live
live — 動詞
- livepresent simple I / you / we / they
- liveshe / she / it
- livedpast simple
- living-ing form
1. to have life; to not be dead. Used about people, animals, and plants.
活著；生存
有生命，尚未死亡
to have life; to not be dead. Used about people, animals, and plants.
Felix's grandmother lived to the age of ninety-seven.
Felix 的祖母活到了九十七歲。
live + to + age: expressing lifespan
The old oak tree outside the school has lived for over two hundred years.
學校外面的老橡樹已經活了兩百多年。
Sea turtles can live much longer than most other animals.
海龜能活得比大多數動物更長久。
Ilan's cat lived for nineteen years before she passed away.
Ilan 的貓活了十九年後過世了。
Some desert plants live for months without a single drop of rain.
有些沙漠植物能活好幾個月而沒有一滴雨。
文法句型
live
2. to have the place where you make your home — for example, in a certain city, cou
居住
以某處為家
to have the place where you make your home — for example, in a certain city, country, or kind of house.
Maja lives in a small flat near the old bridge in Kraków.
Maja 住在克拉科夫舊橋附近的一間小公寓裡。
Liang and his wife live on the fifteenth floor of that tall building.
Liang 和他妻子住在那棟高樓的第十五層。
Rafael has lived in Lisbon since he was six years old.
Rafael 從六歲起就住在里斯本。
The Watanabe family lives in a wooden house at the edge of the forest.
渡邊一家居住在森林邊緣的一棟木屋裡。
Evelyn lives with two friends in a shared flat above the bakery.
Evelyn 和兩個朋友合住在麵包店樓上的公寓裡。
文法句型
live + adverb/prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (BE KEPT): sense 2 is about people and where they make their home; sense 3 is about objects and where they are stored.
常見錯誤
3. to have a usual spot where you keep something — said informally about everyday t
放置；存放
物品平常擺放之處
to have a usual spot where you keep something — said informally about everyday things like tools, papers, or kitchen items.
The spare batteries live in the top drawer of the desk.
備用電池放在書桌最上面的抽屜裡。
inanimate subject + live + place: informal use
Evelyn's passport lives in a small blue folder on the shelf.
Evelyn 的護照放在架子上一個藍色小文件夾裡。
The gardening tools live in the wooden shed behind the house.
園藝工具放在房子後面的木頭棚子裡。
All the old photo albums live in a box under Grandma's bed.
所有舊相簿都存放在奶奶床底下的一個盒子裡。
The kitchen scissors live in the second drawer from the left.
廚房剪刀放在左邊數來第二個抽屜裡。
文法句型
live + adverb/prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Used informally. The subject is always an inanimate object — never a person or animal. Distinguish from sense 2 (HAVE A HOME), which is about people and their living arrangements.
常見錯誤
4. to sleep outdoors and spend your days on the streets when you lack a home or the
露宿；流浪
無家可歸而在戶外生活
to sleep outdoors and spend your days on the streets when you lack a home or the money for a place to stay.
Nadia spent two months living on the streets after losing her job.
Nadia 失業後在街頭露宿了兩個月。
'live on the streets' — common phrase for homelessness
The charity helps young people who are living rough in the city centre.
那個慈善機構幫助在市中心露宿街頭的年輕人。
Chidi lived in a tent by the river for nearly a year.
Chidi 在河邊的帳篷裡住了將近一年。
Thousands of families lived in makeshift camps after the earthquake destroyed their homes.
地震過後，數以千計的家庭住在臨時帳篷裡。
Vinícius lived on the streets of São Paulo from the age of fourteen.
Vinícius 從十四歲起就在聖保羅街頭流浪。
- sleep rough
British English; emphasises sleeping without shelter
文法句型
live + adverb/prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Often used in the phrase 'live rough' or 'live on the streets.' The subject is always a person. This sense describes a state of homelessness, not a camping trip or holiday.
常見錯誤
5. to pass your days in a certain way or style — you can live simply in a village,
過日子
以某種方式度過人生
to pass your days in a certain way or style — you can live simply in a village, or live like a king in a palace.
Selim has lived a quiet life in the same village for forty years.
Selim 在同一個村莊裡過了四十年平靜的日子。
cognate object: 'live a quiet life'
After the accident, Lakshmi decided to live each day as if it were her last.
意外之後，Lakshmi 決定把每一天都當作最後一天來過。
The old fisherman lived simply, with just a boat and a small hut.
老漁夫過著簡樸的生活，只有一艘小船和一間小屋。
Eliska wants to live differently from her parents and travel the world.
Eliska 想過和父母不一樣的生活，去環遊世界。
Nadia and her husband lived like royalty during their two-week stay at the palace.
Nadia 和丈夫在皇宮待的那兩週過得像皇室一樣。
文法句型
live + a ... life
live + adverb
用法筆記
This is the main sense that takes a cognate object ('live a quiet life,' 'live a double life'). Distinguish from sense 1 (BE ALIVE), which is the core meaning of having life, and from sense 8 (a full and exciting life), which emphasises richness rather than manner.
常見錯誤
6. to make just enough money to cover the essentials — food, somewhere to sleep, an
謀生；維生
賺取足夠的錢以維持基本生活
to make just enough money to cover the essentials — food, somewhere to sleep, and clothes.
Chidi lives on very little money but seems happy with his simple life.
Chidi 靠很少的錢維生，但似乎對簡樸的生活很滿足。
Many artists struggle to live from their work in the first few years.
許多藝術家在頭幾年很難靠自己的作品謀生。
Felix lives on a small pension and grows vegetables in his garden.
Felix 靠微薄的退休金維生，並在園子裡種菜。
It is hard to live on just one salary with three children in the city.
在城市裡靠一份薪水養三個孩子是很難的。
The fishermen live from the sea, selling their catch at the morning market.
漁夫們靠海維生，在早市販賣他們的漁獲。
- subsist
formal; often used in academic or technical writing about poverty
- get by
informal phrasal verb; 'we get by on very little'
- make ends meet
idiom; emphasises balancing income and expenses exactly
文法句型
live on + noun phrase
live from + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'on' + a source of money ('live on a pension,' 'live on benefits'). Distinguish from sense 5 (LEAD A LIFE): sense 6 focuses narrowly on financial survival — having enough to get by — while sense 5 describes the overall style or quality of how someone spends their days.
常見錯誤
7. When an idea, memory, achievement, or feeling stays present in people's minds or
延續；留存
想法、記憶或影響持續存在
When an idea, memory, achievement, or feeling stays present in people's minds or keeps having an effect long after it began — said of traditions, stories, and influences, never of people or animals.
Noor's grandmother passed away, but her recipes live on in the family kitchen.
Noor 的祖母去世了，但她留下的食譜仍在家裡的廚房延續著。
live on + in [place] for lasting influence
The poet's words live on in classrooms where students still read his verses.
那位詩人的話語仍在課堂上延續，學生們至今還在讀他的詩句。
live on among + [people/group]
Kwame's invention lives on in every smartphone made around the world today.
Kwame 的發明延續至今，出現在全世界每一支智慧型手機裡。
The old tradition lives on through a festival the town holds each spring.
這項古老傳統透過鎮上每年春天舉辦的節慶延續下去。
Stories of the disaster live on in the songs fishermen still sing at sea.
那場災難的故事仍留存於漁民在海上唱的歌謠之中。
文法句型
live on
live on in + [place/memory]
用法筆記
Subject is always something non-living — a memory, idea, tradition, achievement, or influence. Not used of people or animals.
常見錯誤
8. To go through life actively seeking joy, adventure, and meaning rather than just
活得精彩
過著充實、刺激且有意義的生活
To go through life actively seeking joy, adventure, and meaning rather than just getting by.
After retiring, Renata booked a year-long world trip and finally started to live.
退休後，Renata 訂了一趟為期一年的環球旅行，終於開始活得精彩。
live = embrace life fully (intransitive use)
Vikram left his desk job to live more fully, opening a café by the sea.
Vikram 辭掉辦公桌的工作，在海邊開了一間小咖啡館，活得更充實。
Anong spent her twenties living fully — trying every sport and visiting thirty countries.
Anong 在二十幾歲時活得精彩——嘗試了每一種運動，走訪了三十個國家。
Iris grabbed her passport and told her children, 'Go out and really live.'
Iris 抓起護照，對她的孩子們說：「出去真正地活一回吧。」
The old man grinned: 'I have lived — three marriages, two wars, no regrets.'
那位老人咧嘴笑著說：「我活過了——三段婚姻、兩場戰爭、毫無遺憾。」
- exist
merely stay alive without enjoyment or purpose
文法句型
live (intransitive, meaning 'enjoy life fully')
用法筆記
Often used with adverbs like 'fully', 'well', 'really', or in phrases like 'live life to the fullest'. The intransitive 'live' in this sense means much more than simply existing — it implies active enjoyment.
9. To share a home with a romantic partner as a couple without entering into marria
同居
未結婚而與伴侶共同生活
To share a home with a romantic partner as a couple without entering into marriage.
Noa and her partner lived together for five years before they got married.
Noa 和她的伴侶同居了五年後才結婚。
live together = cohabit as unmarried partners
Emma and her boyfriend are living together in a small flat near the university.
Emma 和她的男朋友正在大學附近的一間小公寓同居。
In many countries, more young couples now live together without marrying first.
在許多國家，現在有更多年輕伴侶不先結婚就同居了。
Takeshi's parents were surprised when he said he and Mira were living together.
Takeshi 的父母很驚訝地得知他和 Mira 正在同居。
Erik and Defne lived together quietly for a decade — neighbours assumed they were married.
Erik 和 Defne 默默同居了十年——鄰居都以為他們是夫妻。
- cohabit
formal or legal term for living together as a couple
文法句型
live together
live with + [partner]
用法筆記
Always implies a romantic or sexual partnership, not just sharing a house with a friend. 'Live with someone' can also mean sharing a home in a non-romantic way — context distinguishes the two.
常見錯誤
10. To personally go through a time, event, or feeling and know it directly — not se
親身經歷
親自體驗某個時期或感受
To personally go through a time, event, or feeling and know it directly — not second-hand.
The old soldier lived through a war as a child and never forgot the sound of bombs.
那位老兵小時候親身經歷過戰爭，永遠忘不了炸彈的聲音。
live through + [difficult event]
You cannot understand poverty until you have lived it yourself for a month.
你沒有親身經歷過一個月的貧窮，就不可能真正理解貧窮。
The nurse has lived the pain of losing a patient — she knows exactly how it feels.
那位護士親身經歷過失去病人的痛苦——她完全明白那是什麼感覺。
Elena lived the dream of every young dancer when she joined the national ballet.
Elena 加入國家芭蕾舞團，親身經歷了每個年輕舞者夢寐以求的一刻。
Bayu lived through the earthquake and still wakes up shaking on stormy nights.
Bayu 親身經歷了那場地震，至今在暴風雨的夜晚仍會驚醒顫抖。
- experience
the neutral, everyday word for going through something
- undergo
more formal; often for medical procedures or tests
- endure
implies suffering through something difficult
文法句型
live through + [experience/event]
live + [experience]
用法筆記
Often used with difficult or intense experiences (war, loss, hardship) but can also describe positive ones (a dream, an adventure). Takes a direct object or the pattern 'live through something'.
常見錯誤
11. To care about an activity or interest so much that it becomes a defining part of
熱衷；投入
對活動或興趣極度熱情
To care about an activity or interest so much that it becomes a defining part of your daily life and identity.
Hiroshi lives for football — he watches every match and plays three times a week.
Hiroshi 為足球而活——他每場比賽都看，一週還踢三次球。
live for + [activity/passion]
Ananya lives for her garden; she spends every free hour planting and watering.
Ananya 為她的花園而活；她把每一小時空閒時間都花在種植和澆水上。
Lars lives for the weekend, when he can take his motorbike out on country roads.
Lars 為週末而活，那時他可以騎著機車在鄉間道路上奔馳。
Amara lives for cooking — her kitchen is filled with spices from a dozen countries.
Amara 為烹飪而活——她的廚房裡擺滿了來自十幾個國家的香料。
Ezra lives for music; he has been to over two hundred concerts in his life.
Ezra 為音樂而活；他這輩子已經去過超過兩百場演唱會。
- love
more common and general; 'live for' is stronger and more dramatic
- be passionate about
more formal way to express the same idea
- hate
strong opposite of love and enthusiasm
文法句型
live for + [activity/thing]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'for' + the thing the person is passionate about. Common in informal speech. Can also appear as 'live and breathe something'.
常見錯誤
live — 形容詞
- livepositive
- livercomparative
- livestsuperlative
1. describes a creature — person, animal, or plant — whose body systems are still w
活的
有生命的；非死亡的狀態
describes a creature — person, animal, or plant — whose body systems are still working; the opposite of dead.
Rafael bought live crabs at the market and cooked them for dinner that night.
Rafael 在市場買了活螃蟹，當晚就煮來吃了。
live + animal noun
The vet found twelve live chicks under the warm brooder lamp.
獸醫在溫暖的育雛燈下發現了十二隻活蹦亂跳的小雞。
Camille gave her mother a live orchid for the balcony garden.
Camille 送了一株活的蘭花給媽媽，擺在陽台花園裡。
Wildlife officers released several live turtles back into the river.
野生動物官員將幾隻活的烏龜放回河裡。
Kwame watched a live beetle push a crumb across the garden path.
Kwame 看著一隻活的甲蟲推著麵包屑穿過花園小徑。
文法句型
live + noun
用法筆記
Almost always placed before the noun it describes (attributive position). To say that a creature is not dead after the verb 'be', use 'alive' instead: 'The fish is alive' (not 'The fish is live').
常見錯誤
2. describes a performance, show, or broadcast that you watch or listen to at the s
現場直播的
表演或播報在發生當下同步播出
describes a performance, show, or broadcast that you watch or listen to at the same moment it is taking place, rather than later from a recording.
Aylin watched the live broadcast of the tennis final from Istanbul.
Aylin 收看從伊斯坦堡現場直播的網球決賽。
live broadcast
The band always sounds better during a live concert than on their album.
這個樂團在現場演唱會中的表現，總是比專輯裡聽起來更好。
Trang's whole family sat together for the live New Year show on television.
Trang 全家人坐在一起收看電視上現場直播的新年特別節目。
Emma sang two songs on a live radio programme yesterday morning.
Emma 昨天早上在一個現場直播的廣播節目中唱了兩首歌。
The news channel showed live footage of the rescue helicopter touching down.
新聞頻道播放了救援直升機降落的現場畫面。
- pre-recorded
prepared and stored before being shown or heard
文法句型
live + broadcast/show/concert/performance
3. carrying an electric current and able to give a shock if touched. Also describes
通電的
電線或裝置帶有電流，觸碰會觸電
carrying an electric current and able to give a shock if touched. Also describes a device or socket that is connected to a power supply and switched on.
Tamar warned the children never to touch a live wire with wet hands.
Tamar 告誡孩子們絕不能用濕手去碰通電的電線。
live wire
The electrician checked every socket to see which cables were still live.
電工逐一檢查每個插座，確認哪些線路仍有通電。
Rodrigo tested each live wire with a special voltage meter before starting work.
Rodrigo 在開工前先用專用電壓計測試每條通電的電線。
Joaquín discovered a live connection inside the cracked plastic casing of his old toaster.
Joaquín 發現他那台舊烤麵包機破裂的塑膠外殼內有一條通電的接線。
Those exposed ends are still live, so keep everyone away until I cut the power.
那些裸露的線頭仍然通電，請大家遠離，等我切斷電源。
- dead
no longer carrying any electric current
- disconnected
physically separated from the power source
文法句型
live + wire/cable/connection
be + live
用法筆記
This sense can appear before the noun or after 'be' ('the wire is live'). Distinguish from sense 4 (CONTAINING EXPLOSIVES): a live wire carries electricity; live ammunition contains explosives.
4. describes a bomb, bullet, mine, or firework that still contains active explosive
未爆的
炸彈或彈藥內含炸藥，仍可被引爆
describes a bomb, bullet, mine, or firework that still contains active explosive material inside it and can go off if triggered.
The bomb squad carefully removed the live grenade from the public square.
拆彈小組小心翼翼地從公共廣場移除了那枚未爆的手榴彈。
live + explosive device
Soldiers found several live landmines buried along the old border road.
士兵在舊邊境公路沿線發現了幾枚未爆的地雷。
Police discovered a live bullet inside the suspect's jacket pocket during the search.
警方在搜查過程中於嫌犯外套口袋裡發現了一顆未爆的子彈。
Lakshmi's uncle showed the children how to handle live fireworks without getting hurt.
Lakshmi 的叔叔教孩子們如何安全地處理未爆的煙火。
The museum displayed a defused shell right next to a live one for comparison.
博物館將一枚已拆除引信的砲彈與一枚未爆的並列展示，以供對照。
- armed
specifically means the safety mechanism is off and it can fire immediately
- primed
ready to explode; often used for bombs with a timer or trigger set
- unexploded
did not go off when it was supposed to; still dangerous
文法句型
live + bomb/grenade/bullet/ammunition
be + live
用法筆記
Object must be something that can detonate (a bomb, bullet, grenade, mine, shell, or firework). 'Live ammunition' is the most common collocation.
5. describes a fire, coal, ember, or match that has not gone out and is still produ
燃燒中的
火、炭或火柴未熄滅，仍在發光發熱
describes a fire, coal, ember, or match that has not gone out and is still producing flame, heat, or a glow.
Wren threw another log onto the live coals in the campsite fire pit.
Wren 又丟了一根木頭到營火坑裡燃燒中的炭火上。
live coals
The blacksmith fanned the live coals until they glowed bright orange.
鐵匠搧著燃燒中的炭火，直到它們發出明亮的橘紅色光芒。
A chef blew gently on the live embers until a small orange flame appeared.
一位廚師輕輕吹著燃燒中的餘燼，直到一團小小的橘色火焰出現。
Grill the fish over the live charcoal until the skin turns golden and crisp.
把魚放在燃燒中的木炭上烤，直到魚皮呈金黃酥脆。
A few live embers from last night's fire still glowed under the grey ash.
昨晚營火留下的幾塊燃燒中的餘燼，在灰色灰燼下仍微微發光。
- extinguished
deliberately put out
- out
no longer burning (the fire is out, the match is out)
文法句型
live + coals/embers/charcoal/fire/match
用法筆記
Always placed before the noun. The most frequent collocation is 'live coals'; 'live charcoal' and 'live embers' are also common in cooking and camping contexts.
6. describes a subject, problem, or question that still matters to people right now
備受關注的
議題或問題仍具時效性，持續被討論
describes a subject, problem, or question that still matters to people right now and is being actively talked about or considered.
Climate change remains a live issue for voters across the whole country.
氣候變遷對全國各地選民來說，仍然是備受關注的議題。
live issue
The debate over school funding is still a very live topic in parliament.
關於學校經費的辯論，在國會裡仍然是備受關注的話題。
Historians still treat the manuscript's origin as a live question even today.
歷史學家至今仍將那份手稿的來源視為備受關注的疑問。
The community kept the debate live by writing letters to the local newspaper.
社區透過寫信給當地報社，讓這項辯論持續成為備受關注的話題。
Water shortages are a live concern for farming communities across the region.
水資源短缺對整個地區的農業社區而言，是備受關注的隱憂。
文法句型
live + issue/question/topic/concern
keep/remain + live
用法筆記
Often follows 'remain' or 'keep' to mean the topic has not been settled or closed. Subject is typically an abstract noun: issue, question, debate, concern, topic, matter.
7. working and available for use (said of a machine, system, or service)
運作中；可用
系統或機器正在運作並可供使用
working and available for use (said of a machine, system, or service)
The new payment system went live at midnight without a single problem.
新的付款系統在午夜上線，完全沒有問題。
go + live for becoming operational
Nikhil checked that every security camera was live before leaving for the night.
Nikhil 在下班前檢查了所有監視器是否都在運作。
Priya confirmed the new booking system was live before announcing it to staff.
Priya 確認新的訂票系統已上線運作，才向員工宣布。
A live tracker on the website shows exactly where the delivery van is.
網站上的即時追蹤器顯示送貨車的確切位置。
The online banking app is now live, so customers can check their balances anytime.
網路銀行應用程式現已上線，客戶可以隨時查詢餘額。
- operational
more formal; used in technical or military contexts
- functioning
emphasises that something is working correctly, not just switched on
- active
broader; can apply to people and processes as well as systems
文法句型
go + live
be + live
用法筆記
Often used about websites, computer systems, and services that become available after development. 'Go live' is the typical phrase for the moment something becomes operational.
常見錯誤
8. describes a person who has a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is often active an
精力充沛
形容人充滿活力與熱情
describes a person who has a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is often active and cheerful
The party was live until three in the morning — nobody wanted to go home.
派對一直熱鬧到凌晨三點——沒有人想回家。
predicative: 'the party was live'
The crowd at the jazz club was live, clapping and dancing after every solo.
爵士俱樂部裡的觀眾很嗨，每段獨奏結束後都鼓掌跳舞。
The atmosphere in the stadium was live the moment the home team ran out.
主隊一出場，體育場內的氣氛就沸騰了起來。
Things got live when the DJ played the band's most famous song.
DJ 一播放樂團最紅的那首歌，現場就嗨翻了。
It is so live in here tonight — I haven't seen a dance floor this full in years.
今晚這裡好嗨——我已經好多年沒見過舞池這麼滿了。
文法句型
be + live
seem + live
look + live
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 ('having life; not dead'). This sense describes energy and enthusiasm — not merely being alive. Common in informal spoken English, especially in British usage.
常見錯誤
live — 副詞
1. broadcast or performed at the same moment that people are watching or listening,
現場
未經錄製，即時播出或表演
broadcast or performed at the same moment that people are watching or listening, rather than being recorded earlier
Hyun watched the football final live on television, cheering when his team scored.
Hyun 在電視上觀看了足球決賽的現場直播，他的隊伍得分時他大聲歡呼。
watched + [event] + live on television
The radio station broadcast the concert live from the city square.
廣播電台從城市廣場現場轉播了這場音樂會。
broadcast + [event] + live from [place]
Femi and his band performed live for a crowd of over two thousand people.
Femi 和他的樂團在兩千多名觀眾面前現場演出。
The debate was shown live on three different news channels.
這場辯論在三個不同的新聞頻道現場播出。
Amani sang live at the wedding, and everyone stopped talking to listen.
Amani 在婚禮上現場演唱，所有人都停下談話專心聆聽。
- in real time
more formal; used for data or online events rather than stage performances
用法筆記
Used after verbs of broadcasting or performance such as sing, perform, show, broadcast, or stream.
常見錯誤
2. starting to operate and become available for people to use, especially when talk
上線
新系統開始運作，可供使用
starting to operate and become available for people to use, especially when talking about a new computer system, website, or piece of software
The company's new website went live on Monday after months of testing.
經過數月測試後，公司的新網站於週一正式上線。
went live + on [day]
Vivek checked the app store every hour to see if his app had gone live.
Vivek 每小時查看一次應用程式商店，看看他的 app 是否已經上線。
had gone live — past perfect form
The airport's new booking system will go live at midnight tonight.
機場的新訂票系統將於今晚午夜上線。
Brandon's team celebrated when the online payment tool finally went live.
Brandon 的團隊在線上支付工具終於上線時慶祝了一番。
The updated software went live without any problems, which surprised the whole department.
更新後的軟體順利上線，沒有任何問題，讓整個部門都感到驚訝。
- launch
can be transitive (launch a site) or intransitive; 'go live' is always intransitive and refers to the moment users can access it
文法句型
go live
用法筆記
Only used in the fixed phrase 'go live.' The subject is nearly always a system, website, app, or piece of software.