trillion
trillion — 數詞
1. the exact number represented by a one followed by twelve zeros — equal to a thou
一兆
數字10¹²，即一百萬個一百萬
the exact number represented by a one followed by twelve zeros — equal to a thousand billion or a million million — used to state precise figures in finance, science, and government.
The government announced a plan to spend two trillion dollars on new roads and schools.
政府宣布了一項計畫，將花費兩兆美元修建新的道路和學校。
two trillion + plural noun for a precise financial figure
Our galaxy contains roughly one trillion stars, but we can only see a small fraction.
我們的星系大約含有一兆顆恆星，但我們只能看到一小部分。
one trillion + plural countable noun (stars)
Hoa calculated that the distance to the next galaxy is about two trillion kilometers.
Hoa 計算出到隔壁星系的距離大約是兩兆公里。
The company's annual sales passed one trillion yen for the first time last year.
該公司的年銷售額去年首度突破一兆日圓。
- million million
descriptive phrase expressing the same value in simpler terms
- one followed by twelve zeros
descriptive mathematical phrase for clarity
文法句型
[number] + trillion + [plural noun]
a/one trillion + [plural noun]
用法筆記
In modern English (both US and UK), a trillion is 1,000,000,000,000. The older British trillion (10^18) is now considered obsolete. When the exact number matters, use the numeral form or scientific notation.
常見錯誤
2. an extremely large but not exact quantity — used to exaggerate or emphasise that
極多
形容數量極大，常誇飾用
an extremely large but not exact quantity — used to exaggerate or emphasise that something is very great in number, frequency, or degree.
I have a trillion things to do before the wedding next weekend.
下週婚禮前我有極多事情要處理。
hyperbolic use: a trillion + plural noun for exaggeration
Hamza told me a trillion times to bring an umbrella, but I forgot it anyway.
Hamza 跟我講了八百次要帶傘，但我還是忘了。
a trillion times — common hyperbolic phrase for 'very many times'
There are a trillion reasons why this plan will not work, starting with the budget.
這個計畫行不通的理由有千千萬萬個，首先就是預算問題。
Nila has a trillion photos of her cat on her phone from just this month.
Nila 光這個月就在手機裡拍了堆積如山的貓咪照片。
- tiny
opposite of a large amount in hyperbolic contexts
文法句型
a trillion + [plural noun]
trillion + [plural noun]
用法筆記
Only used informally for exaggeration. In formal writing, avoid using 'trillion' to mean 'a very large amount' unless the actual number is around one trillion. For formal hyperbole, prefer 'a vast number of' or 'countless'.
常見錯誤
trillion — 名詞
1. the number that equals one thousand times one billion — written as 1 followed by
兆
一後面有12個零的數字
the number that equals one thousand times one billion — written as 1 followed by 12 zeros — treated as a countable noun that can take an article or a numeral before it.
A trillion is written as a one followed by twelve zeros — one million million.
一兆就是 1 後面加上十二個零，也就是一百萬個一百萬。
countable noun with article 'a': defining pattern
The country's national debt reached several trillion this year, worrying financial experts.
該國的國債今年達到數兆，令許多經濟學家感到擔憂。
several + trillion (noun form, no 'of' needed)
Min learned that a trillion equals ten to the twelfth in scientific notation.
Min 學到一兆在科學記號中等於十的十二次方。
The total was estimated at three trillion, though no one could verify the figure.
總額估計為三兆，但沒有人能核實這個數字。
- one million million
descriptive paraphrase, useful for explaining the value to non-experts
文法句型
a/one trillion
[number] trillion
several trillion
用法筆記
Used as a countable noun: 'a trillion', 'one trillion', 'several trillion'. The plural 'trillions' is rare in this precise sense — when you need the plural of the exact number, use 'trillions of' only for the hyperbolic sense. For the precise value, treat it like other numbers: 'two trillion', 'three trillion'.
常見錯誤
2. an extremely large but unspecified count — used in the plural form 'trillions' t
無數
極大但不確定的數量
an extremely large but unspecified count — used in the plural form 'trillions' to suggest a number too great to measure or count precisely.
Trillions of stars shine in the universe, each one a distant sun.
宇宙中有數兆顆恆星在閃耀，每一顆都是一顆遙遠的太陽。
trillions of + plural noun for unspecified vast quantity
Sayaka has written trillions of words in her diary over the past thirty years.
Sayaka 在過去三十年間在日記裡寫了數不盡的文字。
The bacteria in the human gut number in the trillions.
人類腸道中的細菌數量以兆計。
Tomás guessed trillions of sand grains covered the beach, but counted only a handful.
Tomás 猜想沙灘上有數兆粒沙子，卻只數出一小把。
- countless
less numerical, suitable in formal and informal contexts
- numberless
more literary and formal
- untold
emphasises that the number is so large it cannot be measured
- a handful
opposite of a vast, unmeasurable quantity
文法句型
trillions of + [plural noun]
in the trillions
用法筆記
Commonly appears in the plural 'trillions' followed by 'of' (trillions of stars, trillions of cells). The fixed expression 'number in the trillions' is used in science and business to describe a scale. Avoid using this sense in formal academic writing unless the number is genuinely expected to be near one trillion.