ceramic
ceramic — 形容詞
1. refers to an item produced by moulding damp clay into a particular form and then
陶瓷的
用黏土燒製而成的
refers to an item produced by moulding damp clay into a particular form and then placing it in an extremely hot kiln so that it becomes a hard, solid material — for example, a ceramic tile, a ceramic bowl, or a ceramic mug.
The kitchen floor is covered with white ceramic tiles that are easy to clean.
廚房地板鋪著容易清潔的白色陶瓷磁磚。
attributive: ceramic + tile (common household item)
Aiko served the rice in a hand-painted ceramic bowl that her grandmother had made.
Aiko 用一個手繪的陶瓷碗盛飯，那是她祖母做的。
attributive: ceramic + bowl with descriptive modifier
The local factory produces ceramic plates for hospitals across the region.
當地工廠為全國各地的醫院生產陶瓷盤子。
Ravi carefully placed the ceramic vase on the top shelf of the cabinet.
Ravi 小心地把陶瓷花瓶放在櫥櫃的最上層。
These ceramic mugs were fired by artisans in a small Portuguese village.
這些陶瓷馬克杯是由葡萄牙一個小村莊的工匠燒製而成的。
- earthenware
specifically refers to unglazed or minimally glazed fired clay, usually coarser and less refined than general ceramic
- porcelain
a type of white, fine-grained ceramic fired at extremely high temperatures and often translucent
- terracotta
a brownish-red unglazed ceramic material, typically used for flower pots and roof tiles
文法句型
ceramic + noun
用法筆記
This adjective is almost always used attributively (before a noun). It has no comparative or superlative forms — a thing is either made of fired clay or it is not.
常見錯誤
ceramic — 名詞
1. the hard, brittle substance that results when clay is heated to a very high temp
陶瓷
黏土經高溫燒製成的硬質材料
the hard, brittle substance that results when clay is heated to a very high temperature, used in tableware, building materials, and industrial parts.
Ceramic is much harder than plastic and can withstand extreme heat.
陶瓷比塑膠堅硬許多，而且能夠承受極高溫度。
uncountable subject with singular verb
The sculptor prefers working with ceramic because it holds fine detail well.
這位雕刻家偏好使用陶瓷，因為它能細膩地保留細節。
uncountable: 'with ceramic' as material
Unlike plastic, ceramic does not release harmful chemicals when it is heated.
與塑膠不同，陶瓷加熱時不會釋放有害化學物質。
Nadia learned how ordinary clay becomes ceramic through the kiln-firing process.
Nadia 學到普通黏土如何透過窯燒過程變成陶瓷。
Modern spacecraft use ceramic for its ability to resist extremely high temperatures.
現代太空船使用陶瓷，因為它能承受極高的溫度。
文法句型
uncountable: ceramic + verb (singular agreement)
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable — you cannot say 'a ceramic' to refer to the material. To refer to the art or craft, the word 'ceramics' (uncountable, takes singular verb) is used: 'Ceramics is her favourite hobby.'
常見錯誤
2. an individual object — for example, a pot, vase, figurine, or tile — produced by
陶瓷製品
經高溫燒製的陶器物件
an individual object — for example, a pot, vase, figurine, or tile — produced by forming clay and then firing it at extreme temperature; commonly found in exhibitions, collections, or homes as a decorative or functional piece.
The shelf displayed colourful ceramics from different regions of Japan.
架子上擺滿來自日本各地色彩繽紛的陶瓷製品。
plural countable: 'ceramics' as collectible objects
Ravi collects ancient ceramics that were made over a thousand years ago.
Ravi 收藏了一千多年前製作的古老陶瓷製品。
plural countable with 'collect' and time reference
Each ceramic in the gallery was signed by the artist who shaped it.
藝廊裡的每件陶瓷製品都有創作者簽名。
The exhibition features modern ceramics alongside traditional stoneware.
這場展覽同時展出現代陶瓷製品與傳統石器。
A single cracked ceramic was enough to upset the museum curator.
一件有裂痕的陶瓷製品就足以讓博物館館長感到沮喪。
- pottery
more commonly used for everyday functional objects like pots and bowls; 'ceramic' sounds more formal or artistic
- earthenware
a specific type of ceramic object made from porous clay, typically heavier and less refined
- porcelain
a fine white ceramic object fired at very high temperatures, often delicate and expensive
文法句型
a + ceramic
ceramics (plural)
collect + ceramics
用法筆記
In this countable sense, 'a ceramic' means one object made of fired clay. The plural 'ceramics' refers to a collection of such objects. Do not confuse this with 'ceramics' as the uncountable name of the craft ('Ceramics is a popular class at the college').