formal

formal — 形容詞

1. done or arranged by an authority or organization in a public way that follows se

1.形容詞B1
釋義

正式的

由官方或組織按規定進行的

done or arranged by an authority or organization in a public way that follows set rules — for example, a formal complaint made to a company or a formal agreement signed by both sides.

例句

The company received a formal complaint about the noise from the factory.

公司收到了一封關於工廠噪音的正式投訴。

collocation: formal complaint

Amani signed a formal agreement with the landlord before moving into the flat.

Amani 在搬進公寓前，和房東簽了一份正式合約。

同義詞
  • official

    stronger focus on authority; an official statement comes from a person in power

  • authorized

    emphasises permission from a higher body; more limited in scope

反義詞
  • unofficial

    describes something done without formal authority or recognition

用法筆記

Commonly appears before nouns such as complaint, agreement, meeting, announcement, and request. These nouns name actions or documents that need an official process.

常見錯誤

❌I made a formal apologize to her.
✅I made a formal apology to her.
💡'apology' is the noun form needed after 'formal', not 'apologize'.
❌The company gave him a formal warning letter.
✅The company gave him a formal warning.
💡'warning' already covers the idea; 'warning letter' is fine but often redundant.

2. used to describe something that exists in official documents or by title only, w

2.形容詞B2
釋義

形式上的

僅存在於名義而無實際作用的

used to describe something that exists in official documents or by title only, without matching what actually happens in practice — for example, a formal leader whose real power belongs to someone else.

例句

Faisal is the formal head of the department, but his assistant makes all the decisions.

Faisal 是那個部門的形式上的主管，但實際決策都是他的助理在做。

pattern: formal + role title (formal head / formal leader)

The union and management reached a formal agreement on wages, yet little changed on the factory floor.

工會與資方達成了形式上的工資協議，但工廠內部幾乎沒有任何實際改變。

同義詞
  • nominal

    more formal and less common; used in official or legal contexts

  • titular

    refers specifically to holding a title without the corresponding duties

反義詞
  • actual

    describes what is real and true rather than just a title

  • real

    emphasises the genuine situation as opposed to the formal one

用法筆記

Frequently paired with role titles (formal head, formal leader, formal owner). Adding a clause with 'but', 'yet', or 'though' that contrasts the real situation is the most common pattern.

3. suitable for important or official situations where people follow rules of corre

3.形容詞A2
釋義

正式場合的

適合重要或嚴肅場合的

suitable for important or official situations where people follow rules of correct behaviour and appearance — for example, formal clothes for a wedding, or formal language in a job interview.

例句

The invitation said "formal dress required," so Christopher wore his best suit.

邀請函上寫著「請著正式服裝」，於是 Christopher 穿了他最好的西裝。

collocation: formal dress

When Rachid wrote a letter of complaint to the bank about a mistaken charge, he used formal language throughout.

Rachid 針對銀行誤扣款項撰寫投訴信時，從頭到尾都使用了正式用語。

collocation: formal language

同義詞
  • ceremonial

    used specifically for ceremonies and rituals, often religious or traditional

  • proper

    broader meaning of correct behaviour, not limited to official settings

反義詞
  • informal

    the most common opposite; describes casual language, clothes, or behaviour

  • casual

    used especially for clothing and social situations

用法筆記

The most concrete sense of formal — learners encounter it first with clothes (formal dress, formal suit) and events (formal dinner, formal wedding). The opposite informal is very common at this level too.

常見錯誤

❌I wore a formal dress to the beach party.
✅I wore a casual dress to the beach party.
💡'formal' describes serious, elegant occasions, not relaxed events.

4. received through a structured programme of lessons and exams at a recognised tea

4.形容詞A2
釋義

正規的

在學校透過課程與考試取得的

received through a structured programme of lessons and exams at a recognised teaching institution — for example, formal education, formal training, or formal qualifications.

例句

Dario has no formal training in cooking, but he learned from his grandmother.

Dario 沒有受過正規的烹飪訓練，但他跟奶奶學了很多。

collocation: formal training

Megan started her formal education at a small village school at age six.

Megan 六歲時在一間小村莊學校開始接受正規教育。

collocation: formal education

同義詞
  • academic

    narrower — specifically about school- or university-based learning

  • certified

    focuses on having a certificate rather than the learning process

反義詞
  • informal

    describes learning that happens outside a school, e.g. from family or experience

用法筆記

Frequently used in negative constructions (no formal training, never had formal lessons) to contrast with skills learned through experience.

5. arranged in a planned, regular pattern with clear lines and symmetry rather than

5.形容詞B2
釋義

整齊對稱的

按規劃整齊排列而非自然生長的

arranged in a planned, regular pattern with clear lines and symmetry rather than in a natural or random way — for example, a formal garden with straight paths and trimmed hedges.

例句

The hotel garden is very formal, with straight paths and neatly cut hedges.

這間飯店的花園相當整齊對稱，有筆直的小徑和修剪整齊的樹籬。

collocation: formal garden

Xiu preferred a formal layout with square flower beds and a central fountain.

Xiu 偏愛整齊對稱的格局，配有方形的花壇和一座中央噴泉。

同義詞
  • symmetrical

    focuses on balance and mirroring rather than overall planning

  • structured

    broader — can apply to any organized arrangement, not just visual design

反義詞
  • natural

    describes gardens or landscapes that grow freely without strict planning

  • wild

    emphasises the absence of human control or design

用法筆記

This sense is most common in garden and interior design contexts. It contrasts with 'natural', 'wild', or 'organic' styles.

formal — 名詞