inch

1.名詞A2

釋義

英寸

長度單位，約等於2.54公分

a standard unit of length in the imperial system; one inch equals 2.54 centimetres, and twelve inches make one foot

例句

The fish Lakshmi caught was about 14 inches long.

Lakshmi 釣到的魚大約有 14 英寸長。

You need a 6-inch knife to cut through this thick rope.

你需要一把 6 英寸的刀才能切斷這條粗繩子。

hyphenated compound: number-inch + noun

文法句型

number + inch(es) + adjective (long/wide/deep)

inch(es) of + noun

hyphenated compound: number-inch + noun

常見錯誤

❌The door is 30 inch wide.

✅The door is 30 inches wide.

💡When no hyphen is used before a noun, 'inch' takes the plural form 'inches' after numbers greater than one.

❌A 5-inches nail

✅A 5-inch nail.

💡In a hyphenated compound before a noun, the singular form 'inch' is always used.

2.名詞B1

釋義

絲毫

極小的數量、距離或程度

a tiny quantity, distance, or level of something

例句

The negotiations have not moved an inch since last week.

從上週到現在，談判絲毫沒有任何進展。

negative construction: not + verb + an inch

Antonia was every inch a professional musician from the moment she stepped on stage.

Antonia 從踏上舞台的那一刻起，就是十足的專業音樂家。

idiom: every inch (completely)

同義詞

bit
more general; 'bit' can refer to any small amount, while 'inch' emphasises small distance or degree
touch
suggests a very slight amount, often used with abstract nouns ('a touch of humour')
trace
an amount so small it is barely noticeable, often implying the last remaining evidence of something

反義詞

mile
used contrastively in the idiom 'give an inch and they'll take a mile' to show the difference between a small concession and excessive demands

文法句型

not + verb + an inch

every inch + noun phrase

inch of + uncountable noun

within an inch of + noun

用法筆記

Frequently appears in negative constructions ('not budge an inch', 'not trust an inch') and fixed idioms. The positive form 'an inch of' is usually found in questions, conditionals, or proverbs rather than in plain affirmative statements.

常見錯誤

❌The cat moved an inch closer.' (using sense 2 for literal positive distance).

✅The cat did not budge an inch when I called.

💡For literal positive distance, use sense 1 instead of this figurative sense.

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1

釋義

緩移

非常緩慢地一小段一小段移動

to advance gradually by tiny steps, or to make something advance in such a way

例句

Traffic was inching along the highway during the evening rush hour.

傍晚尖峰時間，公路上車流緩慢移動。

inch + adverb (along/forward)

David inched the heavy sofa through the narrow doorway without scratching the walls.

David 慢慢地把沉重的沙發移過狹窄的門口，沒有刮傷牆壁。

transitive: inch + object + preposition phrase

同義詞

creep
suggests silent or cautious movement, while 'inch' emphasises extreme slowness over short distances
edge
implies gradual sideways or careful movement into a position, like 'inch' but often with a sense of squeezing into a tight space

反義詞

rush
to move with speed, the opposite of moving slowly in small stages
dash
to move quickly and suddenly, contrasting with inch's careful slowness

文法句型

inch + adverb/preposition

inch + object + adverb/preposition

inch + one's way + adverb/preposition

用法筆記

Commonly used with adverbs of direction such as 'along', 'forward', 'up', 'down', 'through', and 'into'. The transitive causative use ('inch something + preposition') is frequent when describing careful positioning of objects. Does not naturally pair with adverbs of speed such as 'quickly' or 'rapidly'.

常見錯誤

❌He inched quickly across the room.

✅He inched carefully across the room.

💡'Inch' as a verb describes slow movement, so it conflicts with adverbs that indicate speed.

inch

inch — 名詞

1. a standard unit of length in the imperial system; one inch equals 2.54 centimetr

文法句型

常見錯誤

2. a tiny quantity, distance, or level of something

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

inch — 動詞

1. to advance gradually by tiny steps, or to make something advance in such a way

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤