particle

particle — 名詞

1. a small word, or a short ending added to a word, used mainly to show grammar rat

1.名詞C1
釋義

小品詞

在語法上有作用的小詞

a small word, or a short ending added to a word, used mainly to show grammar rather than to carry a full meaning by itself.

例句

In Ms Lee's class, 'up' is the particle in 'pick up'.

在 Ms Lee 的課上，「pick up」裡的 up 是小品詞。

pattern: verb + particle

Ms Lee underlined the particle in each phrasal verb on the worksheet.

Ms Lee 在講義上把每個片語動詞中的小品詞都畫上底線。

collocation: phrasal verb particle

同義詞
  • function word

    a broader label that covers more grammar words than particle

  • marker

    a general linguistic term, often used for a word that signals a function

  • grammatical element

    a broad descriptive phrase rather than a precise grammar term

文法句型

verb + particle

negative particle

separable phrasal verb with a particle

用法筆記

Often used when explaining phrasal verbs or short grammar markers. In English lessons, the particle usually combines with a verb or marks a grammatical relationship.

常見錯誤

❌Up' is a preposition in 'Please pick up the box.
✅Up' is a particle in 'Please pick up the box.
💡In a phrasal verb, the small word is often analyzed as a particle, not as an ordinary preposition.
❌Running' is a particle in 'She is running fast.
✅Running' is a participle, not a particle.
💡A particle is a small function word or ending, not a verb form.

2. a piece so small that it is hard to see, such as a bit of dust, sand, smoke, or

2.名詞C2
釋義

微粒

極小的塵土或砂等碎屑

a piece so small that it is hard to see, such as a bit of dust, sand, smoke, or paint.

例句

A bright particle of dust floated through a band of sunlight.

一粒發亮的灰塵在一束陽光裡飄動。

pattern: particle of + dust

The lab coat was covered with black paint particles after class.

下課後，那件實驗袍沾滿了黑色油漆微粒。

collocation: paint particles

同義詞
  • speck

    usually stresses how tiny and visible the spot is

  • grain

    often used for small hard pieces such as sand, rice, or salt

  • fragment

    usually suggests a broken piece and is often larger than a particle

  • bit

    a very general everyday word, less precise than particle

反義詞
  • chunk

    suggests a much larger piece

  • lump

    used for a larger solid mass rather than a tiny speck

文法句型

particle of + dust/sand/smoke

tiny/fine particle

particles in the air

用法筆記

Often followed by of when you name the material. Common nouns after it include dust, sand, smoke, ash, and paint.

常見錯誤

❌There were many particle on the shelf.
✅There were many particles on the shelf.
💡Use the plural when you mean several tiny pieces.
❌A dust was on the desk.
✅A particle of dust was on the desk.
💡Dust is usually uncountable, so English often uses 'a particle of dust' for one tiny bit.

3. one of the extremely small units that matter is made of, such as an electron, pr

3.名詞C2
釋義

粒子

構成物質的極小單位

one of the extremely small units that matter is made of, such as an electron, proton, or atom.

例句

The teacher drew a particle moving between the two metal plates.

老師畫出一個粒子在兩塊金屬板之間移動。

pattern: particle moving between plates

The lab screen tracks each particle as the beam crosses the tube.

實驗室的螢幕會追蹤束流穿過管子時的每一個粒子。

collocation: particle beam

同義詞
  • subatomic particle

    more specific, only for units smaller than an atom

  • atom

    one particular type of particle, not a full synonym for all scientific uses

  • unit

    very broad and much less precise than particle

文法句型

subatomic particle

charged particle

particle beam

用法筆記

Common in physics and related science writing. Distinguish this sense from sense 2: sense 2 is about tiny visible bits like dust or sand, while this sense is about the units that make up matter.

4. only a very slight amount of something, especially in formal statements.

4.名詞C2
釋義

一絲

極少到幾乎沒有

only a very slight amount of something, especially in formal statements.

例句

There wasn't a particle of truth in the rumor about missing money.

關於那筆失蹤的錢，那個謠言裡沒有一絲真相。

pattern: a particle of truth

Theo's note contained not a particle of regret.

Theo 的便條裡沒有一絲悔意。

同義詞
  • trace

    common in formal or scientific contexts for a very small amount

  • bit

    much more everyday and less formal

  • hint

    works mainly for signs or suggestions, not for all nouns

  • touch

    often used for a small amount of a quality, especially in informal speech

反義詞
  • plenty

    an everyday word for a large amount

  • abundance

    a formal noun for more than enough

文法句型

a particle of + truth/evidence

not a particle of + noun

用法筆記

Most common in the pattern 'not a particle of + noun', especially with truth, evidence, pity, doubt, or interest. It is much more formal than everyday words like bit or trace.

常見錯誤

❌There was not particle of hope left.
✅There was not a particle of hope left.
💡This expression normally needs the article 'a'.