birth
birth — 名詞
1. the moment a baby or newborn animal starts life outside its mother, or the proce
出生
出生那一刻或過程
the moment a baby or newborn animal starts life outside its mother, or the process around that moment
At birth, the twins each weighed less than three kilograms.
這對雙胞胎一出生時，體重都不到三公斤。
pattern: at birth
The foal stood up an hour after birth and followed its mother.
那匹小馬出生一小時後就站了起來，還跟著媽媽走。
pattern: after birth
Nurses checked the baby's breathing immediately after the difficult birth.
經歷那場艱難的生產後，護理師立刻檢查寶寶的呼吸。
Viraj still remembers the scar from her son's emergency birth.
Viraj 到現在還記得兒子緊急出生時留下的傷疤。
- childbirth
used for the human process, not usually for animals
- delivery
often used in medical settings, especially for human babies
- arrival
a warmer, less exact word often used in family news
文法句型
at birth
from birth
after birth
during birth
用法筆記
Common in fixed patterns such as at birth, from birth, and after birth. Distinguish from sense 2, where birth names the baby or young animal itself rather than the event.
常見錯誤
2. the first appearance of something new, such as an idea, movement, or nation
誕生
某事物開始出現
the first appearance of something new, such as an idea, movement, or nation
The small website marked the birth of a new music scene.
那個小網站標誌著一個新音樂圈的誕生。
pattern: the birth of + noun
Many historians link the railway to the birth of the town.
許多歷史學家把鐵路和這座城鎮的誕生連在一起。
That late-night meeting gave birth to their best business idea.
那場深夜會議催生了他們最棒的商業點子。
The festival's birth brought visitors and new jobs to the island.
這個節慶的誕生為那座島帶來了遊客和新工作。
- end
the point when something finishes
文法句型
the birth of + noun
give birth to + idea
用法筆記
Usually followed by of when naming what begins. This abstract sense is about a new idea, system, group, or period coming into existence, not a person or animal entering the world.
常見錯誤
3. a baby or young animal counted as the result of one birth
新生兒
剛生下來的孩子或幼獸
a baby or young animal counted as the result of one birth
The first birth was a girl with her father's dark hair.
第一個新生兒是個女孩，頭髮像她爸爸一樣黑。
countable use: birth = baby born
Both births were healthy boys, the nurse told the grandparents.
護理師告訴祖父母，這兩個新生兒都是健康的男嬰。
The rare white calf was the farm's happiest birth that spring.
那頭罕見的白色小牛，是那座農場那年春天最讓人高興的新生命。
The smallest birth needed a warm box near the heater.
體型最小的那個新生兒得先待在暖氣旁的保溫箱裡。
用法筆記
Much less common than sense 1 and most often seen in medical, farming, or zoo reporting. Here birth names the newborn itself, not the event.
4. the social level or family background a person is born into
出身；門第
出生家庭的社會地位
the social level or family background a person is born into
Although raised in comfort, Clara was not of noble birth.
雖然 Clara 從小過得舒服，她卻不是出身名門。
pattern: of noble birth
In the old court, men of humble birth rarely became leaders.
在舊王室裡，出身卑微的男人很少成為領袖。
pattern: of humble birth
The novel follows a soldier who hides his high birth from friends.
那本小說描寫一名士兵向朋友隱瞞自己的高貴出身。
Her birth gave her privilege, but not the skill to rule.
她的門第給了她特權，卻沒有給她治理國家的能力。
- lineage
more formal and focused on the family line
- background
broader, since it can include education and experience as well
- parentage
focuses on who a person's parents are
文法句型
of noble birth
of humble birth
用法筆記
Often follows of in fixed phrases such as of noble birth and of humble birth. Distinguish from sense 4, which points to nationality or place of origin rather than class or rank.
5. the place or national group a person belongs to because of where they were born
原籍
因出生地或父母而算作哪裡人
the place or national group a person belongs to because of where they were born or who their parents are
Marco is Italian by birth but has lived in Taipei since childhood.
Marco 原籍義大利，但從小就在台北生活。
pattern: Italian by birth
By birth, Elena was Canadian, though her family later moved to Peru.
Elena 原籍加拿大，雖然她家後來搬到秘魯。
pattern: by birth, + clause
The actor is Mexican by birth and Spanish by marriage.
那位演員原籍墨西哥，婚後則成了西班牙人。
Her birth made her a citizen of France, not Belgium.
她出生時取得的是法國公民身分，不是比利時。
- origin
broader and not limited to nationality
- nationality
more exact when the point is legal or national identity
- citizenship
focuses on legal status and may change later
文法句型
Italian by birth
by birth, + clause
用法筆記
Most common in phrases like French by birth or by birth, Canadian. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about family rank and class, not nationality or birthplace identity.
birth — 動詞
1. if a woman or female animal births, she brings her young into the world
生下；產下
生出孩子或幼獸
if a woman or female animal births, she brings her young into the world
After ten hours in labor, Mia birthed a healthy baby boy.
經過十個小時陣痛後，Mia 生下了一個健康的男嬰。
transitive: birth + baby
The mare birthed twins before the vet reached the farm.
那匹母馬在獸醫趕到農場前就產下了雙胞胎。
animal subject: mare birthed twins
In the storm, the deer birthed beside a fallen tree.
暴風雨中，那頭鹿在一棵倒下的樹旁生產了。
By sunrise, the dog had birthed six puppies in the laundry room.
到日出前，那隻狗已經在洗衣間裡產下六隻小狗。
文法句型
birth + baby
birth + litter
birth in + place
用法筆記
When transitive, the direct object is the baby or young animal. For human births in everyday speech, people more often say have a baby than use birth as the main verb.
常見錯誤
2. to help the mother so that her child or young can come into the world
接生
幫助胎兒或幼獸出生
to help the mother so that her child or young can come into the world
The village nurse birthed three babies during the flood.
洪水期間，村裡的護理師替三個嬰兒接生。
subject is helper: nurse birthed babies
A vet birthed the calf after turning it gently by hand.
獸醫先用手輕輕調整位置，才把那頭小牛接生出來。
subject is helper: vet birthed the calf
Dr. Singh birthed twins while the power was still out.
停電時，Singh 醫師替一對雙胞胎接了生。
On cold nights, the farmer births lambs in the kitchen.
天冷的夜晚，那位農夫會在廚房裡替小羊接生。
文法句型
birth + baby
birth + calf
birth + lambs
用法筆記
The subject is usually a doctor, nurse, vet, or farmer who assists the delivery. Distinguish from sense 1, where the subject is the mother herself.
3. to bring a new thing, idea, or situation into existence
催生；引發
使某事開始出現
to bring a new thing, idea, or situation into existence
The long drought birthed new rules about water use.
長期乾旱催生了新的用水規定。
abstract subject causes a result
Her anger birthed a silence that lasted through dinner.
她的怒氣引發了一陣持續整場晚餐的沉默。
Cheap cameras birthed a new wave of street artists.
便宜相機催生出一波新的街頭藝術家。
The court case birthed public debate across the whole country.
那場官司引發了全國性的公開辯論。
文法句型
birth + idea
birth + debate
birth + rule
用法筆記
Common with abstract subjects such as events, feelings, technology, or decisions. More formal and literary than create or cause.