inflation

inflation — 名詞

1. a long-term economic condition in which the prices of most goods and services ke

1.名詞B2
釋義

通貨膨脹

物價持續上漲，貨幣購買力下降

a long-term economic condition in which the prices of most goods and services keep rising, so that each unit of currency buys less than it did before.

例句

When the rate of inflation rose above five percent, Antonia began to worry about her monthly food budget.

當通貨膨脹率超過百分之五時，Antonia 開始擔心她每個月的食物開銷。

collocation: rate of inflation

To control rising inflation, the central bank decided to increase interest rates.

為了控制持續上升的通貨膨脹，中央銀行決定提高利率。

phrase: control inflation

同義詞
  • price rise

    a simpler, non-technical term; less precise than inflation

  • rising prices

    describes the same situation in everyday language

反義詞
  • deflation

    a general decrease in prices across the economy

文法句型

inflation + verb (rises, falls, slows)

rate/level of inflation

adjusted for inflation

用法筆記

Frequently used without an article in general statements (Inflation is rising across Europe). The related adjective is inflationary (inflationary pressures, inflationary spiral). The opposite economic condition is deflation.

常見錯誤

❌This year's inflation is the bread price going up.
✅This year's inflation means that the prices of most things, including bread, have gone up.
💡Inflation affects the whole economy, not just one product.
❌The inflation increased 3%.
✅The inflation rate increased to 3%.
💡Inflation itself is a condition; use inflation rate for the numerical measurement.

2. the process by which the amount, level, or numerical value of something steadily

2.名詞B2
釋義

膨脹；飆升

數量或程度持續增加

the process by which the amount, level, or numerical value of something steadily rises over time, often beyond reasonable or expected limits.

例句

Grade inflation at universities has made it difficult for employers to compare graduates fairly.

大學成績膨脹讓雇主難以公平比較畢業生的能力。

compound noun: grade inflation

Roya questioned whether salary inflation in the tech industry reflected true skill growth.

Roya 質疑科技業的薪資膨脹是否真的反映了技能的成長。

同義詞
  • rise

    neutral term; does not carry the critical tone of inflation

  • escalation

    implies a rapid or uncontrolled increase; more formal

反義詞
  • decline

    a drop in the amount or level of something

文法句型

[noun] + inflation

inflation of [noun]

用法筆記

Most common in compound nouns used in journalism and social commentary, such as grade inflation, salary inflation, credential inflation, and title inflation. These terms carry a critical tone, suggesting the increase is artificial or unjustified.

常見錯誤

❌The inflation of the population worried the government.
✅The population inflation of the city concerned urban planners.
💡This sense works best in established compound forms rather than as a general verb phrase.

3. the practice of presenting facts or events in a way that makes them seem more si

3.名詞C1
釋義

誇大；浮報

誇大事實或重要性

the practice of presenting facts or events in a way that makes them seem more significant than they truly are, usually in order to mislead or impress others.

例句

Critics accused the government of deliberate inflation of the job-creation numbers before the election.

批評者指控政府在選前刻意浮報就業數據。

pattern: inflation of [noun]

Christopher's inflation of his role in the project was noticed by everyone on the team.

Christopher 在專案中誇大自己的角色，團隊裡每個人都注意到了。

同義詞
  • exaggeration

    more common and less formal; can be neutral or playful

  • overstatement

    similar formality, focuses on making things seem bigger than they are

  • embellishment

    suggests adding detail to make something more interesting, not necessarily dishonest

反義詞
  • understatement

    making something seem smaller or less important than it is

文法句型

inflation of [noun phrase]

accuse of inflation

guilty of inflation

用法筆記

Restricted to formal or critical contexts. This sense nearly always carries a negative judgement, implying that someone has deliberately distorted the truth. Less common in everyday speech than the simpler word exaggeration.

常見錯誤

❌His inflation of the story made everyone laugh.
✅His inflation of the story's importance was criticised as dishonest.
💡This sense implies a serious, deliberate distortion, not playful storytelling.

4. the process of pumping air or gas into a container, tyre, balloon, or other obje

4.名詞B1
釋義

充氣

將氣體注入使膨脹

the process of pumping air or gas into a container, tyre, balloon, or other object so that it expands and becomes firm or rounded.

例句

Proper inflation of the car tyres can improve fuel efficiency and keep the ride safe.

正確的輪胎充氣能提升燃油效率並確保行車安全。

collocation: tyre inflation

After pulling the cord, Mizuki heard the hiss of air as the life raft began its inflation.

Mizuki 拉動繩索後，聽見空氣嘶嘶聲，救生筏開始充氣。

同義詞
  • filling

    broader term; can refer to any substance (air, water, sand)

  • pumping up

    informal phrasal equivalent, common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • deflation

    the release of air or gas from something

文法句型

inflation of [object]

[noun] + inflation (tyre inflation, balloon inflation)

用法筆記

Restricted to physical filling with air or gas — do not use for liquids or medical terms. May be countable in specialist contexts (one inflation of a life jacket). Commonly used with tyres, balloons, air mattresses, sports balls, and life rafts. The verb form inflate is more frequent in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor checked my blood inflation.
✅The doctor checked my blood pressure.
💡Inflation is for air or gas in objects, not for medical measurements.
❌We need more water inflation in the swimming pool.
✅We need to add more water to the swimming pool.
💡Inflation involves air or gas, not liquids.