well
well — 動詞
1. When a liquid wells, it moves gradually upward through something until it reache
湧出；滲出
液體從內部慢慢浮到表面或流出
When a liquid wells, it moves gradually upward through something until it reaches the surface and becomes visible, or it seeps out slowly from inside.
Tears welled in Yael's eyes as she said goodbye to her grandmother at the station.
Yael 在車站向祖母道別時，淚水湧上了她的眼眶。
well + in [body part]: tears well in eyes
Blood welled up from a small cut on Hao's finger after he touched broken glass.
Hao 碰到碎玻璃後，血液從手指上的小傷口慢慢滲了出來。
well up from a wound
Indra felt anger well up inside him when he read the unfair review.
Indra 看到那篇不公平的評論時，一股怒氣在他心中湧起。
Water welled out of a crack in the old stone wall after the heavy rain.
大雨過後，水從舊石牆的裂縫中滲了出來。
Sophia watched a clear liquid well slowly from a gash on the dog's leg.
Sophia 看著清澈的液體從狗的腿傷處慢慢滲出。
文法句型
well + (up)
well + out of/from/in
well up + inside/in
用法筆記
Subject is usually a liquid or an emotion, and 'well up' is far more common than bare 'well' in everyday use. For physical liquids the focus is on gradual upward movement to the surface; for emotions the movement is inside a person's body or mind.
常見錯誤
well — 名詞
1. a narrow, deep hole dug or drilled into the ground so that people can reach wate
井；油井
從地面挖掘以取得水、石油或瓦斯的深洞
a narrow, deep hole dug or drilled into the ground so that people can reach water, oil, or natural gas that lies underground.
Asher lowered a bucket into the village well to fetch water for cooking.
Asher 把水桶放進村裡的水井中，打水來煮飯。
lower + bucket + into + well — physical movement collocation
The oil company drilled a new well on the edge of the desert last spring.
那家石油公司去年春天在沙漠邊緣鑽了一口新油井。
During the dry season, the well behind the school provides clean drinking water.
在乾季時，學校後面的那口井提供乾淨的飲用水。
The farmers dug a shallow well near the river to irrigate their crops.
農夫們在河邊挖了一口淺井，用來灌溉他們的農作物。
Apinya's grandfather built the family well by hand in the 1950s.
Apinya 的祖父在一九五〇年代親手建造了家裡的那口井。
用法筆記
The type of resource is often specified before the word, as in oil well, gas well, or water well.
常見錯誤
2. a natural flow of water rising up from the ground; or a place, person, or thing
泉源；來源
自然水源或事物源源不絕的供應處
a natural flow of water rising up from the ground; or a place, person, or thing that provides a steady supply of something useful, such as ideas, information, or emotional strength.
A natural well in the forest provides cold, fresh water to hikers all year round.
森林裡的一處天然泉源全年都為登山客提供清涼的淡水。
natural well — a spring, not a man-made hole
Grandmother was an endless well of folk tales from her childhood in Korea.
奶奶就像一口源源不絕的水井，裝滿了她童年時期在韓國聽到的民間故事。
be + a well of + [abstract noun] — metaphorical source
When Roya felt hopeless, she discovered a deep well of courage inside herself.
當 Roya 感到絕望時，她在自己內心發現了深藏的勇氣泉源。
The mountain well has supplied the village with clean water for over a hundred years.
山間的那口泉一百多年來一直為村莊提供乾淨的水。
- drain
something that removes or uses up rather than supplies
用法筆記
The figurative meaning ('a source of something intangible') frequently appears in literary or descriptive writing. When used literally, it refers to a natural spring rather than a man-made structure.
常見錯誤
well — 形容詞
1. in a state of being healthy, especially after a period of illness, injury, or di
健康；康復
身體健康無病痛的
in a state of being healthy, especially after a period of illness, injury, or discomfort — if you are well, your body is working normally and you feel no pain or sickness.
After a week in hospital, Yuki finally felt well enough to go home.
在醫院住了一週後，Yuki 終於覺得身體好到可以回家了。
well enough to [do something]
The doctor told Mira she was well now and could return to work on Monday.
醫生告訴 Mira 她現在身體好了，星期一可以回去上班。
be + well after illness
Kwame asked his grandmother how she was, and she said she was very well.
Kwame 問候祖母的身體狀況，她說她很好。
Élise stayed home from school because she did not feel well this morning.
Élise 今天早上覺得身體不舒服，所以沒去上學。
Iris had a bad cold last week, but she is completely well again now.
Iris 上週得了重感冒，但她現在已經完全康復了。
文法句型
be/feel/look/seem + well
well enough + to-infinitive
not well (meaning ill)
用法筆記
Well as an adjective is almost always used after a linking verb (be, feel, look, seem), not directly before a noun. You cannot say 'a well person' in standard English — use 'someone who is well' instead.
常見錯誤
2. sensible, wise, or advantageous as a course of action — suggesting that doing so
明智；適宜
明智可取的做法
sensible, wise, or advantageous as a course of action — suggesting that doing something is a good idea because it avoids problems or brings a better result.
It would be well to check the weather before setting out on a long hike.
出發長途健行前，最好先查一下天氣預報。
it would be well to [do something]
Antonia thought it well to save part of her salary each month for emergencies.
Antonia 認為每月存一部分薪水以備不時之需是明智之舉。
think it well to [do something]
It is well to remember that first impressions can sometimes be misleading.
最好記住，第一印象有時可能會有誤導性。
Defne told the team it would be well to review the safety rules first.
Defne 告訴團隊在開始新專案前最好先檢討安全規範。
文法句型
it is well + to-infinitive
it would be well + to-infinitive
it is well + that-clause
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in fixed patterns beginning with 'it' + 'be' + 'well' — 'it is well to...', 'it would be well to...', or 'it is well that...'. It is more formal than 'it is a good idea to...' and sounds slightly old-fashioned in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
well — 副詞
1. in a way that meets a high standard or shows skill — used for how someone does s
良好地
以高標準或熟練的方式
in a way that meets a high standard or shows skill — used for how someone does something, how something works, or how a situation turns out.
Eliska plays the piano well for someone who has only been learning for a year.
Eliska 學鋼琴才一年，但已經彈得很好。
well + verb (modifies action)
The garden is well looked after by the neighbours while the owners travel.
主人出遊時，鄰居把花園照顧得很好。
well + past participle (compound adjective)
Ari writes well, but his real strength is speaking in front of a crowd.
Ari 寫作表現不錯，但他真正的強項是公開演講。
The two teams worked well together and finished the project early.
兩支團隊合作良好，提前完成了專案。
- properly
implies correctness of method rather than skill level
- correctly
focuses on accuracy, not overall quality
- satisfactorily
more formal, suggests meeting minimum expectations
- badly
opposite in terms of quality or skill
文法句型
well + verb (after verb or object)
well + past participle (in compound adjectives)
用法筆記
Commonly follows the verb it modifies (e.g. 'She sings well'), but can also appear before a past participle in compound adjectives ('well-written', 'well-known').
常見錯誤
2. reaching a high level or the full amount of something — used after verbs about k
相當；完全
到很大的程度或徹底地
reaching a high level or the full amount of something — used after verbs about knowing, remembering, mixing, or other actions where the result can be total.
Kabir has known the Watanabe family well for over fifteen years.
Kabir 認識 Watanabe 一家已經超過十五年了。
well + known (knowledge relationship)
Christopher remembers that rainy afternoon well because he lost his keys.
Christopher 對那個下雨的午後記憶猶新，因為他當時弄丟了鑰匙。
Shake the bottle well before opening it for the first time.
第一次打開前，請先充分搖勻瓶中的液體。
Before you decide, think well about all the costs involved.
做決定之前，先好好想清楚所有相關的費用。
The meat needs to be well cooked before anyone can eat it safely.
肉必須完全煮熟，大家才能安全食用。
- thoroughly
emphasises completeness more than degree
- fully
stresses that nothing is left out
- completely
stronger sense of entirety
文法句型
well + verb (know, remember, understand)
well + past participle
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with verbs of mental state (know, understand, remember) and physical processes (mix, shake, cook). Cannot be used with all verbs — 'well ran' or 'well bought' are ungrammatical.
常見錯誤
3. used before certain prepositions to emphasise that the distance, amount, or time
遠遠地
用於強調介系詞，表示超出一般範圍
used before certain prepositions to emphasise that the distance, amount, or time mentioned is much more or much less than expected.
The total cost of the wedding was well within the budget they had planned.
婚禮的總花費遠低於他們原先規劃的預算。
well + within (emphasises comfortable margin)
Tariro arrived well after midnight, so everyone had already gone to bed.
Tariro 到了半夜之後才抵達，所以大家早就上床睡覺了。
The temperature in Sapporo stayed well below zero for the whole week.
札幌的氣溫整個星期都遠低於零度。
Ziad's apartment is well past the train station, about three more stops.
Ziad 的公寓離火車站還很遠，大約還要再坐三站。
The price of the house is well above what Manuela can afford right now.
那棟房子的價格遠高於 Manuela 目前能負擔的範圍。
文法句型
well + preposition (within, past, above, below, after, before, beyond)
用法筆記
Only works with a fixed set of prepositions: within, past, above, below, before, after, beyond, outside, over, under. Does not work with at, in, on, by, for, from.
4. used before a small group of adjectives to intensify their meaning — most common
非常
用於強調部分形容詞
used before a small group of adjectives to intensify their meaning — most commonly with aware, able, worth, pleased, and familiar.
Amani is well aware of the challenges that come with starting a new business.
Amani 非常清楚創業會帶來的各種挑戰。
well + aware (common fixed phrase)
This small art museum is well worth a visit if you are in the area.
如果你來到這個地區，這間小美術館非常值得一逛。
well + worth (recommendation pattern)
The children were well pleased with the surprise birthday party their uncle organised.
孩子們對叔叔精心準備的驚喜生日派對感到非常開心。
Asher is well able to take care of the dog on his own now.
Asher 現在已經能自己好好照顧那隻狗了。
Mizuki is well familiar with the train system in Tokyo after living there for years.
Mizuki 在東京住了多年，對那裡的電車系統非常熟悉。
文法句型
well + adjective (aware, able, worth, pleased, familiar)
用法筆記
Restricted to a closed set of adjectives. 'Well happy', 'well tired', 'well sad' are non-standard in formal English (see sense 5 for the informal equivalent). The most common combinations are well aware, well able, well worth, well pleased, and well familiar.
常見錯誤
5. used in informal speech, especially in British English, as a strong intensifier
超；很
非正式用語，表示「非常」
used in informal speech, especially in British English, as a strong intensifier meaning 'very' — often with adjectives of quality or degree.
Caleb said the new skatepark was well cool and we should go on Saturday.
Caleb 說新的滑板公園超酷，我們週六應該去看看。
well + cool (informal intensifier pattern)
That music at the festival was well loud — my ears are still ringing today.
音樂節的音響超大聲——我的耳朵到今天還在嗡嗡響。
David's motorbike is well fast and he loves taking it on long rides.
David 的重型機車超快，他喜歡騎它去長途旅行。
Eliska thought the horror film was well scary and hid behind her hands.
Eliska 覺得那部恐怖片超可怕，全程用手遮著臉看。
文法句型
well + adjective (informal intensifier)
用法筆記
Strictly informal speech — do not use in academic or professional writing. More common among younger speakers in the UK. The adjective following 'well' is usually a simple positive/negative quality word (cool, good, fast, loud, scary, difficult).
常見錯誤
6. used after modal verbs (might, may, could) to emphasise that a feeling, opinion,
難怪；當然
用於情態助動詞後，表示有充分理由
used after modal verbs (might, may, could) to emphasise that a feeling, opinion, or reaction is reasonable and deserved given the circumstances — not just possible, but expected or justified.
The villagers might well be anxious after the recent floods destroyed their homes.
最近的洪水沖毀了村民的家園，他們會感到焦慮也是難免的。
might + well + be (predicting justified reaction)
Given the evidence, the judge may well decide to hold another trial.
根據現有證據，法官很可能會決定再開一次庭。
You may well ask why nobody told the school about the gas leak.
你問為什麼沒有人通知學校有瓦斯外洩，這也是合理的。
The Watanabes could well be right about the cause of the engine problem.
Watanabe 一家人對引擎問題的判斷很有可能是對的。
After working twelve hours a day, Ari felt he might well deserve a long holiday.
每天工作十二小時之後，Ari 覺得自己理應放一個長假。
- probably
more neutral, lacks the nuance of 'justified reaction'
- understandably
captures the justification aspect better than probability
- doubtless
more formal and certain in tone
文法句型
might/may/could + well + verb
subject + well + verb (rare, literary)
用法筆記
Distinct from adverb/8 (PROBABLY): adverb/6 focuses on a justified reaction or deserved feeling ('may well be upset'), while adverb/8 focuses on neutral likelihood ('may well rain'). 'Might well' and 'may well' are common in both speech and writing. 'Could well' is also frequent. The construction emphasises that the situation is understandable given the circumstances.
常見錯誤
7. used to mean "also" or "too," adding an extra item, person, or idea to something
也；還
表示除了前面提到的之外還有
used to mean "also" or "too," adding an extra item, person, or idea to something already mentioned.
Wren ordered fried rice, and Walid ordered noodles as well.
Wren 點了炒飯，Walid 也多點了一份麵。
as well at end of clause
Élise speaks French as well as Japanese fluently.
Élise 除了會說日語，也會說流利的法語。
as well as + noun phrase
Faisal helped decorate the hall, and Devika helped as well.
Faisal 幫忙布置了大廳，Devika 也出了力。
The market sells fresh vegetables and has a fish stall as well.
這家市場賣新鮮蔬菜，還有一個魚攤。
- also
more neutral and can appear in different positions within a sentence
- too
interchangeable with as well but can also come directly after the subject
- additionally
more formal; common in written and business contexts
文法句型
as well (at end of clause)
as well as + noun / gerund
用法筆記
The phrase as well is always placed at the end of the clause, unlike too which can appear mid-clause. as well as can also act as a conjunction meaning 'and in addition,' linking two parallel elements.
常見錯誤
8. used with modal verbs (may, might, could) to say that something has a strong cha
很可能
表示某件事很可能發生或屬實
used with modal verbs (may, might, could) to say that something has a strong chance of being true or happening.
The train may well be delayed because of the heavy snow.
因為大雪，火車很可能會誤點。
may well + passive verb
Mizuki might well choose to study in Canada next year.
Mizuki 明年很可能會選擇去加拿大讀書。
might well + verb
The kitchen repairs could well cost more than a new stove.
廚房的維修費可能比買一台新爐子還貴。
If the traffic is not too bad, we could well arrive before dinner.
如果交通不太糟的話，我們很可能在晚餐前抵達。
文法句型
may well + base verb
might well + base verb
could well + base verb
用法筆記
Distinguish from adverb/6 (WITH GOOD REASON): adverb/8 is about neutral probability ('may well rain', 'could well cost more'), while adverb/6 is about a justified or deserved outcome ('may well be upset'). Most common with may, might, and could. 'Can well' is not idiomatic in this sense.
常見錯誤
9. in a way that shows material comfort and enough money to live without serious fi
富裕地
經濟上舒適、不虞匱乏地
in a way that shows material comfort and enough money to live without serious financial worries.
After years of saving, the Okafor family now lives quite well.
經過多年的儲蓄，Okafor 一家現在過著相當富裕的生活。
live well
Gabriel's grandparents were never rich, but they lived well on their pension.
Gabriel 的祖父母從未富裕過，但靠著退休金過著安穩的生活。
Alessia invested her savings wisely and has done well for herself.
Alessia 把積蓄做了明智的投資，經濟上過得很不錯。
The coastal village was poor, but the fishing families still managed to live well.
這個沿海村莊雖然貧窮，但那些漁民家庭仍然設法過著溫飽的生活。
- comfortably
broader — can describe ease in any area, not just finances
- prosperously
more formal; suggests growing wealth rather than stable sufficiency
- affluently
implies a higher level of wealth than well; suggests luxury
- poorly
the direct opposite in terms of material living conditions
文法句型
live well
do well (financially)
be well off
用法筆記
Describes a comfortable standard of living, not extreme wealth. Often paired with verbs about lifestyle: live well, do well for oneself. The opposite concept is expressed by live poorly or scrape by.
常見錯誤
well — 感嘆詞
1. a word you say when you are very surprised, shocked, or doubtful about something
哎呀
表達驚訝或懷疑
a word you say when you are very surprised, shocked, or doubtful about something someone has just said or done
Well — I never thought I would see you working in a library, Ilan!
哎呀——我從沒想過會看到你在圖書館工作，Ilan！
well + full sentence expressing surprise at a situation
Well, well, well! Look who finally decided to join us for dinner!
哎呀呀！看看是誰終於決定來跟我們一起吃晚餐了！
repeated 'well' for dramatic surprise
Obi said the exam was cancelled. Well — that explains why he looks so relaxed today!
Obi 說考試取消了。哎呀——這就說明了為什麼他今天看起來那麼輕鬆！
Well, what a coincidence meeting you here at the night market, Putri!
哎呀，真巧在夜市遇到妳，Putri！
Well! I certainly did not expect that ending to the movie.
哎呀！我真沒料到那部電影的結局。
文法句型
well + statement expressing reaction
用法筆記
Pronunciation is key: a rising-falling intonation on 'well' signals genuine surprise. Repeating it ("Well, well, well…") adds dramatic effect and often a hint of mild disapproval or teasing.
常見錯誤
2. a word you say while you pause to think about what to say next, especially when
嗯
思考時的停頓語
a word you say while you pause to think about what to say next, especially when you are unsure or need time to organize your thoughts
Well... I am not sure if Friday works for the party.
嗯⋯⋯我不確定星期五能不能辦派對。
well + pause (...) before expressing uncertainty
Let me think — well, maybe we should ask Min about the plan first.
讓我想想——嗯，也許我們應該先問 Min 的計畫。
Well, the thing is, I forgot to bring the keys to the office.
嗯，事情是這樣的，我忘了帶辦公室的鑰匙。
Valentina asked me why I was late. Well, where do I even begin?
Valentina 問我為什麼遲到。嗯，我該從哪裡說起呢？
Well, I suppose we could try the restaurant on Moonlight Street instead.
嗯，我想我們可以改去月光街的那家餐廳。
- um / uh
less polished; 'well' sounds more considered and controlled
- let me see
longer and more explicit about the thinking process
文法句型
well + pause (...) + statement
用法筆記
In this sense 'well' is a hesitation filler, similar to 'um' or 'uh' but more socially acceptable in formal contexts. It gives the speaker a moment to gather thoughts. In writing, it is often followed by an ellipsis (...) or a comma.
常見錯誤
3. a word you say to accept a situation or admit that someone else is right, even i
好吧
勉強同意或讓步
a word you say to accept a situation or admit that someone else is right, even if you are not entirely happy about it
Well, you might be right about the deadline after all.
好吧，你說的最後期限可能是對的。
well + statement admitting another person is correct
Oh well — there is nothing we can do about the rain now.
算了——我們對這場雨也無能為力了。
oh well + acceptance of an unavoidable situation
Well, okay — I can see why Élise was upset about the decision.
好吧，好吧——我能理解為什麼 Élise 對這個決定那麼不高興。
Christopher said we should take the train. Well, I suppose that makes sense.
Christopher 說我們應該坐火車。好吧，我想那樣也有道理。
Well, if you put it that way, I have to agree with you, Nala.
好吧，如果你這麼說，那我不得不同意你，Nala。
文法句型
well + statement conceding a point
oh well + clause of acceptance
用法筆記
Often combines with 'oh' ("Oh well") when the speaker is accepting disappointment or an irreversible situation. The tone can range from genuine acceptance to reluctant surrender depending on intonation.
4. a word you say to return to an earlier topic, continue a story after an interrup
對了
轉換或繼續話題
a word you say to return to an earlier topic, continue a story after an interruption, or move a conversation forward
Well, as I was saying before the phone rang, the project needs more time.
對了，就像電話響之前我所說的，這個專案需要更多時間。
well + 'as I was saying' to resume after interruption
Well then — shall we get back to discussing the budget?
那麼——我們可以繼續討論預算了嗎？
well then + question to redirect conversation
Well, anyway — after all that drama, let me tell you what happened next.
總之——經歷了那麼多波折之後，讓我告訴你後來發生了什麼。
Well now — that brings me to my next point about the team, Romi.
好了——這就帶出我關於團隊的下一個重點，Romi。
Well, Nila told me the whole story. Apparently the bus broke down twice!
對了，Nila 把整件事都告訴我了。原來公車故障了兩次！
文法句型
well + anyway/so/then + resumed topic
well + as I was saying
用法筆記
In this role 'well' acts like a signpost, telling the listener that you are steering the conversation somewhere. It commonly pairs with 'then,' 'anyway,' 'now,' or 'so.' Avoid overusing this in writing — it is primarily a spoken conversation marker.