broad

broad — 形容詞

1. spreading widely across an area, with a large width.

1.形容詞B1
釋義

寬闊的

從一側到另一側很寬

spreading widely across an area, with a large width.

例句

The river was so broad that we could not see the far bank.

那條河非常寬闊，我們看不見對岸。

be + broad for great physical width

A broad wooden table filled most of the small dining room.

一張寬大的木桌佔了小餐廳的大部分空間。

broad + noun for wide surfaces

同義詞
  • wide

    the most neutral everyday word for physical width

  • spacious

    used for places with a lot of room inside, not usually for body parts

  • expansive

    more literary; suggests impressive openness or scale

反義詞
  • narrow

    smaller from side to side

  • slim

    used for thin shapes or bodies rather than open areas

文法句型

broad + noun

be + broad

用法筆記

Common with nouns that suggest a large surface or span, such as river, table, shoulders, back, and valley. Compared with 'wide', this word often gives a stronger picture of spread or openness.

2. placed after a measurement to give an object's width.

2.形容詞B1
釋義

寬

接在數字後，表示東西有多寬

placed after a measurement to give an object's width.

例句

The path is only two meters broad after the fence was moved.

圍籬移動後，這條小路只有兩公尺寬。

be + number + broad for measurements

Each shelf was fifty centimeters broad, so the boxes fit.

每個架子寬為五十公分，所以箱子放得進去。

同義詞
  • wide

    the more common everyday choice after numbers

  • across

    used in phrases like 'two meters across', with different grammar

文法句型

[number] + broad

be + [number] + broad

用法筆記

Used after a measurement, especially in descriptions of size. In everyday speech, many people choose 'wide' instead, but 'broad' still appears in writing and formal description.

常見錯誤

❌The box is broad 30 centimeters.
✅The box is 30 centimeters broad.
💡with a number, the measurement normally comes before 'broad'.

3. covering many different things, or dealing only with the main points.

3.形容詞B1
釋義

廣泛；概括

涵蓋很多事，或只談大意

covering many different things, or dealing only with the main points.

例句

The course gives a broad introduction to modern African history.

這門課對現代非洲史做了廣泛的入門介紹。

broad + introduction / overview / outline

The minister outlined broad policy areas for housing, schools, and public transport.

部長概述了住宅、學校和大眾運輸等政策大方向。

同義詞
  • general

    focuses on the main idea rather than details

  • wide-ranging

    emphasizes variety and spread across many topics

  • overall

    often used for summaries or final judgments

反義詞

文法句型

broad + noun

用法筆記

Common with nouns like range, view, outline, picture, agreement, and support. Distinguish from sense 1: here the idea is range or lack of detail, not physical width.

常見錯誤

❌The talk was broad about one small point.
✅The talk was detailed about one small point.
💡this sense suggests range or main ideas, not close focus on one item.

4. describing an accent that is very strong, so people can quickly tell the speaker

4.形容詞C1
釋義

腔調重

口音很強，易聽出地區

describing an accent that is very strong, so people can quickly tell the speaker's region.

例句

Even on television, Yusuf kept his broad Glasgow accent.

即使上電視，Yusuf 的格拉斯哥口音還是很重。

broad accent = strongly regional speech

The farmer's broad accent was hard for city visitors to follow.

那位農夫的腔調很重，城市來的訪客不太容易聽懂。

同義詞
  • strong

    neutral and very common for a noticeable accent

  • heavy

    often used when an accent is difficult for outsiders to follow

  • thick

    informal; often suggests a very marked local sound

反義詞
  • neutral

    not clearly linked to one area

  • mild

    noticeable only a little

文法句型

broad + accent

broad + dialect

用法筆記

Almost always used with 'accent' or 'dialect'. It does not mean pleasant or deep speech; it means speech that sounds strongly local.

常見錯誤

❌She speaks with a wide accent.
✅She speaks with a broad accent.
💡English uses 'broad', not 'wide', for a strongly regional accent.

5. describing humour that is direct, easy to get, and often a little rude or sexual

5.形容詞C1
釋義

低俗的

笑話直白，常帶粗俗情色

describing humour that is direct, easy to get, and often a little rude or sexual.

例句

The comic opened with broad jokes about dating apps and bad kisses.

那位喜劇演員一開場就講了幾個關於交友軟體和爛吻技的低俗笑話。

broad jokes = obvious, often rude comedy

Grandma rolled her eyes at the film's broad bathroom humor.

阿嬤對那部電影裡低俗的廁所笑料翻了白眼。

同義詞
  • crude

    stresses roughness or lack of good taste

  • coarse

    slightly more formal; often used for rude sexual humour

  • risque

    focuses more specifically on sexual content

反義詞
  • subtle

    not obvious; more delicate in effect

  • dry

    quiet, restrained humour rather than loud obvious jokes

文法句型

broad + joke

broad + humor

broad + comedy

用法筆記

Usually modifies words like joke, humour, comedy, or laugh. It often suggests low subtlety and may also suggest sexual or body-based comedy.

6. used for a hint that is so clear it almost says the thing directly.

6.形容詞C1
釋義

直白的

暗示太清楚，幾乎是明說

used for a hint that is so clear it almost says the thing directly.

例句

Mina dropped a broad hint about wanting tickets for Friday's concert.

Mina 丟出一個很直白的暗示，表示她想要星期五演唱會的票。

collocation: broad hint

Dad gave a broad hint that the dishes still needed washing.

爸爸很直白地暗示，碗盤還是得有人去洗。

give a broad hint + that-clause

同義詞
  • obvious

    a more general adjective for something easy to understand

  • clear

    neutral; does not imply the message is indirect

  • pointed

    suggests an indirect remark aimed at a specific meaning

反義詞
  • subtle

    harder to notice or interpret

  • vague

    not expressed clearly enough

文法句型

broad + hint

give + a broad hint

用法筆記

Most often found in the phrase 'broad hint'. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense is about an indirect message that is almost too clear, not about comedy.

常見錯誤

❌She said a broad hint about the gift.
✅She gave a broad hint about the gift.
💡the usual verb with this phrase is 'give', not 'say'.

broad — 名詞