notion

notion — 名詞

1. a belief, opinion, or understanding that someone holds about what something is l

1.名詞B1
釋義

觀念；想法

對事物所持的信念或看法

a belief, opinion, or understanding that someone holds about what something is like, what is true, or how things should work

例句

Darius has a romantic notion that true love conquers every obstacle in life.

Darius 懷抱著一個浪漫的想法，認為真愛能克服人生中的一切障礙。

notion + that-clause for expressing a belief

Shanti dismissed the notion that working longer hours always leads to greater success.

Shanti 駁斥了那種認為工作時間越長就越能成功的觀念。

同義詞
  • idea

    more general and neutral; 'notion' often implies a less fully formed or more personal belief

  • concept

    more abstract and technical; used in academic or philosophical contexts

  • belief

    stronger conviction; less tentative than 'notion'

  • opinion

    a personal view on a specific matter; less broad than 'notion'

反義詞
  • fact

    something known to be true, not merely believed

文法句型

notion + that-clause

notion + of + (someone) + doing something

用法筆記

Frequently followed by a that-clause expressing the content of the belief, or by of + a noun or gerund describing the subject of the belief.

常見錯誤

❌Darius has a notion about that true love conquers everything.
✅Darius has a notion that true love conquers everything.
💡After 'notion', use a that-clause directly, not 'about that'.

2. a vague feeling, impression, or half-formed belief that something is true or lik

2.名詞B2
釋義

模糊印象

沒有明確證據的隱約感覺

a vague feeling, impression, or half-formed belief that something is true or likely, even though you have little or no evidence to support it

例句

Tamar had a vague notion that someone was following her through the crowded market.

Tamar 隱約覺得有人在擁擠的市場裡跟蹤她。

have a vague notion + that-clause

The librarian had a notion that the missing book was still somewhere in the building.

圖書館管理員隱約覺得那本遺失的書還在館內某處。

同義詞
  • hunch

    more informal and intuitive; a gut feeling based on instinct

  • inkling

    even vaguer than 'notion'; a slight suspicion or hint

  • suspicion

    implies distrust or belief that something negative may be true

反義詞
  • certainty

    complete confidence, the opposite of a vague feeling

文法句型

have a notion + that-clause

vague notion + of + noun

用法筆記

Weaker and more tentative than sense 1 (IDEA). The 'notion' here is based on instinct or impression rather than reasoned thought. Common modifiers include 'vague', 'faint', 'nagging', and 'growing'.

常見錯誤

❌Tamar had notion her friend was upset.
✅Tamar had a notion that her friend was upset.
💡'Notion' in this sense requires the indefinite article 'a' and is usually followed by 'that'.

3. small sewing supplies such as needles, thread, buttons, zippers, and pins; also

3.名詞C1
釋義

縫紉用品

針、線、鈕扣等縫紉小物

small sewing supplies such as needles, thread, buttons, zippers, and pins; also refers to the section of a store where these items are sold

例句

Isabela bought buttons, zippers, and other notions from the craft shop on Main Street.

Isabela 在主街的手工藝店買了鈕扣、拉鍊和其他縫紉用品。

plural: notions for sewing supplies

The fabric store on Grand Avenue has a large notions section near the back wall.

格蘭大道上的布料店後方有一個大型的縫紉用品區。

同義詞
  • haberdashery

    British English equivalent for sewing supplies and the shop section that sells them

  • sundries

    broader term for miscellaneous small items, not limited to sewing

文法句型

plural: notions

attributive: notions department / notions counter

用法筆記

Always used in the plural form 'notions' in this sense. In American English, a 'notions department' is a standard section of a fabric store or large department store. In British English, 'haberdashery' is the more common term.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a notion from the sewing shop.
✅I bought some notions from the sewing shop.
💡This sense of 'notion' is always plural.

4. a sudden wish, fancy, or impulsive decision to do something, often without a rat

4.名詞C1
釋義

奇想

缺乏理性考量的突發念頭

a sudden wish, fancy, or impulsive decision to do something, often without a rational or practical reason

例句

Andrei took a sudden notion to cycle across the country during his summer break.

Andrei 突然冒出一個念頭，想在暑假期間騎單車橫越全國。

take a notion + to-infinitive for an impulsive decision

Élise had a notion to redecorate the living room at midnight with no clear plan.

Élise 半夜突然想重新裝潢客廳，卻沒有任何明確的計畫。

同義詞
  • whim

    more common and slightly less formal; a sudden personal decision without reason

  • caprice

    more formal and literary; emphasizes sudden, unexplainable change of mind

  • fancy

    softer and more playful; a mild, passing wish

反義詞
  • plan

    a carefully thought-out intention, not impulsive

文法句型

take/have a notion + to-infinitive

sudden notion + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Often carries a slightly negative or dismissive tone, implying the idea is impractical or not well thought through. Frequently appears in the patterns 'take a notion to [verb]' or 'have a notion to [verb]', especially in formal or literary writing.

常見錯誤

❌Andrei took the notion of cycling across the country.
✅Andrei took a sudden notion to cycle across the country.
💡The pattern is 'take a notion to [verb]', not 'take the notion of [verb-ing]'.