dimension
dimension — 名詞
1. a number that tells you how large something is by showing the distance from one
尺寸
物體在特定方向的大小
a number that tells you how large something is by showing the distance from one side to another
The carpenter checked the width and height dimensions of the door before cutting the wood.
木匠在切割木材前，檢查了門的寬度和高度尺寸。
collocation: check the dimensions of [something]
What are the exact dimensions of that cardboard box?
那個紙箱的準確尺寸是多少？
collocation: exact dimensions of [object]
Kevin measured the width and height dimensions of the old table.
Kevin 量了那張舊桌子的寬度和高度尺寸。
The window’s dimensions are ninety centimetres wide and one hundred and twenty tall.
窗戶的尺寸是寬九十公分、高一百二十公分。
Lien wrote down the dimensions of each room in the notebook.
Lien 在筆記本裡記下了每個房間的尺寸。
- measurement
more general; dimension implies a specific direction (length, width, or height)
- size
refers to how big something is overall, not a single directional measurement
- proportion
focuses on the relationship between dimensions rather than the numbers themselves
文法句型
dimension(s) + of + object
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form when describing the complete size of an object. The pattern 'dimensions of + object' is the most common grammatical frame.
常見錯誤
❗ 'The dimension of the box are 30 by 50 cm.' ✅ 'The dimensions of the box are 30 by 50 cm.' — use the plural 'dimensions' when stating width, height, and length together.
2. a particular part or side of a situation, problem, or idea that can be examined
層面
事物的某個部分或特徵
a particular part or side of a situation, problem, or idea that can be examined or considered separately
The financial dimension of the hospital building project was more important than the team had realised.
這個醫院大樓專案的財務層面比團隊原先意識到的更重要。
collocation: [adjective] dimension of [something]
Roya’s article explores the cultural dimension of the food people eat every day.
Roya 的文章探討了人們日常食物的文化層面。
The emotional dimension of the war novel made it popular among high school students.
這部戰爭小説的情感層面讓它受到高中生的喜愛。
The land dispute had a legal dimension that the city committee did not consider.
這起土地绾紛有一個市議會沒有考慮到的法律層面。
Stefan argued that the moral dimension was ignored in the debate on housing policy.
Stefan 認為道德層面在住房政策的辯論中被忽略了。
文法句型
[adjective] dimension of [something]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with adjectives describing the type of perspective (cultural, political, social, economic, emotional, moral, legal). Often in the singular; the plural ('dimensions') implies multiple distinct facets.
常見錯誤
❗ 'There are many dimension to this issue.' ✅ 'There are many dimensions to this issue.' — use the plural when referring to multiple aspects.
❗ 'The dimension of trust is important.' (when meaning 'aspect') ✅ 'The dimension of trust is important.' — this is actually correct; but be careful not to confuse this sense with sense 1 (physical measurement) when the context is abstract.
3. the general size, scale, or importance of a situation, problem, or task, especia
規模
事物的大小或影響程度
the general size, scale, or importance of a situation, problem, or task, especially when it is larger or more serious than expected
The full dimension of the disaster only became clear after the flood waters went down.
這場災难的完整規模直到洪水退去後才變得清楚。
the full dimension of [situation noun]
Lien was shocked by the dimension of the task that lay ahead of her.
Lien 被她面前那項任務的規模嚇了一跳。
No one had understood the dimension of the textile mill's financial problems.
沒有人了解那間繡織廠財務問題的規模有多大。
The dimension of the challenge grew as the rescue team learned more about the mountain conditions.
随著救援隊對山區情況了解得更多，挑战的規模也越來越大。
文法句型
the full / true dimension of [something]
用法筆記
Typically used in the singular with 'the' and often modified by 'full' or 'true'. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not take numerical measurements — it describes scale in a more abstract, qualitative way.
常見錯誤
❗ 'I measured the dimension of the problem.' (when meaning 'scale') ✅ 'I realised the dimension of the problem.' — 'measure' suggests physical measurement (sense 1); use verbs like 'understand', 'realise', or 'grasp' with this sense.
dimension — 動詞
1. to cut or shape a piece of material so that it has the exact measurements needed
按規格加工
將材料切割到所需尺寸
to cut or shape a piece of material so that it has the exact measurements needed for a particular purpose
The carpenter dimensioned each oak plank to forty centimetres before building the shelf.
木匠在組裝書架前，將每塊橡木板裁切到四十公分長。
Faisal dimensioned the steel beams to match the new bridge design exactly.
Faisal 將鋼梁按規格加工，使其精確符合新橋梁的設計。
All the granite blocks were carefully dimensioned to the architect’s specifications at the factory.
所有花岩圗塊都在工廠裡按建築師的規格加工好。
Mizuki dimensioned each steel beam to match the bridge engineer’s exact specifications.
Mizuki 將每根鋼梁加工成符合橋梁工程師的精確規格。
文法句型
dimension + object + to/for + specification
用法筆記
A technical term used mainly in carpentry, metalworking, and construction. Frequently appears in the passive voice because the focus is on the material being cut rather than the person doing the cutting.
常見錯誤
❗ 'He dimensioned the problem.' (to mean 'understood the size of') ✅ 'He grasped the dimension of the problem.' — 'dimension' as a verb is limited to physical cutting and marking; it cannot replace 'understand' or 'grasp' in abstract contexts.
2. to write or draw the measurements of something on a technical drawing, plan, or
標註尺寸
在圖紙上標明尺寸
to write or draw the measurements of something on a technical drawing, plan, or blueprint
The structural engineer dimensioned the roof plan before passing it to the construction crew.
結構工程師在屋頂圖紙上標註好尺寸，才交給施工團隊。
Hoa learned how to dimension architectural drawings in her first year at design school.
Hoa 在設計學院的第一年學會了如何在建築圖上標註尺寸。
Each part was dimensioned on the blueprint with clear numbers and arrows.
每個零件都在藍圖上用清楚的數字和箭頭標註了尺寸。
Anong dimensioned every section of the floor plan so the builder could follow it.
Anong 在平面圖的每個部分都標註了尺寸，讓施工人員能夠照著做。
文法句型
dimension + object + on + document
用法筆記
Used in architecture, engineering, and product design. The direct object is typically a drawing, plan, or blueprint. The passive construction ('was dimensioned on the blueprint') is very common in technical documentation.
常見錯誤
❗ 'Please dimension the walls of the room.' (meaning 'measure') ✅ 'Please measure the walls of the room and dimension the drawing.' — 'dimension' as a verb means to mark measurements on a drawing, not to take the measurements themselves.