ill
ill — 形容詞
1. Experiencing a disease or medical condition that keeps your body from working no
生病的
身體不舒服或患病的狀態
Experiencing a disease or medical condition that keeps your body from working normally.
Tunde was too ill to go to school on Monday, so he stayed in bed.
Tunde 病得太重，週一無法上學，只好躺在床上休息。
too ill to [verb]
The old cat became ill after eating something from the rubbish bin.
那隻老貓吃了垃圾桶裡的東西之後就生病了。
Ada has been ill with the flu for nearly a week now.
Ada 得了流感，已經不舒服將近一個星期了。
Several passengers fell ill during the long bus ride through the mountains.
長途巴士在山區行駛時，有好幾位乘客突然生病了。
Yumi visited the clinic after feeling ill for three days in a row.
Yumi 連續三天感到不適，於是去診所看病。
文法句型
be ill
be ill with [illness]
fall ill
be taken ill
用法筆記
In modern English, 'ill' is usually placed after a linking verb ('be', 'feel', 'become') rather than directly before a noun. Saying 'an ill man' sounds old-fashioned; 'a sick man' is far more natural. One common exception is the fixed phrase 'ill health'.
常見錯誤
2. Having a negative, damaging, or morally wrong character — used of effects, inten
不良的
造成傷害或問題的
Having a negative, damaging, or morally wrong character — used of effects, intentions, fortune, or reputation.
The factory closures had ill effects on the whole town's economy.
工廠倒閉對整個小鎮的經濟造成了不良影響。
ill effects
Despite the heated debate, Faisal bore no ill will toward the new manager.
儘管辯論非常激烈，Faisal 對新任主管並沒有任何惡意。
ill will
Christopher suffered ill health for many years after working in the coal mine.
Christopher 在煤礦工作多年之後，身體健康狀況一直很差。
The candidate's ill reputation made it hard for her to win the election.
那名候選人的名聲不好，讓她很難贏得選舉。
- bad
The everyday equivalent; less formal and far more versatile.
- harmful
Focuses on causing damage or injury specifically.
- unfavorable
Lighter in tone; describes conditions or outcomes that do not help.
- good
The general opposite in moral or qualitative contexts.
- beneficial
Specifically positive in effect or outcome.
文法句型
ill + noun
用法筆記
This sense is largely confined to a set of fixed noun phrases ('ill will', 'ill effects', 'ill health', 'ill fortune', 'ill repute'). In most other contexts, the everyday word 'bad' is preferred. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 always modifies a noun directly (attributive position), whereas sense 1 is used predicatively.
常見錯誤
3. Producing a positive result even though the situation seems unfavorable — only u
好的（諺）
僅用於諺語，表示壞事可能帶來好處
Producing a positive result even though the situation seems unfavorable — only used in the traditional proverb about a wind that brings benefit to someone.
Dewi lost her job but found a better one — an ill wind indeed.
Dewi 丟了工作，卻找到更好的機會——真是塞翁失馬，焉知非福。
it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
The market crash hurt many investors, but some buyers picked up bargains. An ill wind indeed.
股市崩盤傷了許多投資人，但也有買家撿到便宜。真是福禍相依。
The cancelled flight meant Wei met his future wife at the train station — an ill wind.
航班取消了，Wei 卻在火車站遇見了未來的妻子——真是禍福難料。
When the bakery closed, Mei started her own catering business — an ill wind indeed.
麵包店關門後，Mei 開始經營自己的外燴生意——真是塞翁失馬。
文法句型
it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
用法筆記
This sense exists ONLY inside the fixed proverb 'it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good' (and shortened references to it). You cannot use 'ill' by itself to mean 'good' in any other context — that would confuse readers.
常見錯誤
ill — 副詞
1. In a way that is not good, not enough, or not satisfactory — especially when som
不良地
以不好的或不當的方式
In a way that is not good, not enough, or not satisfactory — especially when something has been done poorly or without proper preparation.
The hospital was ill prepared for the sudden flood of injured patients.
那家醫院對於突然湧入的大量傷患準備不足。
ill + past participle: ill prepared
Mark felt his long hours of work were ill rewarded by the committee.
Mark 覺得自己長時間的努力工作並沒有得到委員會應有的肯定。
The new classroom was ill suited to the needs of students using wheelchairs.
這間新教室的設計不適合需要使用輪椅的學生。
Adina argued that the existing law was ill designed for the digital age.
Adina 認為現行法律的設計不符合數位時代的需求。
- well
The general opposite in quality or manner.
文法句型
ill + past participle
用法筆記
In modern English, this adverb appears mainly in formal writing and in compound adjectives ('ill-equipped', 'ill-advised', 'ill-timed'). In everyday conversation, 'badly' or 'poorly' is far more common. The hyphen is used when the compound comes before a noun ('an ill-prepared speech') but not after a linking verb ('the speech was ill prepared').
常見錯誤
2. To make negative remarks about a person, especially when the person being critic
說壞話
批評或說某人的壞話
To make negative remarks about a person, especially when the person being criticised is not present.
Tunde refused to speak ill of his former boss even after the unfair dismissal.
即使被不公平地解僱，Tunde 仍然拒絕說前任主管的壞話。
speak ill of [someone]
Grandma always said it was wrong to speak ill of the dead.
奶奶總是說，說死者的壞話是不對的。
Gabriela never spoke ill of her sister during the divorce, though she was hurt.
離婚期間，Gabriela 雖然心裡受傷，卻從未說過姊姊的壞話。
The politician asked the journalists not to speak ill of his opponent.
那位政治人物請記者不要說對手壞話。
- praise
To express warm approval or admiration of someone.
- speak well of
The direct opposite phrase.
文法句型
speak ill of [someone]
用法筆記
This sense is almost entirely restricted to the fixed phrase 'speak ill of'. The negative form 'not speak ill of' is equally common, often used as a polite principle ('never speak ill of the dead'). The related noun form 'ill' appears in 'speak no ill'.
常見錯誤
3. To be a signal or sign that something bad will happen in the future.
預示不祥
顯示未來可能發生不好的事
To be a signal or sign that something bad will happen in the future.
The dark clouds gathering over the harbour boded ill for their sailing trip.
港口上空聚集的烏雲對他們的帆船之旅來說不是好兆頭。
bode ill for [someone/something]
Empty shelves in the supermarket boded ill for the weeks after the storm.
超市貨架上空空如也，預示暴風雨過後的幾週將十分艱難。
The team's poor performance in training boded ill for the championship match.
球隊在訓練中表現不佳，對錦標賽來說是個壞預兆。
The sudden silence from headquarters boded ill for the project's future.
總部突然保持沉默，對該專案的前景來說不是好兆頭。
- bode well
The direct opposite: to be a good sign for the future.
文法句型
bode ill for [someone/something]
用法筆記
Always used with the verb 'bode' in the fixed expression 'bode ill (for ...)'. The opposite is 'bode well'. This expression is formal and appears more often in writing than in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
4. To be unable to do something or lose something without suffering serious negativ
承擔不起
做了會造成嚴重問題
To be unable to do something or lose something without suffering serious negative effects, because of limited money, time, or other resources.
The small school could ill afford to lose another teacher before the summer term.
那所小型學校在夏季學期前再也承受不起失去另一位老師的損失。
can ill afford to [verb]
Élise's family could ill afford the cost of the private hospital stay.
Élise 一家負擔不起私立醫院的住院費用。
The start-up could ill afford any more delays from its overseas supplier.
這家新創公司再也經不起海外供應商的任何延誤了。
Given the tight deadline, the team could ill afford to waste a single afternoon.
由於期限非常緊迫，團隊連一個下午都浪費不起。
- cannot afford
The everyday equivalent; 'cannot afford' is neutral while 'can ill afford' adds a formal, almost moral tone of consequence.
- can well afford
The direct opposite: to have plenty of resources without risk.
文法句型
can ill afford to [verb]
can ill afford [noun]
用法筆記
The adverb 'ill' is locked inside the fixed structure 'can/could ill afford (to do) something'. You cannot separate 'ill' from 'afford' with other words (❌ 'can afford ill'). The opposite expression is 'can well afford'.
常見錯誤
ill — 名詞
1. Harm, damage, or something that causes suffering — usually in fixed phrases abou
傷害；損害
負面影響或傷害
Harm, damage, or something that causes suffering — usually in fixed phrases about intentions or consequences.
Mert meant no ill by his comment; he was simply trying to be honest.
Mert 說那句話並無惡意，他只是想誠實表達意見。
mean no ill
Aunt Rosa wished her nephew no ill, despite their long disagreement.
儘管長期不和，Rosa 阿姨對她的姪子並沒有任何惡意。
Malicious gossip can do real ill to a person's standing in a small town.
在小鎮上，惡意的八卦確實會嚴重損害一個人的地位。
Ishaan felt that the rumour mill did more ill than good to the community.
Ishaan 認為那些謠言對社區的傷害遠大於好處。
- good
In phrases like 'do good' vs 'do ill'.
文法句型
do ill
mean [someone] no ill
wish [someone] ill
用法筆記
As a noun meaning 'harm', 'ill' is restricted to a small set of fixed phrases: 'do ill', 'mean (someone) no ill', 'wish (someone) ill', 'speak no ill'. In all other contexts, the word 'harm' is the natural choice. This noun sense is uncountable (no 'ills' when meaning harm).
常見錯誤
2. A problem, difficulty, or bad condition — especially a social, economic, or poli
問題；弊病
困難或不幸的情況，尤指社會問題
A problem, difficulty, or bad condition — especially a social, economic, or political one.
The new president promised to cure the ills of the country's healthcare system.
新任總統承諾要解決該國醫療保健制度的種種弊病。
the ills of [system]
The report listed the many economic ills affecting rural farming communities.
那份報告列出了影響農村務農社區的許多經濟問題。
The charity works to address the social ills of poverty and inequality.
該慈善機構致力於解決貧窮與不平等這些社會弊病。
In his speech, the principal spoke about the ills of bullying in schools.
校長在演說中提到校園霸凌的問題。
- benefit
A positive feature or advantage, especially in a social context.
文法句型
the ills of [something]
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the plural ('ills') to describe a collection of problems within a system, society, or institution. The singular 'ill' for 'a problem' is very rare outside of literary writing. Distinguish from noun sense 1: sense 1 ('harm') is uncountable and appears in personal-intention phrases ('wish you no ill'); sense 2 is countable and part of social commentary.
常見錯誤
ill — 字首
1. Added to adjectives and past participles to mean 'in a bad, unsuitable, or inade
不；不良
附加於形容詞前，表示不好或不適當
Added to adjectives and past participles to mean 'in a bad, unsuitable, or inadequate way' — forming compounds such as ill-advised, ill-equipped, and ill-timed.
Faisal's decision to invest his savings in the scheme was ill-advised.
Faisal 把積蓄投入那項方案的決定是很不明智的。
ill-advised
The comedian's ill-timed joke during the funeral made everyone uncomfortable.
那位喜劇演員在葬禮上開了一個不合時宜的玩笑，讓大家都很尷尬。
ill-timed
Tyler was ill-equipped for the mountain hike — he had no map or water.
Tyler 的登山裝備不足——他既沒有地圖也沒有水。
The couple inherited a fortune from a relative, but the money was ill-gotten.
那對夫婦從親戚那裡繼承了一大筆錢，但那是不義之財。
The ill-fated expedition ended when the ship hit a reef near the coast.
那次命運多舛的遠征以船隻觸礁而告終。
文法句型
ill- + past participle
ill- + adjective
用法筆記
A productive prefix in formal and journalistic English. Always hyphenated before the base word. Common formations include: ill-advised, ill-equipped, ill-timed, ill-fated, ill-mannered, ill-gotten, ill-suited, ill-conceived, ill-defined, ill-humoured. The prefix is related to the formal adverb sense (ill prepared → ill-prepared) but has become a standard combining form used even without a corresponding adverbial phrase.