transcend

transcend — 動詞

1. to go beyond normal limits or boundaries, especially by reaching a higher level

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

突破

超越原有界限或範圍

to go beyond normal limits or boundaries, especially by reaching a higher level of thought, feeling, or achievement.

例句

Nora's abstract paintings transcended the traditional landscape styles taught at art school, earning national recognition.

Nora 的抽象畫突破了藝術學校教授的傳統風景畫風格，獲得全國好評。

subject (person) + transcended + noun phrase

The memorial's design transcends stone and steel to create a space of quiet reflection.

這座紀念碑的設計超越了石頭與鋼鐵本身，創造出一個讓人靜思的空間。

transcend + noun + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • exceed

    more neutral and measurable; best for numbers, amounts, or concrete limits

  • rise above

    carries a moral or emotional nuance; often used for overcoming difficulty or pettiness

  • go beyond

    more literal and less formal; works in everyday contexts where 'transcend' would sound too elevated

反義詞
  • conform to

    staying within expected boundaries rather than moving past them

  • be limited by

    remaining constrained rather than rising above

文法句型

transcend + noun phrase

transcend + noun phrase + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Subject is often an abstract noun (art, music, love, friendship) or a quality (beauty, courage, compassion). The object is typically a limitation: boundaries, differences, barriers, or restrictions. Also used intransitively in formal contexts: 'True art transcends.'

常見錯誤

❌The bridge transcended the river.
✅The bridge crossed the river.
💡'transcend' is not used for physical movement across a space; use 'cross' or 'go over'.
❌His salary transcends hers.
✅His salary exceeds hers.
💡'transcend' suggests a qualitative leap, not a numerical comparison; use 'exceed' for amounts and statistics.

2. to be noticeably better or more impressive than a previous effort, standard, or

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

勝過

在品質或成就上超越

to be noticeably better or more impressive than a previous effort, standard, or rival.

例句

Andrew's final project transcended all expectations and won the top prize.

Andrew 的期末專題勝過了所有人的預期，獲得了最高獎項。

transcend + expectations

The chef's new recipe transcended anything she had ever created before.

這位主廚的新食譜勝過她以往做過的任何一道菜。

同義詞
  • surpass

    most direct synonym; slightly more common in everyday evaluative language

  • outdo

    more personal and competitive, often implying a direct contest with another person

  • outshine

    more poetic; suggests one performance or quality makes others seem dim in comparison

  • excel

    intransitive; 'excel at/in' rather than taking a direct object

反義詞

文法句型

transcend + noun phrase

transcend + noun phrase + in + (area of excellence)

用法筆記

Object is typically a standard, expectation, or previous achievement: expectations, records, earlier work, rivals. Common in reviews and evaluations of creative or athletic performance. Distinguish from Sense 1: this sense focuses on being better than a comparator, not on breaking a restriction.

常見錯誤

❌This washing machine transcends that model.
✅This washing machine is better than that model.
💡'transcend' is too formal and elevated for routine product comparisons.
❌The team transcended their old score by 10 points.
✅The team improved on their old score by 10 points.
💡for measurable numeric improvements, use 'improve on', 'beat', or 'exceed'.