nor
nor — 連接詞
1. a word that connects two negative choices in a sentence that already starts with
既不…也不
連接兩個否定選項
a word that connects two negative choices in a sentence that already starts with 'neither', telling the reader that both options are not true, not wanted, or not possible.
Neither the store manager nor any of the employees knew about the surprise inspection.
商店經理和所有員工都不知道這次突擊檢查的事。
neither + noun phrase + nor + noun phrase
The patient could neither eat nor drink for twelve hours before the test.
病人在檢查前的十二小時內既不能吃東西，也不能喝飲料。
neither + verb phrase + nor + verb phrase
Neither Haruto nor his cousin wanted to leave the party before the cake was cut.
Haruto 和他的表弟都不想在那塊蛋糕切好之前離開派對。
The new bus route is neither faster nor cheaper for daily commuters.
新的公車路線對每天通勤的人來說既沒有比以前快，也沒有比較便宜。
- and not either
more wordy, used in informal speech ('She doesn't have a car, and she doesn't have a bike either.')
- and neither
used with inversion at the start of a second clause ('She doesn't have a car, and neither does he.')
文法句型
neither + [noun/verb/adjective] + nor + [same form]
neither X nor Y
用法筆記
The words or phrases after 'neither' and 'nor' must have the same grammatical form — both nouns, both verb phrases, both adjectives, etc. The main verb in a 'neither…nor' sentence is positive in form: say 'He neither called nor wrote', not 'He neither didn't call nor didn't write'.
常見錯誤
2. used at the start of a clause to say that a negative statement you just heard or
也不
回應否定句，表示對方也一樣
used at the start of a clause to say that a negative statement you just heard or read is also true for another person or thing; a short way of saying 'neither' or 'also not'.
Christopher did not enjoy the film. 'Nor did I,' said Nikhil with a shrug.
Christopher 一點也不喜歡那部電影。Nikhil 聳聳肩回答：『我也不喜歡。』
Nor + did + subject — response agreement
The teacher did not think the essay was well written. Nor did the other markers.
老師覺得那篇作文寫得不好。其他評分老師也這麼覺得。
Élise has never visited that museum, and nor have her classmates.
Élise 從未去過那間博物館，她的同學們也一樣沒去過。
Zuri cannot swim. 'Nor can I,' said Quinn, holding the side of the pool.
Zuri 不會游泳。Quinn 抓著泳池邊說：「我也不會。」
- neither
fully interchangeable in this position ('Neither do I.' = 'Nor do I.'), but 'neither' is slightly more common in American English.
- so
used the same way but for positive statements ('I like it.' 'So do I.')
文法句型
nor + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb
Nor + do/does/did/can/will + subject + verb
用法筆記
When 'nor' begins a clause, the subject and auxiliary verb swap positions (inversion): 'Nor do I' not 'Nor I do'. This inversion does NOT happen after 'and nor': '…and nor have any of her classmates' is correct (no inversion because 'and' already connects).
常見錯誤
3. introduces an additional negative point after a sentence that already contains '
亦不
在否定句後附加另一個否定事實
introduces an additional negative point after a sentence that already contains 'not', 'never', 'no', or another negative word — the second negative point is typically something else that is also absent or not happening.
The mayor did not attend the ceremony, nor did she send a representative.
市長沒有出席典禮，也沒有派代表。
not + [verb] ... , nor + did + subject
The hotel room was not clean, nor were the towels changed.
飯店房間不乾淨，毛巾也沒有更換。
The travel insurance does not cover overseas costs, nor does it pay for cancelled flights.
這份旅遊保險不涵蓋海外費用，也不支付取消航班的損失。
The children were never told about the move, nor were they given time to prepare.
孩子們從來沒被告知搬家的事，也沒有時間做好準備。
- and not either
less formal, avoids inversion ('He didn't call, and he didn't come either.')
- and neither
same structure, interchangeable ('He didn't call, and neither did he come.')
文法句型
[negative clause], nor + auxiliary verb + subject + verb
not X, nor Y
用法筆記
This sense differs from sense 1 in that the first negative is expressed by 'not', 'never', 'no', 'without', etc., NOT by 'neither'. A comma usually separates the two clauses. The pattern is typical of formal written English.
常見錯誤
4. used before a verb that looks positive (like 'did', 'could', 'would') to add ano
也沒
接肯定動詞，補充另一個否定行為
used before a verb that looks positive (like 'did', 'could', 'would') to add another negative action or situation that matches a negative one just mentioned — the verb is positive in form but the whole clause still says something did not happen.
Heather did not call the clinic. Nor did she reply to their reminder message.
Heather 沒有打電話到診所。她也沒有回覆他們的提醒訊息。
nor + did + subject — positive verb after negative statement
The witness did not see the driver's face. Nor could she recall the car's colour.
目擊者沒有看見駕駛的臉。她也想不起那輛車的顏色。
The old town has no hospital. Nor does it have a proper fire station.
這個老城鎮沒有醫院，也沒有像樣的消防隊。
Lien does not speak Spanish. Nor does she understand it when others talk.
Lien 不會說西班牙語，別人講的時候她也聽不懂。
- and neither
nearly identical; 'and neither' can replace 'nor' in this pattern ('…and neither did she reply.')
文法句型
nor + positive auxiliary verb + subject + (positive main verb)
Nor + did/could/would/had + subject + verb
用法筆記
The verb after 'nor' in this sense is always a positive auxiliary (did, could, would, has, will, etc.) followed by the subject. The auxiliary carries the tense. Despite the positive verb form, the meaning remains negative: it adds something else that was not done, not possible, etc.
常見錯誤
nor — 構詞成分
1. a prefix used in the naming of chemical compounds, showing that the compound has
降甲基
化學前綴，少一個甲基
a prefix used in the naming of chemical compounds, showing that the compound has one methyl group (CH₃) fewer than the standard compound it is derived from.
Noradrenaline has one less methyl group in its structure than adrenaline does.
去甲腎上腺素的分子結構比腎上腺素少一個甲基。
nor- + adrenaline = noradrenaline
The research team identified a nor-steroid during their analysis of the rare plant extract.
研究團隊在分析這種稀有植物萃取物時，發現了一種降甲基類固醇。
The drug norepinephrine is used in hospitals to raise a patient's blood pressure during an emergency.
去甲腎上腺素這種藥物在醫院用於緊急狀況下提升病人血壓。
Chemists add the prefix 'nor-' to show the molecule has one fewer carbon atom.
化學家加上「nor-」前綴，表示分子少了一個碳原子。
文法句型
nor- + [chemical name]
用法筆記
This prefix is used almost exclusively in scientific writing and medical terminology. Learners at lower levels can ignore this sense — it only matters for students of chemistry, pharmacology, or medicine.
nor — 名詞
1. a type of electronic logic circuit that sends out an output signal only when non
反或閘
數位邏輯電路：輸入皆低時輸出高
a type of electronic logic circuit that sends out an output signal only when none of its input signals are active — it is the opposite of an OR gate in digital electronics.
A NOR gate gives a high output only when both inputs are low.
反或閘只有在兩個輸入都是低電位時才會輸出高電位。
NOR gate + high output + both inputs low
The technician used two transistors to build a simple NOR circuit on the lab board.
技術人員在實驗板上用了兩個電晶體來組成一個簡單的反或電路。
A NOR gate works as a universal gate that can create any other logic circuit.
反或閘是一種萬用邏輯閘，可以組成任何其他邏輯電路。
The students tested their NOR gate with a simple truth table during the lab class.
學生們在實驗課上用簡單的真值表測試他們的反或閘。
- NOT-OR gate
full descriptive name, less commonly used
- OR gate
produces a high output when at least one input is high, the opposite of a NOR gate
文法句型
NOR gate
NOR circuit
用法筆記
This sense is specific to digital electronics and computer engineering. The word is almost always capitalised as 'NOR' in this context, because it is formed by combining 'NOT' and 'OR'.