fault line
fault line — 名詞
1. a line on the ground where the Earth's rocky outer shell has split, allowing the
斷層
地殼岩石的斷裂面
a line on the ground where the Earth's rocky outer shell has split, allowing the two edges to slide past each other and often causing earthquakes
Haruto pointed to the fault line on the map near the coast.
Haruto 指著地圖上靠近海岸的那條斷層。
The old road was damaged because it crossed an active fault line.
那條舊路因為穿越一條活動斷層而受損。
collocation: active fault line
Scientists warned families living near the fault line about the risk of earthquakes.
科學家警告住在斷層附近的家庭要注意地震風險。
The fault line runs for hundreds of kilometres beneath the mountain range.
那條斷層在山脈下方延伸了數百公里。
New houses cannot be built within one hundred metres of the fault line.
距離斷層一百公尺以內不得建造新房。
用法筆記
Subject of the sentence is often a geological feature (mountain range, valley, coastline) that the fault line runs through or beneath.
常見錯誤
2. a hidden problem or difference of opinion within a group or system that could ca
隱患
可能導致失敗的潛在問題
a hidden problem or difference of opinion within a group or system that could cause serious trouble if it is not dealt with
A fault line between the two political parties created constant arguments.
兩個政黨之間的隱患引發了不斷的爭論。
collocation: fault line + between [groups]
Greta could sense a fault line forming among her old friends.
Greta 感覺到老朋友之間正在形成一道隱患。
The fault line between management and staff had existed for years before it was discussed.
管理階層與員工之間的隱患存在了好幾年，一直無人討論。
A deep fault line within the organisation suddenly became clear to everyone.
組織內部深厚的隱患突然之間變得人人皆知。
Liam tried to build bridges across the fault line between the two departments.
Liam 試圖在兩個部門的裂痕之間搭建橋樑。
用法筆記
Often appears with prepositions 'between' (two groups) or 'within' (a single group or system). Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'deep', 'growing', or 'political'.
常見錯誤
3. a clear division or separation between groups of people who hold very different
分歧
群體間因觀點不同而產生的分裂
a clear division or separation between groups of people who hold very different views, beliefs, or ways of life
The war created a deep fault line between the two communities.
戰爭在兩個社群之間造成了深層的分歧。
collocation: created a deep fault line
Economic differences have become a major fault line in modern society.
經濟差距已成為現代社會中的一個主要分歧點。
A fault line opened up between older and younger members of the church.
教會中較年長和較年輕的成員之間出現了分歧。
The election revealed a fault line that divided the nation between cities and the countryside.
那場選舉揭示了一道將城市與鄉村對立起來的分歧。
Naoko watched as a fault line emerged between her colleagues over the new policy.
Naoko 看著同事們因為新政策而產生分歧。
- common ground
shared beliefs that bridge a social division
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2 (HIDDEN PROBLEM), this sense describes an already visible split rather than a problem still lurking below the surface. Common in political and social commentary.