import
import — 動詞
1. to buy products or goods that come from another country and bring them into your
進口
從外國買入貨物，引入銷售
to buy products or goods that come from another country and bring them into your country, usually to sell them
Japan imports most of its oil from countries in the Middle East.
日本大部分的石油從中東國家進口。
import + from + [country/region]
Cheese that is imported from France often costs more than the locally made kind.
從法國進口的乳酪通常比本地製的更貴。
To import machinery without paying the full tax, you need a government permit.
要進口機械而不繳全額稅金，需要政府許可證。
The company decided to import fabric from India instead of buying from local suppliers.
公司決定從印度進口布料，而不是向本地供應商購買。
Darius showed us that importing steel from overseas can reduce production costs.
Darius 向我們說明，從海外進口鋼鐵可以降低生產成本。
- bring in
less formal, everyday language
- buy from abroad
focuses on the purchasing step rather than transportation
- export
to send goods out of your country to other countries
文法句型
import + noun phrase + from + [country/place]
be imported + from + [country/place]
常見錯誤
2. to bring a custom, idea, fashion, or way of doing things from one country or cul
引進；傳入
將習俗、觀念從外地傳入
to bring a custom, idea, fashion, or way of doing things from one country or culture into another, where it was not common before
The custom of drinking afternoon tea was imported from Britain into many former colonies.
喝下午茶的習俗是從英國傳入許多前殖民地的。
passive: be imported from… into…
Heloísa's grandfather imported his traditional cooking methods when he moved to Brazil.
Heloísa 的祖父在搬遷到巴西時，將他傳統的烹飪方法也帶了過來。
The company tried to import the Japanese practice of morning meetings into its offices.
公司嘗試將日本早會的做法引進各辦公室。
Schools in the region imported new teaching methods from Finland to improve student results.
該地區的學校從芬蘭引進了新的教學方法，以提升學生的成績。
- introduce
more general, does not emphasise the foreign origin as strongly
- bring over
informal, common in conversation
- export
to send practices or ideas out of one culture to others
文法句型
import + noun phrase + from + [place] + into + [place]
be imported from + [country/culture] + into + [country/culture]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (IMPORT GOODS): sense 1 is limited to buying and selling physical products for trade; sense 2 extends to ideas, traditions, practices, and customs that are brought into a culture. Commonly used in the passive voice.
常見錯誤
3. to load or transfer data from one computer system, program, or file into a diffe
匯入
將資料從一個系統移至另一個
to load or transfer data from one computer system, program, or file into a different one so that it can be read or used there
Quan imported the photos from his camera into the editing software on his laptop.
Quan 將相機裡的照片匯入筆電的編輯軟體。
import + [data] + from + [device] + into + [program]
The program can import data from a spreadsheet and turn it into a chart.
這個程式可以從試算表匯入資料，並將其轉換成圖表。
Before you begin editing, you need to import the font files into the design tool.
開始編輯之前，你需要將字型檔案匯入設計工具。
Yael showed everyone how to import contacts from the old phone to the new one.
Yael 向大家示範如何將聯絡人從舊手機匯入新手機。
This software cannot import documents that were saved in the older file format.
這個軟體無法匯入以舊版檔案格式儲存的文件。
- export
the opposite direction — to send data out of a program or system
文法句型
import + noun phrase + from + [device/program] + into/to + [device/program]
常見錯誤
4. to carry a particular meaning or to suggest something beyond the surface level;
意味；表示
（正式用法）隱含某種意義
to carry a particular meaning or to suggest something beyond the surface level; to imply or indicate
The ambassador's careful words imported a warning that the talks could fail.
大使措辭謹慎，意味著談判可能破裂的警告。
formal: subject + import + that-clause
Christopher's silence did not import agreement; he was still weighing the arguments.
Christopher 的沉默並不表示同意；他仍在權衡各方論點。
What does this sudden change in leadership import for the future of the university?
領導層的突然變動對大學的未來意味著什麼？
The professor's measured tone imported more meaning than the words themselves carried.
教授平穩的語氣傳達出的意思，遠比話語本身更多。
文法句型
[abstract noun] + import + [abstract noun]
[abstract noun] + import + that-clause
用法筆記
Restricted to formal, literary, or rhetorical contexts. Does not occur in everyday conversation. The subject is typically an abstract noun (silence, tone, words, change, news).
常見錯誤
import — 名詞
1. products or goods that one country receives from another country, usually so tha
進口商品
從外國買入的商品
products or goods that one country receives from another country, usually so that they can be sold
The country's imports of machinery and electronics increased sharply last year.
該國的機械和電子產品進口量去年大幅增加。
imports of [product type]
Cheaper imports from overseas have hurt the local furniture-making industry.
來自海外的廉價進口貨已衝擊了本地家具製造業。
The government placed new taxes on foreign imports to protect local farmers.
政府對外國進口商品加徵新稅，以保護本地農民。
Japan's main imports include oil, coal, and natural gas from several countries.
日本的主要進口品包括來自多國的石油、煤礦和天然氣。
Most of the fruit in this shop is an import from a warmer country.
這家店裡大部分水果是從氣候較溫暖的國家進口的。
- foreign goods
describes the origin rather than the action of bringing in
- overseas products
focuses on the source location
- exports
goods sent out of a country for sale elsewhere
文法句型
[country]'s imports + of + [product type]
imports + from + [country/region]
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural (imports) when referring to goods as a category. The singular (an import) refers to one specific product or type of product brought from abroad.
常見錯誤
2. the activity or process of bringing products, fashions, or services into a count
進口；輸入
將貨物從國外運入的行為
the activity or process of bringing products, fashions, or services into a country from abroad
The import of foreign cars was banned during the trade dispute.
貿易爭議期間，外國汽車的進口被禁止了。
the import of [goods] — uncountable action noun
Adisa works in the import and export department of a large trading company.
Adisa 在一家大型貿易公司的進出口部門工作。
New rules for the import of food products have made the inspection much stricter.
食品進口的新規定讓檢驗變得嚴格許多。
The sudden ban on the import of steel parts caused problems for local manufacturers.
鋼鐵零件進口的突然禁令為本地製造商帶來了問題。
- importation
more formal, less common in everyday speech
- export
the activity of sending goods out of a country
- exportation
formal equivalent
文法句型
the import of + [goods/product type]
用法筆記
Uncountable — describes the activity rather than the physical products. Distinguish from sense 1 (FOREIGN GOODS): sense 1 refers to the actual products; sense 2 refers to the action or process of bringing them in.
3. the quality of being important or significant; the hidden or deeper meaning of s
重要性；含義
重要程度或深層意義
the quality of being important or significant; the hidden or deeper meaning of something that is not stated directly
The peace agreement was an event of great historical import for the region.
這項和平協議對該地區而言具有重大歷史意義。
of great/little/no import — formal fixed phrase
Kabir did not fully understand the import of the lawyer's warning until later.
Kabir 直到後來才完全理解律師那番警告的含意。
Matters of national import should be discussed openly in the parliament.
涉及國家重要性的事務應該在國會中公開討論。
The import of her speech became clear only after the results were announced.
她演講的深層含意是在結果公布之後才變得明朗。
- significance
more common and less formal
- meaning
focuses on the message rather than the weight
- consequence
emphasises the impact or result
- insignificance
the state of being unimportant
文法句型
of great/little/no import
the import of + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Uncountable noun used in formal writing and speeches. Most commonly appears in the fixed phrases 'of great import', 'of little import', 'of no import'. The adjective 'important' is far more common in everyday language for expressing the same idea.