figure
figure — 動詞
1. to believe something is likely to happen or be true, based on the information yo
認為；預料
根據已知資訊推斷某事很可能發生
to believe something is likely to happen or be true, based on the information you have
Olivia figured the train would arrive before noon, so she did not rush.
Olivia 認為火車中午前就會抵達，所以她沒有趕時間。
figure + that-clause for predicting
We figure it will take about three hours to drive to the coast from here.
我們估計從這裡開車到海邊大概要三個小時。
Diya figured her boss would offer her the position after the interview.
Diya 猜想面試結束後主管會把那個職位給她。
I figure Liam has already left for work, since his car is gone.
我猜想 Liam 已經出門上班了，因為他的車不在。
- doubt
expresses the opposite belief — that something is unlikely
文法句型
figure + that-clause
用法筆記
Common in everyday American speech rather than formal writing. The that-clause is often implied rather than stated: 'I figure so.'
常見錯誤
2. to have a particular opinion about someone or something; to believe they are a c
認為；視為
對某人或某事抱持特定看法
to have a particular opinion about someone or something; to believe they are a certain kind of person or thing — for example, figuring a colleague as the best candidate for promotion or figuring a rule as unnecessary
Élise figured Nikos as the right person to lead the project.
Élise 認為 Nikos 是領導這個專案的適當人選。
figure + noun + as + [role]
Camila always figured her grandmother as the strongest person she knew.
Camila 一直把外婆當作她認識的人當中最堅強的一位。
The group figured the new dress code as too strict for a casual office.
大家覺得新的服裝規定對休閒辦公室來說太嚴格了。
Omar figured himself as someone who could fix almost anything around the house.
Omar 自認是那種幾乎什麼家裡的東西都能修理的人。
文法句型
figure + object + as + noun/adjective
用法筆記
Commonly uses 'as' to introduce the complement. Without 'as', the structure changes meaning — compare 'I figured him a liar' (sense 2, REGARD AS) with 'I figured he was lying' (sense 1, EXPECT).
常見錯誤
3. to be an important part of something or to appear in a particular context, such
出現；參與
在某個場合、報告或討論中扮演重要角色
to be an important part of something or to appear in a particular context, such as an event, report, or discussion
The economy figured heavily in voters' decisions during the election.
經濟問題在選民投票時佔有重要地位。
figure + adverb + in [context]
Ayana's research figured prominently in the final report on climate change.
Ayana 的研究在關於氣候變遷的最終報告中佔有顯著地位。
Putri's name did not figure in the list of award winners this year.
Putri 的名字今年沒有出現在獲獎名單中。
Love and friendship figure large in Gabriela's novels and short stories.
愛情和友情在 Gabriela 的小說和短篇故事中佔有重要地位。
- appear
neutral and more common; does not carry the same sense of importance
- feature
strongly similar; 'feature' suggests a planned or notable role
- play a part
more explanatory; used when introducing the idea for the first time
- be absent
the opposite of being included or appearing
文法句型
figure + adverb + in + noun
用法筆記
Often paired with an adverb ('largely', 'prominently', 'heavily') before the preposition 'in'. The phrase 'figure large' is a fixed collocation meaning 'be very important'.
常見錯誤
4. to find a total or answer by doing arithmetic
計算
透過算術求出總數或答案
to find a total or answer by doing arithmetic
Haruto figured the total cost of the trip before booking anything.
Haruto 在預訂任何東西之前先計算了這趟旅行的總費用。
figure + [total/cost/amount]
The accountant quickly figured the tax using a simple table.
會計師用一張簡單的表格迅速算出了稅額。
Can you figure how much paint we need for the living room?
你能算出客廳需要多少油漆嗎？
Eli figured the distance from his house to school in under a minute.
Eli 不到一分鐘就算出了從他家到學校的距離。
- estimate
to give an approximate answer rather than an exact calculation
文法句型
figure + amount / total / cost
用法筆記
In modern American English, the phrasal verb 'figure out' (discover the answer) is far more common than bare 'figure' for this sense. Bare 'figure' sounds slightly dated or very informal.
常見錯誤
figure — 名詞
1. a written sign like 0, 1, 2, or 9 that is used to show a number, or a number tha
數字；數值
表示數量或價格的書寫符號
a written sign like 0, 1, 2, or 9 that is used to show a number, or a number that tells you the value, price, or amount of something.
The total figure on the receipt was over five thousand dollars.
收據上的總金額超過五千美元。
figure + of + amount for total value
Min wrote the figure 7 on the board, then added a small zero beside it.
Min 在黑板上寫下數字 7，然後在旁邊加了一個零。
figure as numeral / written symbol
Karim checked the sales figures for the month and noticed a big jump.
Karim 查看了這個月的銷售數字，發現大幅成長。
Andrew added up the figures in his notebook and found a small mistake.
Andrew 把筆記本裡的數字加總起來，發現有一個小錯誤。
文法句型
figure + of + amount
a figure of [amount]
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (figures) when referring to official financial or statistical data.
常見錯誤
2. the number of digits that make up a number, used especially in expressions that
位數
表示數字大小的位數（如雙位數、六位數）
the number of digits that make up a number, used especially in expressions that show how large or small an amount is, such as 'double figures' (10-99) or 'six figures' (100,000-999,999).
Her monthly salary finally reached five figures after the promotion.
她升職後，月薪終於達到五位數。
five figures = 10,000 to 99,999
The company's profits have been in double figures for three years in a row.
這家公司的利潤已經連續三年達到兩位數。
in double figures = between 10 and 99 percent
Otis could not believe the damage was in five figures for such a small fire.
Otis 不敢相信一場小火災造成的損失竟然達到五位數。
The charity hoped to raise a six-figure sum for the new hospital wing.
該慈善機構希望能為新醫院大樓募集到六位數的捐款。
文法句型
[quantity word] + figures
in + [adjective] + figures
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in fixed phrases with a preceding adjective (single, double, triple, low, high) or number word (five, six, seven). Not used alone — you cannot say 'It was figures' to mean 'it was a big number.'
常見錯誤
3. a human form that is visible but not clearly seen, usually because the person is
人影；輪廓
隱約可見的人形
a human form that is visible but not clearly seen, usually because the person is far away, in shadow, or in poor light.
Sana spotted a tall figure standing under the streetlamp in the fog.
Sana 看見一個高大的人影站在霧中的路燈下。
figure as indistinct person shape
A dark figure moved quickly across the empty parking lot.
一個黑影迅速穿越空無一人的停車場。
dark figure = person in shadow/low light
From the hilltop, Christopher could see the tiny figures of hikers on the trail below.
Christopher 從山頂上可以看到下方步道上登山者的小人影。
Sora thought he saw a human figure standing behind the curtain in the dark room.
Sora 覺得他看到暗房裡的窗簾後面站著一個人影。
- shape
more general; does not specifically refer to a person
- outline
emphasises the edge or border of the form, not the person inside
- silhouette
more literary; a dark shape against a lighter background
文法句型
a figure + in/at/on [location]
4. a person, especially one who is well known or important in a particular area of
人物；人士
重要或有名的公眾人物
a person, especially one who is well known or important in a particular area of activity, such as politics, business, or the arts.
Élise interviewed several political figures for her article on the election.
Élise 為了她的選舉報導採訪了幾位政治人物。
figure in politics = important person
Henry was a key figure in the local community for over thirty years.
Henry 三十年來一直是當地社區的關鍵人物。
key figure = influential person
The event attracted public figures from the worlds of music and film.
這場活動吸引了來自音樂和電影界的公眾人物。
Olivia grew up surrounded by famous figures because her father worked in television.
Olivia 從小在知名人物身邊長大，因為她父親在電視台工作。
- personality
focuses on fame and public recognition
- personage
more formal; suggests high status or historical importance
- character
less formal; can also mean an unusual or eccentric person
文法句型
[adjective] + figure
a figure in [field/area]
常見錯誤
5. a visual depiction in a painting, drawing, photograph, or sculpture that shows a
人像；雕像
繪畫或雕塑中的人物或動物形象
a visual depiction in a painting, drawing, photograph, or sculpture that shows a human being or a creature.
A small wooden horse figure, carved long ago, stood in a museum display.
博物館裡展示了一尊一百多年前雕刻的小木馬。
figure of [animal] = carved representation
In the corner of the painting, a tiny figure sits reading under a tree.
在畫作的角落裡，一個小小的人影坐在樹下看書。
figure as person in painting
Asher bought a clay figure of a dancing woman at the craft market.
Asher 在手工藝市集買了一個跳舞女人的陶俑。
The children's book was full of colourful figures of animals wearing tiny clothes.
這本兒童書裡充滿了穿著小衣服的彩色動物圖像。
文法句型
a figure + of [person/animal]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: this sense refers to an artistic image or model, not a real person seen from a distance.
6. the shape of a person's body, especially a woman's body considered in terms of h
身材；體態
人的體型，尤指女性的體態
the shape of a person's body, especially a woman's body considered in terms of how slim, attractive, or fit it is.
Zola has been going to the gym to keep her figure in shape.
Zola 一直去健身房鍛鍊以保持身材。
keep figure = maintain body shape
The dress was designed to show off the wearer's figure.
這件洋裝的設計旨在展現穿著者的身材。
show off figure = display body shape
Madison was happy with her figure after months of regular exercise.
Madison 經過幾個月的規律運動後，對自己的身材很滿意。
Joon's yoga teacher told the class that good posture helps your figure.
Joon 的瑜伽老師告訴全班，良好的姿勢有助於維持身材。
文法句型
[possessive] + figure
keep/lose [possessive] + figure
用法筆記
Commonly used with possessive adjectives (her figure, my figure) and in fixed phrases about fitness or appearance. Can occasionally refer to a man's physique, but much more frequent for women.
常見錯誤
7. a picture, drawing, or diagram in a book, report, or other document, usually giv
圖表；插圖
書中附編號的圖或圖表
a picture, drawing, or diagram in a book, report, or other document, usually given a number so that readers can find it quickly
See Figure 3 on page 12 for a diagram of the heart.
關於心臟的圖解，請參閱第 12 頁的圖 3。
numbered reference: Figure + number in instructions
The annual report includes several figures showing last year's sales growth.
這份年度報告包含多張圖表，顯示去年的銷售成長。
Each chapter has numbered figures that help explain difficult scientific ideas.
每一章都有附編號的插圖，幫助解釋困難的科學概念。
The biology textbook has a helpful figure showing how the human heart pumps blood.
這本生物教科書有一張實用的圖解，說明人類心臟如何輸送血液。
- diagram
focuses on a technical drawing rather than any picture
- illustration
more general; can include photographs or artwork
- plate
usually a full-page image printed separately, often in colour
用法筆記
Usually capitalised when followed by a number (Figure 3, Figure A). Often abbreviated as Fig. in academic writing.
8. skill in working with numbers, especially the ability to add, subtract, multiply
算術
加減乘除等計算能力
skill in working with numbers, especially the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide correctly
Jiwoo is very good at figures and can calculate the total in seconds.
Jiwoo 很擅長算術，幾秒鐘就能算出總額。
collocation: good at figures
The accounting job requires a solid grasp of figures to manage the monthly budget.
這份會計工作需要紮實的數字能力，才能管理每月的預算。
Otis struggled with figures at school until he started using maths games online.
Otis 在學校的算術一直不太好，直到他開始玩線上數學遊戲。
The cashier's error showed that his figures were not always reliable.
那位收銀員的錯誤顯示他的數字計算不一定可靠。
- arithmetic
more formal; also refers to the school subject itself
- maths (UK) / math (US)
broader; includes algebra, geometry, etc.
- numeracy
formal term for the ability to understand and work with numbers
用法筆記
Frequently used in the plural without 'the' (good at figures, weak in figures). Less common in modern everyday speech than maths or arithmetic.
常見錯誤
9. any shape that can be described in geometry, such as a circle, triangle, or squa
幾何圖形
圓形、三角形等幾何形狀
any shape that can be described in geometry, such as a circle, triangle, or square, whose outline follows a set of straight or curved lines
The children learned to draw basic figures like circles and squares in art class.
孩子們在美術課上學會畫圓形和正方形等基本幾何圖形。
A triangle is a three-sided figure whose angles add up to 180 degrees.
三角形是一種有三條邊的幾何圖形，內角和為 180 度。
collocation: three-sided figure
The students identified different geometric figures such as hexagons and parallelograms.
學生們辨認了不同的幾何圖形，例如六邊形和平行四邊形。
The architect drew several figures on the blueprint before choosing the final design.
建築師在藍圖上畫了好幾種幾何圖形，才選定最終的設計。
10. a set series of movements or steps forming a pattern, especially in ice skating,
舞步；花式
舞蹈或溜冰中的規定動作組合
a set series of movements or steps forming a pattern, especially in ice skating, dancing, or a similar performance
The skater performed a difficult figure on the ice during the competition.
這位溜冰選手在比賽中於冰上表演了一套高難度的花式動作。
collocation: performed a figure
The dance instructor showed the class a new figure that involved three quick turns.
舞蹈老師向全班示範了一個包含三個快速旋轉的新舞步。
Élise and Joaquín practised the same figure until their movements matched perfectly.
Élise 和 Joaquín 反覆練習同一個舞步，直到動作完全整齊一致。
The coach asked the team to practise the opening figure until everyone had it right.
教練要求全隊練習開場的那套動作，直到每個人都做對為止。
用法筆記
Strongly associated with figure skating (the sport), which takes its name from this sense. Often used with verbs like perform, practise, or learn.