elementary

elementary — 形容詞

1. relating to the simplest and most important parts of a subject or activity, from

1.形容詞B1
釋義

基本的

最簡單、最基礎的

relating to the simplest and most important parts of a subject or activity, from which everything else builds up.

例句

The course covers the elementary rules of grammar that every beginner should know.

這門課程涵蓋了每個初學者都應該知道的基本文法規則。

collocation: elementary rules

Imani learned the elementary steps of cooking, like chopping and boiling.

Imani 學會了做飯的基本步驟，比如切菜和煮燙。

同義詞
  • basic

    more neutral and widely used for fundamental ideas; does not imply a course structure

  • fundamental

    emphasises that other things depend on it; slightly more formal

  • essential

    stresses necessity rather than simplicity or early-stage learning

反義詞
  • advanced

    beyond the most basic level

  • complex

    involving many parts at a deeper level

文法句型

elementary + noun

用法筆記

Typically used attributively — placed before the noun it describes, rather than after a linking verb.

常見錯誤

❌I need to learn the elementary grammar rules' (when pointing generally to fundamental knowledge, not a course).
✅I need to learn the basic grammar rules.
💡'elementary' is most natural when referring to the first stage of a structured course or curriculum, whereas 'basic' works for general fundamental knowledge.

2. describing the first phase of learning a particular skill or topic, when the stu

2.形容詞A2
釋義

初級的

學習某學科最早階段的

describing the first phase of learning a particular skill or topic, when the student has just begun.

例句

Esteban enrolled in an elementary Spanish class designed for complete beginners.

Esteban 報名了一門專為完全初學者設計的初級西班牙語課程。

collocation: elementary [subject] class

The elementary textbook introduces basic vocabulary and simple sentence patterns to new learners.

這本初級課本向新學習者介紹基本詞彙和簡單句型。

同義詞
  • introductory

    more formal; often used for courses or materials that assume no prior knowledge

  • beginner

    used as a noun modifier, e.g., 'beginner class'; slightly less formal

反義詞

文法句型

elementary + noun

用法筆記

Typically attributive — placed before a noun that names a course, textbook, exam, or level. Often contrasted with 'intermediate' and 'advanced' on a learning scale.

常見錯誤

❌I bought an elementary French dictionary' (if you mean a dictionary with only the most common words).
✅I bought a basic French dictionary
💡'elementary' generally refers to course materials, not reference books.

3. relating to the first years of formal schooling for children aged roughly five t

3.形容詞B1
釋義

小學的

與小學或小學教育有關的

relating to the first years of formal schooling for children aged roughly five to eleven, before secondary school.

例句

Lien started teaching at an elementary school in Taipei last year.

Lien 去年開始在台北的一所小學任教。

typical context: teaching at an elementary school

Most elementary students in Taiwan learn Chinese, math, and science every day.

台灣大多數小學生每天學習中文、數學和自然科學。

typical modifier: elementary students

同義詞
  • primary

    the equivalent term in British and Australian English

反義詞
  • secondary

    relating to the next stage of schooling, roughly ages 11–16 or 11–18

文法句型

elementary + noun

用法筆記

Used primarily in American English and other regions that follow the US school system. In the UK, 'primary school' or 'primary education' is the equivalent term.

常見錯誤

❌She teaches at an elementary school in London.
✅She teaches at a primary school in London.
💡'elementary school' is the American term; British English uses 'primary school'.

4. extremely straightforward to do or understand, involving no difficulty or compli

4.形容詞B1
釋義

簡單的

非常簡單、不複雜的

extremely straightforward to do or understand, involving no difficulty or complication.

例句

The instructions were so elementary that even a child could follow them.

這些說明簡單到連小孩子都能照著做。

Bilal made an elementary mistake by forgetting to save his work before closing the file.

Bilal 犯了一個簡單的錯誤——關檔案前忘了儲存進度。

collocation: elementary mistake

同義詞
  • simple

    more neutral and widely used; safer in social contexts

  • easy

    the most common word; describes low effort or difficulty

  • straightforward

    emphasises clarity and lack of complications

反義詞

文法句型

elementary + noun

be + elementary

用法筆記

Often used predicatively after 'be' to stress that something requires little effort. Can sound dismissive if applied to another person's difficulty — 'simple' is safer in such contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The homework was elementary for me' (can sound arrogant).
✅The homework was easy for me
💡'elementary' can imply the task is beneath the speaker's level and may come across as condescending.