papers
papers — 動詞
- paperspresent simple I / you / we / they
- paperses3rd person singular
- papersing-ing form
- papersedpast simple
1. to record thoughts, ideas, or information on paper so that they can be read, sha
寫下；記錄
將想法或資訊寫在紙上
to record thoughts, ideas, or information on paper so that they can be read, shared, or kept as a record.
Keiko papered her dreams in a small cloth-bound diary every morning before breakfast.
Keiko 每天清晨在早餐前都會把她的夢境寫進一本小布面日記裡。
literary use: paper + dreams/thoughts in a diary
The old fisherman had papered his life story across dozens of notebooks over sixty years.
那位老漁夫六十年來用數十本筆記本記錄了自己一生的故事。
formal/literary: paper + life story / memories
Omar papered his field observations in a waterproof notebook during the rainforest expedition.
Omar 在雨林考察期間將田野觀察記錄在了一本防水筆記本中。
For decades, the novelist papered her characters' lives into stories spanning five generations.
數十年來，那位小說家將筆下人物的故事寫進了橫跨五個世代的篇章裡。
- write down
the everyday alternative, far more frequent
- record
broader — can be audio, video, or digital; paper is specific to writing
文法句型
paper + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is largely literary or formal; in everyday English, write down or put in writing is far more common.
2. to cover something with paper, for example when wrapping a gift or protecting an
用紙包裹
用紙包住物品
to cover something with paper, for example when wrapping a gift or protecting an object.
Antonia carefully papered each glass before placing it in the moving box.
Antonia 小心地用紙包好每個玻璃杯，再放進搬家用的箱子裡。
paper + object for protection
Kofi papered the books he planned to give as birthday presents.
Kofi 把他打算當作生日禮物送的書都用紙包了起來。
Sivan papered the leftover sandwiches and put them in her bag.
Sivan 用紙把剩下的三明治包好，放進她的袋子裡。
The butcher papered the fish before handing it to the customer.
肉販用紙包好魚，再遞給顧客。
文法句型
paper + noun phrase
用法筆記
Wrap in paper is much more common in modern speech; paper as a verb in this sense is still understood but less frequent.
3. to put wallpaper onto a wall, ceiling, or room as decoration or to cover a surfa
貼壁紙
在牆面或天花板貼裝飾壁紙
to put wallpaper onto a wall, ceiling, or room as decoration or to cover a surface.
Nadia and her brother papered the living room in a soft grey pattern.
Nadia 和弟弟把客廳貼上了淺灰色的壁紙。
paper + room (British)
Stephanie decided to paper the hallway with a bright floral design.
Stephanie 決定在走廊貼上色彩鮮豔的花卉壁紙。
Nora papered the ceiling of her bedroom, which took much longer than she expected.
Nora 替臥室的天花板貼了壁紙，花的時間比她想像中久很多。
The children's bedroom was papered with a dinosaur-themed wallpaper.
小孩的臥室貼上了恐龍圖案的壁紙。
- wallpaper
synonymous; more common in American English
- hang wallpaper
the descriptive phrase, preferred in formal contexts
文法句型
paper + noun phrase (wall / room / ceiling)
用法筆記
In American English, wallpaper or put up wallpaper is more common. Paper as a verb for this sense is primarily British.
4. to make a theatre, concert hall, or other venue look full by giving away free ti
送票填場
以贈票方式讓場地看起來滿座
to make a theatre, concert hall, or other venue look full by giving away free tickets to people.
Jiwoo papered the small theatre so the actors would not perform to empty seats.
Jiwoo 把免費門票送出去，讓小劇場坐滿觀眾，演員才不會對著空位演出。
paper + venue (informal, theatre slang)
The concert was papered — Ayesha noticed that half the audience had free passes.
那場演唱會的門票是送的——Ayesha 注意到有一半觀眾拿的是免費入場券。
passive: was papered
Jack's band papered the club with two-for-one tickets for their first show.
Jack 的樂團在首次演出時用買一送一的優惠票來填滿俱樂部的座位。
The cinema was fully papered for the premiere of the local film.
那部在地電影首映時，電影院的座位全是用贈票填滿的。
- give away tickets
the descriptive phrase; paper is a slang shorthand
文法句型
paper + noun phrase (venue)
用法筆記
Common in the theatre and live-music industry. The object is always a venue, never a person.
5. to put up many posters, advertisements, or flyers in different places across an
張貼海報
在區域內大量張貼廣告或傳單
to put up many posters, advertisements, or flyers in different places across an area.
Sofie papered the neighbourhood with flyers for her missing cat within two hours.
Sofie 在兩小時內就把尋貓傳單貼滿了社區。
paper an area with flyers (advertising)
The candidate's team papered every bus stop and lamp post with election posters.
候選人的團隊在每一個公車站和路燈柱上都貼滿了選舉海報。
A local shop papered the empty walls near the station with cafe ads.
一家當地商店在車站附近的空牆上貼滿了咖啡館廣告。
Volunteers papered the campus notice boards with signs for the language exchange.
志工在校園的公告欄上貼滿了語言交換活動的宣傳單。
文法句型
paper + noun phrase (area / wall / neighbourhood)
用法筆記
Often used with with to specify what is being put up: paper an area with posters / flyers / handbills.
papers — 名詞
1. the thin material made from plant fibres that people regularly use for writing,
紙；紙張
書寫、印刷、包裝用的薄材料
the thin material made from plant fibres that people regularly use for writing, printing, drawing, or wrapping things.
Mira recycled all the old papers from her desk drawer.
Mira 把書桌抽屜裡的舊紙張全部回收了。
The art teacher handed out sheets of white paper for the drawing class.
美術老師發給全班每人幾張白紙用來畫畫。
sheet of paper — countable unit for the material
Vikram wrote his phone number on a small piece of paper.
Vikram 在一小張紙上寫下了他的電話號碼。
The shop put my new shirt into a bag made of brown paper.
店家把我的新襯衫放進一個牛皮紙袋裡。
- stationery
refers to writing materials including paper, envelopes, and cards; more specific to office or school supplies
- notepaper
refers specifically to paper intended for letter-writing
文法句型
a piece of paper
sheet of paper
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when referring to the material itself. Use 'a piece of paper' or 'a sheet of paper' for a single unit.
2. a sheet or set of sheets carrying written or printed information that serves as
文件；文書
記載書面資訊的文件
a sheet or set of sheets carrying written or printed information that serves as a record, form, or proof of something.
Chidi lost the important papers for his visa application last week.
Chidi 上週弄丟了簽證申請的幾份重要文件。
papers + for + purpose
Xiu signed all the contract papers after reading each page carefully.
Xiu 仔細閱讀了合約文件的每一頁之後才簽名。
Hiroshi brought all the relevant papers to the lawyer's office before the court date.
Hiroshi 在開庭前把所有相關文件都帶到了律師事務所。
Yara kept the insurance papers in a folder inside her desk drawer.
Yara 把保險文件放在書桌抽屜裡的一個資料夾中。
文法句型
papers + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (papers) when referring to a collection of documents relating to a particular matter.
常見錯誤
3. official documents that establish a person's legal identity, status, or rights,
證件；文書
法律相關的身分證明文件
official documents that establish a person's legal identity, status, or rights, such as a passport, birth certificate, or court filing.
The border officer asked to see Yara's identity papers before letting her through.
邊境官員在讓 Yara 通過之前，要求查看她的身分證件。
identity papers — common collocation for ID documents
Rafael keeps his identity papers in a locked folder at home for safekeeping.
Rafael 把身份證件鎖在家裡的資料夾中以策安全。
The immigration office sent Sari the papers she needs to renew her work permit.
移民局把 Sari 更新工作許可證所需的文件寄給了她。
The adoption agency asked the family to submit all their legal papers by Friday.
收養機構請該家庭在星期五之前提交所有法律文件。
- identification
narrower; specifically establishes identity rather than covering all legal documents
- credentials
formal; emphasises proof of qualifications or authority
文法句型
identity papers
legal papers
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 specifically refers to documents of legal or official standing (identity, status, court proceedings), not just any piece of writing.
4. a written piece of work, usually for a university course or for publication in a
論文；報告
學術文章或課堂書面作業
a written piece of work, usually for a university course or for publication in a journal, that explores a topic or presents research findings.
Professor Devika published a research paper on climate change in a science journal.
Devika 教授在一本科學期刊上發表了一篇關於氣候變遷的研究論文。
paper on + topic
Isabela stayed up late to finish her history paper for Professor Chen's class.
Isabela 熬夜完成了陳教授那堂課的歷史報告。
paper + for + class
Ezra presented his medical paper at the hospital conference last Friday morning.
Ezra 上週五早上在醫院研討會上發表了他的醫學論文。
Justin wrote a ten-page paper about ancient Roman architecture for his history course.
Justin 為他的歷史課寫了一篇關於古羅馬建築的十頁報告。
文法句型
paper + on/about + topic
paper + for + class
5. a set of printed pages, usually published daily or weekly, containing news stori
報紙
每日或每週發行的新聞刊物
a set of printed pages, usually published daily or weekly, containing news stories, articles, advertisements, and opinion pieces.
Justin reads the morning paper while drinking his coffee before work.
Justin 在上班前一邊喝咖啡一邊閱讀早報。
Yara found a job advertisement in the local paper last Tuesday evening.
Yara 上週二晚上在地方報紙上找到了一則徵人廣告。
the local paper — common phrase
Chidi reads the business section of the Sunday paper every week.
Chidi 每週都會看週日報紙的財經版。
The story about the flood was on the front page of every major paper.
那則關於水災的新聞報導刊登在每一家主要報紙的頭版。
文法句型
a paper
the local paper
the morning paper
用法筆記
In everyday speech, 'paper' is more common than 'newspaper'. 'The paper' often refers to a specific regular publication the speaker reads.
6. a bag, packet, or covering made of paper that holds or protects something, espec
紙袋；紙包裝
用紙做成的包裝容器
a bag, packet, or covering made of paper that holds or protects something, especially food or goods bought from a shop.
The fish and chips came in a brown paper bag with salt on top.
炸魚薯條裝在一個撒了鹽的褐色紙袋裡。
Vikram unwrapped his sandwich from the wax paper his mother had used.
Vikram 把他母親用來包三明治的蠟紙打開來。
wax paper — a type of paper wrapper for food
The bakery put each cookie into a small white paper bag for the customer.
烘焙坊把每一塊餅乾放進一個小白紙袋交給客人。
The children made puppets from brown paper bags and coloured markers.
孩子們用牛皮紙袋和彩色筆做了一些玩偶。
文法句型
paper bag
paper wrapper
用法筆記
Usually used in compound form: 'paper bag', 'paper cup', 'paper towel'. Less commonly used alone as 'a paper' to mean a wrapper — context makes the meaning clear.
7. thick decorative paper printed with patterns or designs, used to cover and decor
壁紙
貼在牆上的裝飾用厚紙
thick decorative paper printed with patterns or designs, used to cover and decorate the inside walls of buildings, especially rooms in a house
Eve chose a floral wallpaper for her hallway to match the antique sideboard.
Eve 選了一款花卉壁紙貼在走廊，跟古董餐具櫃搭配。
collocation: floral wallpaper
Peeling off the old wallpaper took Zayd and his cousin an entire Saturday morning.
Zayd 和表弟花了整整一個週六早上才把舊壁紙撕下來。
A colourful wallpaper covered in rockets and planets decorated the children's bedroom.
孩子的臥室貼了滿是火箭和星球的彩色壁紙，十分活潑。
Feng hung the striped wallpaper in the dining room while his sister painted the kitchen.
Feng 在餐廳貼直條紋壁紙，他妹妹則負責粉刷廚房。
- wall covering
a broader term that includes fabric or vinyl coverings, not just paper
文法句型
a [pattern] paper
[colour/pattern] wallpaper
用法筆記
Also used in the shorter form 'paper' in decorating contexts: 'Would you like a stripe or a floral paper for the living room?'
8. printed tickets or passes that allow a person to enter a theatre, concert, festi
門票；招待券
免費或優惠的活動門票
printed tickets or passes that allow a person to enter a theatre, concert, festival, or other event, often without paying or at no cost
Heather got papers for the opening night from her friend who works at the theatre.
Heather 從在劇院工作的朋友那裡拿到了首演之夜的門票。
The director handed out papers to every member of the stage crew before the preview.
導演把招待券發給每一位參與預演的舞台工作人員。
collocation: hand out papers (meaning free passes)
With the right papers, you can enter the festival without queuing for tickets.
只要有招待券，不用排隊就能進到音樂節會場。
Ari gave his papers to the usher and found a seat near the balcony.
Ari 把門票交給帶位員，然後在樓座附近找到一個座位。
- passes
more common in modern English; 'papers' sounds slightly dated or theatrically specific
- complimentary tickets
formal, specifies that the tickets are free
文法句型
[possessive] papers
have/get papers for [event]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (official identity documents): this sense refers specifically to admission passes for entertainment events and is more informal. Usually found in the plural.
常見錯誤
9. a book with a flexible paper cover rather than a hard cardboard cover, usually s
平裝書
紙面軟封面的書籍
a book with a flexible paper cover rather than a hard cardboard cover, usually smaller and cheaper than a hardcover edition
Mira picked up a cheap paper at the airport bookshop to read on the flight.
Mira 在機場書店買了一本便宜的平裝書，準備在飛機上看。
Tendai prefers papers over hardcovers because they are much lighter in his bag.
Tendai 比較喜歡平裝書，因為放在背包裡輕多了。
The shop sells both new releases and second-hand papers at very low prices.
這家店賣新出版的平裝書，也賣二手平裝書，價格都很低。
Camila found a well-known novel in paper for half the price of the hardcover version.
Camila 發現一本知名小說的平裝版本，價格只有精裝版的一半。
文法句型
a [adjective] paper
[number] papers
用法筆記
Primarily British English. In American English, 'paperback' is the usual term. This sense is typically found in the singular ('a paper') or plural ('papers') in informal spoken British English.
10. financial documents such as promissory notes, bills of exchange, or drafts that
商業票據
短期可轉讓的金融債券
financial documents such as promissory notes, bills of exchange, or drafts that represent a short-term promise to pay a fixed amount of money and can be bought and sold in money markets
The manufacturer raised three million dollars by issuing commercial paper to investors.
這家製造商透過發行商業票據向投資人籌措了三百萬美元。
register: 'commercial paper' in finance
Rodrigo's job at the bank involves checking the credit ratings on short-term paper before purchase.
Rodrigo 在銀行的工作是在購買短期商業票據前檢查其信用評級。
collocation: short-term paper
The finance officer checked the promissory notes before filing the papers with the lender.
財務主管檢查了本票之後，將文件提交給貸款機構。
The exporter used trade paper to guarantee payment before shipping the goods overseas.
這家出口商利用商業票據來擔保付款，然後才將貨物運往國外。
- promissory note
a specific type of paper that contains a written promise to pay a sum on a certain date
- negotiable instrument
a broader legal term covering checks, drafts, notes, and certificates of deposit
文法句型
commercial paper
short-term paper
[institution] issues paper
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the compound 'commercial paper' rather than as a standalone noun. In financial contexts, 'paper' is uncountable (e.g. 'the company issues paper to raise short-term funds').
papers — 形容詞
- paperspositive
- more paperscomparative
- most paperssuperlative
1. made from the thin material that we use for writing, printing, or wrapping — for
紙製的
用紙張製成的
made from the thin material that we use for writing, printing, or wrapping — for example, a paper bag, a paper cup, or a paper towel.
Imran packed his lunch in a paper bag instead of a plastic one.
Imran 用紙袋而不是塑膠袋裝他的午餐。
paper + noun (bag, cup, towel, plate)
The waiter brought the drinks in small paper cups with a straw.
服務生用小紙杯裝飲料，還附了一根吸管。
After the barbecue, Amani threw the paper plates into the bin.
烤肉結束後，Amani 把紙盤丟進垃圾桶。
The children made a toy boat out of a paper napkin and a stick.
孩子們用一張紙巾和一根樹枝做了一艘玩具船。
- cardboard
thicker and stiffer than paper, used for boxes, not cups or bags
- papier-mâché
a mixture of paper and glue that hardens when dry, used for crafts
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — this sense is used before a noun (a paper cup, paper money). It is not used predicatively (*this cup is paper).
常見錯誤
2. so thin, light, or delicate that it looks or feels like paper — for example, pap
薄如紙的
像紙一樣薄或脆的
so thin, light, or delicate that it looks or feels like paper — for example, papery skin or paper-thin slices of food.
The old woman's skin had become thin and papery after years in the sun.
那位老太太的皮膚經過多年日曬後，變得又薄又像紙一樣。
papery skin / paper-thin = very thin, fragile
Caleb sliced the cured meat into paper-thin pieces for the appetiser.
Caleb 把熟成肉切成薄如紙的片，用來做前菜。
The dried flower petals felt light and papery between Emily's fingers.
乾燥的花瓣在 Emily 指間感覺輕盈如紙。
The insect's wings were paper-thin, and sunlight shone right through them.
那隻昆蟲的翅膀薄如紙，陽光直接穿透了過去。
3. involving clerical work, forms, documents, or written communication rather than
文書的
與文書工作或書面溝通有關的
involving clerical work, forms, documents, or written communication rather than physical labour — for example, a paper job, paper qualifications, or paper records.
Sofia found a paper job at an insurance company that required no heavy lifting.
Sofia 在一家保險公司找到一份文書工作，不需要搬重物。
paper job / paper qualifications — office work vs physical work
The hospital is moving from paper records to a digital system for patient data.
那家醫院正從紙本病歷轉換成數位病歷系統。
Even though he had plenty of paper qualifications, he lacked hands-on experience.
儘管他擁有許多文憑資格，卻缺乏實際經驗。
Mei-Lin's role was mostly paper-based, with little contact with clients.
她的工作主要是文書性質的，很少與客戶接觸。
- clerical
more specific to routine office tasks
- administrative
broader, including management and decision-making
- practical
involving hands-on work, not just documents
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only. This sense contrasts with 'practical' or 'hands-on' work. 'Paper qualifications' implies formal certificates rather than real ability.
4. existing in writing or in theory but not having real power, value, or effect — f
理論上的
僅在書面或理論上存在，無實際效力
existing in writing or in theory but not having real power, value, or effect — for example, a paper promise, a paper tiger, or paper profits.
The agreement was nothing more than a paper promise with no real enforcement.
這份協議只不過是一紙空文，沒有任何實際約束力。
paper promise / paper tiger — exists only on paper
The company showed large paper profits, but the cash was stuck in unpaid invoices.
該公司顯示了巨額帳面獲利，但現金都卡在未付的發票裡。
Critics called the new law a paper tiger because it had no means of punishment.
評論家稱這項新法律為紙老虎，因為它根本沒有處罰手段。
The manifesto offered only paper reforms that no one planned to carry out.
這份宣言只提出了紙上改革，沒有人真的打算執行。
- theoretical
neutral; based on theory, may or may not work in practice
- nominal
in name only, often used for titles or positions without real authority
- hollow
emphasises emptiness or lack of substance
- real
having actual existence or effect
- practical
concerned with actual use, not just theory
- substantial
of real worth, value, or importance
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
Often negative in tone — implies something looks impressive on paper but is ineffective or worthless in reality. Common in fixed phrases like 'paper tiger', 'paper promise'.
5. allowing someone to enter a theatre, concert, or event without paying because th
免票的
憑免費票券入場的
allowing someone to enter a theatre, concert, or event without paying because they have a free pass, often a critic or industry guest.
The reviewer used a paper ticket to enter the show for free.
那位評論員用一張免費票進場看秀。
paper ticket / paper pass = free admission for professionals
Most of the audience at the preview were paper guests.
這場預演的大多數觀眾都是持招待券入場的。
João and his classmates got into the film festival on paper invitations.
João 和他的同學靠著招待邀請函進入了影展。
The usher checked the paper passes at the door and waved everyone inside.
帶位員在門口檢查了招待券，然後請大家入場。
- complimentary
given free of charge, general term
- paid
requiring payment for entry
文法句型
paper + noun
用法筆記
This sense is very narrow — mostly used in US theatre and entertainment contexts. 'Paper the house' (verb sense) is more common than the adjective sense.
6. having a smooth, crisp surface that feels like high-quality paper — used especia
紙面質感的
表面光滑細緻，有如紙張
having a smooth, crisp surface that feels like high-quality paper — used especially to describe the finish of printed materials or certain fabrics.
The wedding invitations were printed on card stock with a paper finish.
婚禮邀請函是用具有紙面質感的卡紙印製的。
paper finish = smooth, crisp surface
Defne chose a paper-textured wallpaper for the study because it felt warm and elegant.
Defne 為書房選了紙紋壁紙，因為感覺溫馨又有質感。
The artist used a paper-surface board for her charcoal sketches.
那位藝術家使用紙面畫板來畫炭筆素描。
Camila preferred the paper texture of the photo paper over the glossy finish.
Camila 比較喜歡相紙的紙質紋理，勝過亮面質感。
- glossy
shiny finish, the opposite of the crisp matte surface of paper
文法句型
paper + noun