foreign
foreign — 形容詞
1. coming from a different country than the one where you live; involving people, p
外國的
來自其他國家的
coming from a different country than the one where you live; involving people, places, or things from outside your own country
Ari spent a year studying at a foreign university in Japan.
Ari 在日本的一所外國大學留學了一年。
collocation: foreign university
The hotel employs many foreign workers from several Asian countries.
這家旅館僱用了許多來自幾個亞洲國家的外籍勞工。
collocation: foreign workers
Jenna can speak three foreign languages, including Mandarin and Spanish.
Jenna 能流利地說三種外語，包括中文和西班牙文。
Foreign visitors to the museum can pick up a guide in their own language.
到博物館參觀的外國訪客可以領取自己語言的導覽手冊。
Élise felt nervous about living in a foreign country for the first time.
Élise 對於第一次住在國外感到緊張。
- overseas
Specifically means 'across the sea'; narrower than foreign. Used for travel, trade, and relations across oceans.
- international
Emphasises involvement of multiple nations rather than just 'not your own'. Broader and more neutral.
- alien
Stronger, slightly literary or legal tone; can sound dramatic in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. not familiar, normal, or typical for a particular person; feeling strange becaus
陌生的
不熟悉而感到奇怪的
not familiar, normal, or typical for a particular person; feeling strange because it is outside what you usually experience or understand
The idea of eating insects for breakfast was completely foreign to Jude.
早餐吃昆蟲這個念頭對 Jude 來說完全無法想像。
pattern: foreign to [someone] with intensifier 'completely'
After years of living alone, sharing a bedroom felt foreign to Paloma.
獨居多年後，與人共用臥室這件事情對 Paloma 來說很陌生。
pattern: feel foreign to [someone]
The customs of the small village were foreign to Baraka, who had grown up in a big city.
這個小村莊的習俗對在大城市長大的 Baraka 來說非常陌生。
After moving from Mexico City to Tokyo, Ramón found the custom of removing shoes indoors completely foreign.
從墨西哥市搬到東京後，Ramón 覺得進屋脫鞋的習慣非常陌生。
The concept of taking a nap during work hours is foreign to many Western companies.
在工作時間小睡片刻的概念，對許多西方企業來說是難以想像的。
- strange
More general and less formal than foreign in this sense. Can describe anything unusual.
- unfamiliar
Focuses on lack of prior knowledge or experience; softer and more neutral than foreign.
- alien
Stronger connotation of being completely different or unwelcome; can sound dramatic.
- unknown
Suggests no knowledge at all rather than mere difference; more factual.
文法句型
foreign to [someone]
用法筆記
This sense often appears in the pattern 'foreign to + person/group'. Intensifiers such as 'completely', 'totally', and 'entirely' are commonly used to strengthen the sense of strangeness. Distinguished from sense 1 by its focus on unfamiliarity rather than nationality.
常見錯誤
3. describes an object or material that is present in something where it does not n
異物的
不應存在於某處的外來物體
describes an object or material that is present in something where it does not naturally belong, usually because it got in by accident
The doctor removed a foreign object from the child's ear.
醫生從孩子的耳朵裡取出了一個異物。
fixed phrase: foreign object
X-rays showed a small foreign body lodged in the patient's lung.
X 光顯示患者的肺部卡著一個微小的異物。
fixed phrase: foreign body
The laboratory found foreign particles in the bottled water sample.
實驗室在瓶裝水樣本中發現了外來微粒。
A piece of packaging was a foreign substance that had entered the food during production.
一小片包裝材料是在生產過程中混入食物裡的外來物質。
The mechanic discovered a foreign object stuck inside the engine pipe.
技師在引擎管內發現了一個卡住的異物。
- extraneous
Formal term; emphasises that something is not part of the essential material.
- external
Simply means 'coming from the outside'; less specific about not belonging.
- alien
Used in science fiction and biology; more dramatic than 'foreign' in everyday speech.
用法筆記
Common in medical and technical contexts. The fixed phrases 'foreign object' and 'foreign body' are the most frequent uses of this sense. In medical writing, 'foreign body' is a standard term for any object originating outside the body.
4. relating to the relationships, communication, and business between different cou
外交的
與國際事務有關的
relating to the relationships, communication, and business between different countries, especially when involving government or official matters
The minister discussed foreign policy with leaders from neighbouring countries.
部長與鄰國領袖討論了外交政策。
collocation: foreign policy
Andrew found a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul.
Andrew 在首爾的外交部找到了一份工作。
fixed phrase: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The president's foreign visit to India was covered by news agencies around the world.
總統對印度的外交訪問受到全球新聞媒體的報導。
Strong foreign investment helped the country's economy grow rapidly.
大量的外國投資協助該國經濟快速成長。
The two nations signed a new foreign trade agreement last month.
兩國上個月簽署了一項新的外貿協定。
- international
Broader than foreign in this sense; includes multilateral relations, not just between two countries.
- diplomatic
Specifically relates to formal negotiations and embassy-level relations between nations.
- external
Used in formal contexts such as 'external affairs'; slightly more detached and bureaucratic.
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in set noun phrases such as 'foreign policy', 'foreign affairs', 'foreign minister', and 'foreign relations'. It appears frequently in news reports and formal political discussions. Unlike sense 1, it describes the field or domain of international activity rather than simply things from another country.