better
better — 形容詞
1. of higher quality, greater skill, or stronger suitability than another person or
更好的
品質、能力或適合度較高
of higher quality, greater skill, or stronger suitability than another person or thing.
This knife is better for soft fruit than the heavy one.
這把刀切軟水果比那把重刀更好用。
pattern: better for + purpose
Rohan became a better driver after winter lessons in Taipei.
Rohan 在台北上完冬季課後，成了更好的駕駛。
The blue lamp gives better light for reading at night.
這盞藍色燈在夜裡閱讀時能提供更好的光線。
Our second plan was better than waiting for the rain.
我們的第二個計畫比等雨停更好。
- superior
is more formal and often sounds objective
- preferable
focuses on choice and suitability
- stronger
fits only some contexts such as skill or effect
文法句型
better than + noun or -ing
better for + purpose
better at + activity
用法筆記
Often followed by "than" in direct comparisons and by "for" when the sentence names a purpose. Distinguish this sense from adjective 3, which describes a situation moving upward rather than one thing already ranking above another.
常見錯誤
2. well again after sickness, pain, or injury.
好多了
病情、傷勢或不適恢復
well again after sickness, pain, or injury.
Ken felt better after the doctor cleaned his cut.
醫生清理完 Ken 的傷口後，他感覺好多了。
pattern: feel better after treatment
Grandma is much better now and walked to the market.
奶奶現在好多了，還走去市場。
My knee looked better once the ice pack came off.
冰敷袋拿掉後，我的膝蓋看起來好多了。
After two quiet days, the baby seemed better again.
安靜休息兩天後，寶寶似乎又好多了。
文法句型
feel better
get better
look better
much better
用法筆記
Common after verbs such as "feel," "get," "look," and "seem." Unlike adjective 3, this sense usually refers to a person or body part recovering rather than a general situation improving.
3. showing that a situation or general state is improving.
好轉
情況正逐步改善
showing that a situation or general state is improving.
Business is better since the new bus stop opened.
新公車站啟用後，生意好轉了。
state improvement after a change
After the storm passed, the weather was better by lunchtime.
暴風雨過後，到了午餐時間天氣就好轉了。
School life looked better once Nora made two friends.
Nora 交到兩個朋友後，學校生活看起來好轉了。
Train service is getting better after months of late arrivals.
誤點好幾個月後，列車服務正在好轉。
- worsening
means the situation is moving downward
- deteriorating
is a more formal opposite
文法句型
things are getting better
grow better
be better since + event
用法筆記
Usually used for situations, weather, business, or life in general, often with "get" or "grow." Distinguish it from adjective 1, where two people or things are directly compared.
better — 副詞
1. more successfully, suitably, or pleasantly.
更好地
以較佳方式或效果
more successfully, suitably, or pleasantly.
Jamal sings better after he drinks warm tea.
Jamal 喝了溫茶後唱得更好。
verb + better
This map works better on a phone than on paper.
這張地圖在手機上比在紙上運作得更好。
Our plants grew better near the kitchen window.
我們的植物放在廚房窗邊長得更好。
Mason explained the rule better with a simple drawing.
Mason 用簡單的圖把規則解釋得更好。
- more effectively
focuses on result
- more clearly
fits explanation or speech contexts
- more successfully
emphasizes achievement
文法句型
verb + better
better than + alternative
用法筆記
This sense usually modifies a verb. Compare adverb 2, where "better" stands before an adjective or participle such as "prepared" or "known."
常見錯誤
2. used before an adjective or participle to show a higher degree.
更
放在形容詞前表程度更高
used before an adjective or participle to show a higher degree.
The bright labels made older shoppers better able to read jars.
明亮的標籤讓年長的顧客更能看清罐子上的字。
better able to + verb
New streetlights left cyclists better protected on the dark road.
新的路燈讓騎士在昏暗道路上更受保護。
After two practice tests, the class felt better prepared for Friday's exam.
做完兩次模擬考後，全班都覺得自己對星期五的考試更有準備了。
The short report made the plan better known to parents.
那份簡短報告讓家長更了解這個計畫。
- more
is the broadest comparison word
- more fully
fits completion or coverage
- more thoroughly
emphasizes careful preparation
- less
marks a lower degree
文法句型
better + adjective
better + past participle
better able to + verb
用法筆記
Used before adjectives and participles rather than after the verb. It is common in phrases like "better able," "better prepared," and "better known."
常見錯誤
3. with one choice being liked more than another.
比較喜歡
表示兩者相比較偏好
with one choice being liked more than another.
Nina likes rice better with eggs than with plain bread.
Nina 比較喜歡配蛋吃飯，不太喜歡只配白麵包。
preference: like ... better than
Dad likes his morning coffee better without sugar before work.
爸爸上班前喝晨間咖啡時，比較喜歡不加糖。
We liked the back table better because it stayed cool.
我們比較喜歡後面的桌子，因為那裡比較涼。
Owen likes his morning run better by the river than downtown.
Owen 晨跑時比較喜歡沿著河邊跑，不太喜歡在市中心跑。
- preferably
is a more formal adverb
- rather
can express preference, but it follows different patterns
- sooner
often appears after 'would' in preference statements
- less
can show weaker liking in comparison
文法句型
like + noun + better
better than + alternative
用法筆記
Common with verbs such as "like," "love," and "enjoy." Compare adverb 1, where the focus is on doing something more successfully rather than on choosing between options.
常見錯誤
4. used in the pattern "had better" to give strong advice or a warning.
最好
用於 had better，表勸告或警告
used in the pattern "had better" to give strong advice or a warning.
You had better lock the bikes before the rain starts.
你最好在下雨前把腳踏車鎖好。
had better + base verb
We had better call Mina before the last train leaves.
我們最好在末班車開走前打給 Mina。
The dog had better stay inside during the fireworks tonight.
今晚放煙火時，那隻狗最好待在室內。
You had better not joke about money with Aunt Rosa.
你最好別跟 Aunt Rosa 開金錢方面的玩笑。
文法句型
had better + base verb
had better not + base verb
用法筆記
This fixed pattern is stronger than a soft suggestion and may sound like a warning. In speech it is often shortened to "'d better."
常見錯誤
5. used before a verb, especially in speech, to say what would be wiser to do.
還是
省略主詞，直接提較佳做法
used before a verb, especially in speech, to say what would be wiser to do.
Better check the gate before the cows reach the road.
還是先檢查一下門吧，免得牛跑到路上。
spoken pattern: better + verb
Better not wake Grandpa while the medicine is working.
還是別吵醒 Grandpa，藥效正在發揮。
spoken negative: better not + verb
Better leave now if you want the front seats.
如果你想坐前排，還是現在就走吧。
Better keep the receipt in case the zipper breaks.
還是把收據留著吧，免得拉鍊壞掉。
- had better
is the fuller version of this warning pattern
- should
is less abrupt
- might as well
can suggest a practical choice, but it is weaker
文法句型
better + verb
better not + verb
用法筆記
This is a short spoken pattern that leaves out who should do it and also leaves out "had." Distinguish it from adverb 4, which uses the fuller "had better" structure.
常見錯誤
better — 名詞
1. a person or thing that stands above another in quality or result.
較好者
兩者中較好的人或物
a person or thing that stands above another in quality or result.
For winter rain, these boots are the better of the two.
遇到冬天下雨時，這雙靴子算是兩者中較好的一雙。
the better of the two
After three interviews, Rohan hired the better of the two applicants.
面試三次後，Rohan 錄用了兩位應徵者中較好的一位。
For travel, this camera is the better of the two.
如果是旅行用，這台是兩台裡比較好的那台。
At that price, the red bike is the better option.
照這個價錢來看，紅色腳踏車是比較好的選擇。
- superior option
is clearer but more formal
- preferable choice
emphasizes suitability
- winner
is more informal and more limited
- worse
means the lower-quality option
- inferior option
is a formal opposite
文法句型
the better of the two
be the better
用法筆記
Most common in short comparison patterns such as "the better of the two," where the full noun is understood from context.
常見錯誤
2. more acceptable behavior, work, or treatment than what someone shows or receives
標準；待遇
更令人滿意的表現、服務或待遇
more acceptable behavior, work, or treatment than what someone shows or receives now.
The coach expected better from the team after halftime.
教練期待球隊下半場表現得更好。
expect better from + group
We deserve better than cold soup at a wedding.
婚禮上端出冷湯，我們值得更好的待遇。
deserve better than + noun
Parents wanted better from the school bus company.
家長希望校車公司做得更好。
After months of delays, passengers demanded better from the airline.
誤點好幾個月後，乘客要求航空公司提供更好的服務。
- improvement
is a broad alternative
- fairer treatment
fits service or relationship contexts
- higher standard
stresses quality or conduct
- worse
means poorer behavior, work, or treatment
文法句型
expect better from + person or group
deserve better than + thing
demand better from + organization
用法筆記
Often follows verbs like "expect," "want," "deserve," and "demand." Distinguish it from noun 1, which points to the superior option itself rather than a higher level of conduct or service.
常見錯誤
3. people whose rank, power, or social position is above yours.
地位較高者
地位或身分較高的人
people whose rank, power, or social position is above yours.
In the old army camp, soldiers never questioned their betters.
在那座舊軍營裡，士兵從不質疑自己的長官。
plural noun: one's betters
The maid bowed when her betters entered the dining room.
女僕在身分比她高的人走進餐廳時低頭行禮。
At the town dinner, Wen spoke as if none were his betters.
在鎮上的晚宴上，Wen 說話的樣子，好像那些人裡沒有人比他地位更高。
Village boys once had to stand aside for their betters.
從前村裡的男孩得為地位比自己高的人讓路。
- superiors
fits rank or authority and is more current
- elders
fits age or respect, not all rank contexts
- higher-ups
is informal and mainly about organizations
- inferiors
is the formal opposite
- subordinates
fits workplace rank more than social class
文法句型
one's betters
用法筆記
Usually appears in the plural as "your betters" or "their betters." It often sounds historical, class-based, or deliberately formal today.
better — 動詞
1. to make a situation, result, or condition more favorable than it was.
改善
使情況、結果或條件變好
to make a situation, result, or condition more favorable than it was.
New streetlights bettered safety on the road outside the school.
新路燈改善了學校外那條路的安全。
better + safety
Fresh paint bettered the look of the small kitchen.
新油漆改善了小廚房的外觀。
The night course bettered Rosa's chances of promotion at work.
這門夜間課程提高了 Rosa 在工作上的升遷機會。
The new schedule bettered working conditions for nurses on night duty.
新班表改善了值夜班護理師的工作條件。
- improve
is the most common equivalent
- enhance
is slightly more formal
- strengthen
fits chances, systems, or effects more than all objects
文法句型
better + situation
better + chances
better + life for + people
用法筆記
This verb takes a direct object and often that object is abstract, such as "conditions," "safety," "life," or "chances." Distinguish it from verb 2, where the object is a person and the focus is social position.
常見錯誤
2. to raise a person's social position, often through education or a better job.
提升身分
靠工作或教育提高社會地位
to raise a person's social position, often through education or a better job.
Rosa bettered herself by studying at night after factory shifts.
Rosa 在工廠下班後晚上念書，藉此提升身分。
better yourself by + -ing
Many migrants came to the city to better themselves.
許多移民來到城市，是為了提升身分。
Jamal hoped a nursing degree would help him better himself.
Jamal 希望護理學位能幫助自己提升地位。
Their daughter bettered herself through careful study and office work.
他們的女兒靠認真讀書和辦公室工作來提升身分。
- fall behind
suggests losing social or economic ground
- decline
can describe a drop in position or condition
文法句型
better yourself by + -ing
better yourself through + noun
better + person
用法筆記
Most often used with a person as the object, especially in the reflexive phrase "better yourself." Unlike verb 1, this sense is about social or economic rise rather than improving a thing or situation.