. Chen felt calm once more.
護理師笑了一下後，Mr. Chen 又冷靜下來了。
once more after a returning feeling
By spring, green leaves covered the old mango tree once more.
到了春天，那棵老芒果樹又長滿綠葉，回復原狀。
When the power returned, the hallway became bright once more.
電力一恢復，走廊就又亮了起來。
After two quiet weeks, the harbor was busy once more.
安靜了兩週後，港口又恢復往日的忙碌。
文法句型
clause + once more
become/feel/be + adjective + once more
用法筆記
Usually appears as clause-final 'once more', especially with verbs like be, become, feel, and seem. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 comments on the same event happening again, while this sense shows an earlier state returning.
8. one or two times, and not very often.
一兩次
次數不多，大約一次或兩次
one or two times, and not very often.
I have met her once or twice at Ken's birthday dinners.
我在 Ken 的生日聚餐上見過她一兩次。
verb + once or twice
The old printer jammed once or twice during the office move.
舊印表機在辦公室搬遷時卡紙過一兩次。
Marcus has cooked curry once or twice, but never for guests.
Marcus 煮過一兩次咖哩，但從沒煮給客人吃。
A deer crossed the road behind our village once or twice last winter.
去年冬天，村子後面的路上有鹿穿過一兩次。
- a couple of times
slightly more conversational
- a few times
can suggest more than two
文法句型
verb + once or twice
once or twice, + clause
用法筆記
Mostly used as the fixed phrase 'once or twice' for a rough small number. It sounds less exact than saying 'two times'.
9. sometimes, with fairly long gaps between one time and the next.
偶爾
有時會，但間隔較久
sometimes, with fairly long gaps between one time and the next.
We still eat at that noodle shop every once in a while.
我們偶爾還是會去那家麵店吃飯。
every once in a while
Every once in a while, Marcus calls his aunt in Taitung.
Marcus 偶爾會打電話給住在台東的阿姨。
sentence-initial every once in a while
The old lift stops between floors once in a while.
那台舊電梯偶爾會停在樓層中間。
I buy fresh lilies from that corner stand every once in a while.
我偶爾會去街角那個攤子買新鮮百合花。
- occasionally
more formal and less phrase-like
- from time to time
similar meaning, slightly more neutral
文法句型
once in a while
every once in a while
用法筆記
Usually appears in the phrases 'once in a while' or 'every once in a while'. It is more everyday in tone than the single-word adverb 'occasionally'.
10. in a final and complete way, so the matter will not need attention again.
一勞永逸
徹底處理，不必再管
in a final and complete way, so the matter will not need attention again.
The judge ended the family fight once and for all.
法官把這場家庭糾紛一勞永逸地了結了。
verb + once and for all
Nina cleaned the garage once and for all before winter came.
Nina 在冬天來之前把車庫徹底清理好了。
Let's settle the club rules once and for all tonight.
今晚把社團規則一次定清楚，徹底解決吧。
A new lock fixed the gate problem once and for all.
新門鎖把大門的問題一勞永逸地解決了。
文法句型
verb + once and for all
用法筆記
Almost always used as the fixed phrase 'once and for all'. It commonly follows verbs like settle, end, fix, decide, or answer.
常見錯誤
11. describing something that most people can expect only one time in their life.
一生一次
一輩子大概只會遇到一次
describing something that most people can expect only one time in their life.
Seeing snow on Yushan was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Lina.
對 Lina 來說，在玉山看到雪是一生一次的時刻。
once-in-a-lifetime + noun
For Marcus, singing at the palace felt like a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
對 Marcus 來說，在宮殿裡演唱像是一生一次的機會。
The family saved money for years for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
這家人為了這趟一生一次的旅行存了好多年的錢。
Meeting the film star backstage was a once-in-a-lifetime surprise.
在後台見到那位電影明星，是一生一次的驚喜。
- rare
much broader and less emotional
- unrepeatable
stresses that it cannot happen again
文法句型
once in a lifetime
once-in-a-lifetime + noun
用法筆記
Usually appears in the phrase 'once in a lifetime', often before nouns like chance, trip, experience, or opportunity.
12. at one particular time, often before you tell the story of what happened.
有一次
指某一回發生的事
at one particular time, often before you tell the story of what happened.
Once, my father locked himself out in his slippers.
有一次，我爸爸穿著拖鞋把自己鎖在門外。
Once, + clause in storytelling
Once, we found a tiny owl inside the school gym.
有一次，我們在學校體育館裡發現一隻小貓頭鷹。
Once, Dr. Tanaka treated a singer before a live TV show.
有一次，Dr. Tanaka 在現場電視節目前替一位歌手看診。
Once, a strong wind blew our picnic blanket into the lake.
有一次，一陣強風吹得我們的野餐墊飛進湖裡。
- one day
storytelling phrase with a looser sense of time
- on one occasion
more formal and explicit
文法句型
Once, + clause
用法筆記
Often comes at the start of a sentence in stories or memories. Distinguish from sense 1, which counts how many times something happened rather than introducing one remembered event.
13. formerly; during an earlier period, for a role, condition, or place that later c
曾經
表示以前如此，現在已不是
formerly; during an earlier period, for a role, condition, or place that later changed.
This village was once a quiet fishing town on the east coast.
這個村莊曾經是東海岸一個安靜的漁村。
was once + noun phrase for former identity
Marcus once worked in his aunt's small bakery near the station.
Marcus 曾經在車站附近阿姨開的小麵包店工作。
once + past verb for former job
The old cinema was once the busiest place in the town square.
那家老電影院曾經是鎮廣場上最熱鬧的地方。
Many families here once kept chickens behind their houses.
這裡許多家庭以前曾經在屋後養雞。
Taipei 101 was once the tallest building in the world.
Taipei 101 曾經是世界上最高的大樓。
- formerly
closest single-word match, especially in writing
- previously
often used for earlier jobs, steps, or situations
- in the old days
more conversational and broader in time
文法句型
once + past verb
be + once + noun/adjective
用法筆記
Often comes before the main verb or after 'be': 'once worked here', 'was once famous'. Distinguish from senses 1 and 12, which count a single occasion rather than describe a former state.
常見錯誤
once — 連接詞
1. after a stated event happens, or beginning from that point in time.
一旦；一經
某事發生後，從那時起
after a stated event happens, or beginning from that point in time.
Once Maya signs the lease, she can move in on Friday.
Maya 一旦簽了租約，星期五就能搬進去。
once + present clause for future result
Once the snow melts, this road stays open until October.
積雪一旦融化，這條路就會一路開放到十月。
starting point for a continuing state
Once Grandpa retired, he spent every morning at the riverside park.
Grandpa 退休後，每天早上都去河邊公園。
Once the baby falls asleep, the whole apartment becomes quiet.
寶寶一旦睡著，整間公寓就安靜下來。
Once our names were on the list, we could enter freely.
我們的名字一經列上名單，就能自由進入。
- when
broader and less focused on the starting point of the new situation
- after
shows sequence, but does not stress the new state beginning at that moment
- from the time
more formal and usually emphasizes what continues afterward
文法句型
once + present simple clause, main clause
once + past event clause, continuing result
用法筆記
Often marks the start of a new situation that continues after that moment. Distinguish from sense 2, which focuses more on the next action happening straight away.
常見錯誤
2. at the exact moment that something happens, with no delay before the next event.
一…就
表示下一件事立刻發生
at the exact moment that something happens, with no delay before the next event.
Once Leo heard the fire alarm, he ran downstairs.
Leo 一聽到火警警報，就跑下樓了。
immediate action after once-clause
Once the light turned green, the first taxi moved.
紅燈一轉綠，第一輛計程車就開動了。
Once the nurse called my number, I walked straight in.
護士一叫到我的號碼，我就直接走進去。
Once Tina saw the empty shelf, she phoned the supplier.
Tina 一看到架子空了，就打電話給供應商。
Once the bell rang, the children rushed into the yard.
鐘聲一響，孩子們就衝進院子裡。
- as soon as
the closest everyday equivalent for immediate sequence
- the moment
more vivid and often slightly more dramatic
- when
less specific because it does not always imply no delay
文法句型
once + event clause, immediate action
用法筆記
Common when one event triggers the next one immediately. Distinguish from sense 1 when you want to stress a longer state that begins after the first event.