derive

derive — 動詞

1. to receive or gain something such as pleasure, benefit, knowledge, or income fro

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

獲得；取得

從特定來源得到好處、知識等

to receive or gain something such as pleasure, benefit, knowledge, or income from a particular source or activity

例句

Aiko derives great pleasure from reading classic Japanese novels.

Aiko 從閱讀經典日文小說中獲得極大的樂趣。

derive + abstract noun (pleasure) + from + source

The small coastal town derives most of its income from fishing and tourism.

這個沿海小鎮的大部分收入來自漁業和觀光業。

同義詞
  • obtain

    more general and formal; does not emphasize the source as strongly

  • gain

    suggests effort or advantage in the process

  • acquire

    implies gradual accumulation over time

反義詞

文法句型

derive + abstract noun + from + noun phrase

用法筆記

The object is almost always an abstract noun such as pleasure, satisfaction, benefit, income, comfort, or knowledge. Physical objects (a book, a chair) cannot be derived.

常見錯誤

❌I derived the book from the library.
✅I borrowed the book from the library.
💡derive is used with abstract benefits or results, not physical items.

2. the way words and languages grow out of older forms across the course of their h

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

衍生

詞語從較早形式發展而來

the way words and languages grow out of older forms across the course of their historical development

例句

The English word 'ketchup' derives from a Chinese word for fermented fish sauce.

英文的「ketchup」一詞衍生自中文表示魚露的詞。

word + derives from + source language

Both French and Spanish derive from Latin, but they changed in different ways.

法語和西班牙語都源自拉丁語，但演變方式不同。

同義詞

文法句型

word/language + derives from + noun

word/language + be derived from + noun

用法筆記

Only sense where the subject is typically a word, name, or language. The active form (X derives from Y) and passive form (X is derived from Y) are both common and interchangeable.

常見錯誤

❌The word "pizza" derives from Italy the country.
✅The word "pizza" derives from Italian.
💡derive from describes linguistic origin, not geographic origin. Use 'comes from Italy' for places.

3. to identify the historical origin of a word, name, or thing by tracing it back t

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

追溯

找出詞語或事物的歷史來源

to identify the historical origin of a word, name, or thing by tracing it back to an earlier form or source

例句

Linguists derived the word 'sugar' from an ancient Sanskrit root through Arabic.

語言學家將「sugar」一詞經由阿拉伯語追溯到古梵語詞根。

scholar + derives + word + from + source

The researcher derived the family name from an old Norman French term.

研究人員將這個姓氏追溯到一個古諾曼法語詞彙。

同義詞

文法句型

derive + word/name + from + source language

用法筆記

Distinguish from Sense 2: here the subject is a person (researcher, linguist) actively doing the tracing, rather than the word itself developing naturally. Often used in academic contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He derived that the word came from Latin.
✅Linguists derived the word from Latin.
💡when used for tracing origins, the object is the word or name itself, not a conclusion.

4. to come from a particular source, cause, or starting point as its origin

4.動詞不及物B1
釋義

源自

起源於某事物或某原因

to come from a particular source, cause, or starting point as its origin

例句

The river derives its name from a local legend about a giant fish.

這條河流的名字源自一個關於巨魚的地方傳說。

thing + derives + possessive + noun + from + source

Many of his anxieties derive from childhood experiences he never discussed.

他的許多焦慮源自從未提及的童年經歷。

同義詞

文法句型

noun phrase + derives from + noun phrase

用法筆記

Unlike Sense 1, this sense does not take an object such as 'pleasure' or 'benefit'. The subject itself is what has the origin — the river, the fear, the recipe. Often used with names, qualities, and abstract sources.

常見錯誤

❌The accident derived from his carelessness.
✅The accident resulted from his carelessness.
💡derive from is used for inherent origins and sources, not for one-time negative events.

5. to reach a conclusion, theory, or formula by thinking carefully about facts, evi

5.動詞及物C1
釋義

推論；推導

根據證據或原理推斷出結論

to reach a conclusion, theory, or formula by thinking carefully about facts, evidence, or known principles

例句

Dr. Okafor derived a new formula from years of patient observation and data.

Okafor 醫生從多年的細心觀察和數據中推導出一個新公式。

scientist + derives + formula/theory + from + evidence

The research team derived a mathematical model that predicts ocean currents.

研究團隊推導出一個能夠預測洋流的數學模型。

同義詞
  • deduce

    almost identical in meaning; equally formal

  • infer

    slightly broader — can be used for less systematic reasoning

  • conclude

    focuses on the end result rather than the reasoning process

文法句型

derive + conclusion/theory/formula + from + evidence/data

用法筆記

This sense is formal and belongs to academic, scientific, or investigative writing. In everyday conversation, 'conclude', 'work out', or 'figure out' are more natural. The object is always a piece of reasoning — a conclusion, law, principle, or formula.

常見錯誤

❌From the noise, I derived that he was angry.
✅From the noise, I inferred that he was angry.
💡derive in this sense implies systematic or logical reasoning from data, not a casual guess.