white
white — 形容詞
1. having the lightest colour there is — the colour of fresh snow or clean paper, n
白色的
像雪或牛奶的顏色
having the lightest colour there is — the colour of fresh snow or clean paper, not dark at all
Jenna wore a simple white dress to her graduation ceremony.
Jenna 穿了一件簡單的白洋裝參加畢業典禮。
white + noun for describing objects
The walls in the kitchen were painted a bright white.
廚房的牆壁漆成了亮白色。
predicative: be + white
A white van parked outside the school gates this morning.
今天早上有一輛白色廂型車停在校門口。
The cat had soft white fur and bright green eyes.
那隻貓有柔軟的白毛和明亮的綠眼睛。
Clouds drifted across the sky, white against the deep blue.
白雲在深藍色的天空中緩緩飄過。
- black
the darkest colour, opposite of white on the lightness scale
文法句型
white + noun
be + white
用法筆記
This is the core colour sense of white; other senses (pale, blank, racial) are extensions of this basic meaning. In attributive position, white directly modifies the noun: white shirt, white paint.
常見錯誤
2. describing a colour that is nearly white, being much lighter than the normal sha
蒼白的；淺色
因生病或情緒而面色發白；顏色很淺
describing a colour that is nearly white, being much lighter than the normal shade you would expect; or saying that someone's face has become very pale because they are frightened, sick, or shocked
Imani's face went white when she heard the terrible news.
Imani 聽到那個壞消息時，臉色變得慘白。
go + white for sudden paleness
The walls were a soft white shade that made the room feel bigger.
牆壁是柔和的淺白色，讓房間感覺更寬敞。
white + shade for colour tones
After three days without sleep, Rodrigo's lips were white and dry.
連續三天沒睡，Rodrigo 的嘴唇又白又乾。
The morning sky was a pale white colour before the sun rose.
太陽升起前，清晨的天空呈現淺淺的白色。
Sari turned white with anger, but she did not raise her voice.
Sari 氣得臉色發白，但她沒有提高聲音。
- pale
the most common synonym; can be used for faces or colours
- ashen
greyish-white, usually from shock or illness
- colourless
lacking any colour at all
文法句型
be/go/turn + white
white + noun (shade)
用法筆記
When describing a person's face, white usually refers to a temporary paleness caused by emotion or health, not skin colour. 'Go white' and 'turn white' are common collocations for sudden changes.
常見錯誤
3. describing people whose skin is pale in colour, especially those whose family or
白種人的
與膚色較淺、歐洲血統的人有關
describing people whose skin is pale in colour, especially those whose family originally came from Europe, or things that are associated with such people
The town's population was mostly white before the factory opened.
這座小鎮在工廠開業前，居民大多是白人。
white as a demographic adjective
The school curriculum included stories from white authors and writers of colour alike.
學校課程同時收錄了白人作家和有色人種作家的作品。
Asher was the only white student in his Cantonese class.
Asher 是廣東話班上唯一的白人學生。
The survey explored how white voters in rural areas felt about the new policy.
這項調查探討了鄉村地區的白人選民對新政策的看法。
文法句型
white + noun (people/community/society)
用法筆記
This sense is widely used in social and demographic discussion but can be sensitive. In some contexts, it is considered too broad or outdated as a racial label. The attributive position is most common: white neighbourhood, white culture, white student. Avoid using it as a stand-alone noun to refer to a person — use 'white person' or 'white people' instead.
常見錯誤
4. used before the name of a hot drink to show that it has milk or cream added to i
加奶的
飲料中加了牛奶或奶油的
used before the name of a hot drink to show that it has milk or cream added to it — for example, white coffee, white tea, or white hot chocolate
Rohan always orders a large white coffee with one sugar in the morning.
Rohan 早上總是點一大杯加奶咖啡加一包糖。
white coffee — coffee with milk
Would you like white tea or green tea with your lunch?
你午餐要喝加奶的茶還是綠茶？
The café serves a white hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.
這家咖啡館提供的加奶熱巧克力上面擠了鮮奶油。
Hana asked for a white coffee but the waiter brought her an espresso.
Hana 點了加奶的咖啡，但服務生卻送來濃縮咖啡。
- with milk
descriptive phrase used in American English instead of 'white'
- black
for coffee or tea without milk
文法句型
white + drink noun
用法筆記
Primarily British usage. In American English, people say 'coffee with milk' or 'coffee with cream' rather than 'white coffee.' 'White tea' refers to a lightly processed tea, not necessarily tea with milk.
常見錯誤
5. describing a surface, like a piece of paper, a board, or a wall, that is complet
空白的
上面沒有寫字或印東西的
describing a surface, like a piece of paper, a board, or a wall, that is completely empty — there are no words, drawings, or marks of any kind on it
Theo stared at the white page, unable to start his essay.
Theo 盯著空白的紙頁，無法開始寫作文。
white page — empty writing surface
The teacher wrote the maths problem on the white board at the front of the class.
老師在教室前方的白板上寫下數學題目。
All the white spaces on the form must be filled in with a black pen.
表格上的所有空白處都必須用黑筆填寫。
The artist began with a white canvas and a small tube of red paint.
藝術家從空白的畫布和一小管紅色顏料開始創作。
文法句型
white + noun (paper/surface)
be + white
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with 'blank' but is less common. 'Blank' (white/5 can be used interchangeably with 'blank paper' but is more literal — it refers to the visual appearance of emptiness.
6. relating to white people as a racial or ethnic group, especially in political or
白人政治的
與白人群體的政治取向或利益有關
relating to white people as a racial or ethnic group, especially in political or social contexts
The candidate focused on winning the white vote in the southern states.
這位候選人將重點放在爭取南方各州的白人選票。
white vote — political demographic
Some historians argue that white backlash shaped American politics in the 1960s.
一些歷史學家認為白人反撲塑造了 1960 年代的美國政治。
Anya wrote a research paper on the rise of white nationalism in Europe.
Anya 寫了一篇關於歐洲白人民族主義崛起的研究論文。
The newspaper described the region as a stronghold of white working-class conservatism.
該報將這個地區描述為白人勞工階級保守主義的大本營。
- conservative
broader political label; not tied to race
- reactionary
strongly opposed to social or political change — more extreme
- progressive
favouring social reform and change
- liberal
supporting individual rights and social equality
文法句型
white + noun (party/voter/policy)
用法筆記
In political contexts, white is often used in compound terms (white vote, white working class, white nationalism). These terms are not neutral descriptions — they carry strong ideological weight. The simple 'white party' is rarely used.
7. describing something or someone that is morally pure, uncorrupted by evil or wro
純潔的
道德上純淨無邪、未受污染的
describing something or someone that is morally pure, uncorrupted by evil or wrongdoing — used in religious, poetic, or symbolic language
The bride wore white as a symbol of her pure intentions.
新娘身穿白色禮服，象徵她純潔的心意。
white for symbolic purity
In many cultures, white represents goodness, light, and truth.
在許多文化中，白色代表良善、光明和真理。
The old poem described a white knight who rescued the village from darkness.
這首古老的詩描述了一位白馬騎士從黑暗中拯救村莊。
Ingrid believed that children are born with white souls, untouched by the world's cruelty.
Ingrid 相信孩子們出生時擁有純潔的靈魂，未受世間殘酷所玷污。
文法句型
white + noun (soul/knight/dress)
be + white
用法筆記
This sense is almost always figurative or symbolic. It appears in fixed phrases like 'white magic' (used for good), 'white knight' (someone who rescues others), and 'white lie' (a harmless falsehood). Outside of these expressions, the sense can sound old-fashioned or overly poetic in everyday speech.
white — 名詞
1. the lightest colour there is — the same colour as snow, milk, or paper, opposite
白色
像雪或牛奶的顏色
the lightest colour there is — the same colour as snow, milk, or paper, opposite of black on the lightness scale
The bride chose white for her wedding because it symbolises purity.
新娘選擇白色，因為它象徵純潔。
choose white — selecting a colour
In the painting, the artist used white to make the other colours stand out.
在這幅畫中，藝術家利用白色來襯托出其他顏色。
The bedrooms were all decorated in white with a few blue cushions.
臥室全部用白色裝飾，配上幾個藍色靠墊。
The white of the snow was so bright that Jenna had to wear sunglasses.
雪的白光亮得刺眼，Jenna 只好戴上太陽眼鏡。
Anya painted the fence a clean white that matched the house.
Anya 把圍籬漆成乾淨的白色，與房子相配。
- purity
symbolic association rather than a direct synonym
- black
the opposite colour on the lightness scale
文法句型
the white of + noun
in white
a white
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun, white refers to the colour in general. As a countable noun (a white), it refers to a particular shade or type of white: 'The wall was painted a warm white.'
常見錯誤
2. the clear, jelly-like substance inside an egg that surrounds the yellow yolk; wh
蛋白
蛋煮熟後變成白色的部分
the clear, jelly-like substance inside an egg that surrounds the yellow yolk; when you cook it, this substance turns solid and becomes white in colour
Theo separated the whites from the yolks to make a light sponge cake.
Theo 把蛋白和蛋黃分開，準備做輕盈的蛋糕。
separate the whites — cooking technique
Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks for the meringue.
將蛋白打至軟性發泡，用來做蛋白霜。
beat / whisk egg whites
The recipe requires three egg whites and one whole egg.
食譜需要三個蛋白和一個全蛋。
Rodrigo whisked the whites into a light foam for the soufflé.
Rodrigo 把蛋白打發成輕盈的泡沫，準備做舒芙蕾。
- yolk
the yellow part of the egg
文法句型
egg white
whites of + number + eggs
用法筆記
In cooking contexts, 'the white' (uncountable) refers to the substance collectively, while 'whites' (countable plural) refers to the whites from multiple eggs. 'Egg white' is commonly used as a compound noun.
常見錯誤
3. the hard, white outer layer that covers the eyeball, surrounding the coloured ce
眼白
眼球周圍白色的部分
the hard, white outer layer that covers the eyeball, surrounding the coloured central part
Imani could see the red veins in the whites of the old man's eyes.
Imani 看到老人眼白上的紅色血絲。
the whites of someone's eyes
The doctor asked Sari to look up so he could check the whites of her eyes.
醫生要 Sari 往上看，以便檢查她的眼白。
When the baby cried, the whites of his eyes turned pink.
嬰兒哭的時候，他的眼白變成了粉紅色。
The whites of Ingrid's eyes were yellow, so the doctor ran some tests.
Ingrid 的眼白發黃，醫生於是進行了一些檢查。
- sclera
the medical term, not used in everyday English
文法句型
the whites of + possessive + eyes
用法筆記
The plural form 'whites' is much more common than the singular. The phrase 'the whites of someone's eyes' is a fixed expression. Yellow whites can be a sign of liver problems.
4. a type of wine that is pale yellow or greenish-yellow in colour, rather than red
白酒
顏色淡黃的葡萄酒
a type of wine that is pale yellow or greenish-yellow in colour, rather than red, usually served cold
Asher brought a bottle of chilled white to the dinner party.
Asher 帶了一瓶冰白酒去參加晚宴。
chilled white — white wine served cold
The restaurant recommends a crisp white to go with the fish dishes.
餐廳推薦一款清爽的白酒來搭配魚料理。
Would you like red or white with your pasta?
你的義大利麵要配紅酒還是白酒？
Hana prefers a dry white over sweet wines for everyday drinking.
Hana 平時比較喜歡不甜的白酒，勝過甜酒。
- red
red wine — the main alternative colour of wine
文法句型
a white
red or white
a glass of white
用法筆記
Common shortened form of 'white wine.' The full form 'white wine' is preferred in formal or restaurant contexts. The word 'white' alone is informal but very common in questions like 'Red or white?'
5. a person whose skin is light in colour, especially someone whose family original
白人
膚色較淺、歐洲血統的人
a person whose skin is light in colour, especially someone whose family originally came from Europe
The school enrolled students from all backgrounds, including whites and Asians.
這所學校招收各種背景的學生，包括白人和亞洲人。
whites as a demographic noun
In the 1960s, many whites moved out of the city to the suburbs.
在 1960 年代，許多白人從城市搬到郊區。
The survey compared the incomes of whites and other ethnic groups in the region.
這項調查比較了該地區白人與其他族群的收入。
The neighbourhood was mostly made up of middle-class whites and Latinos.
這個社區主要由中產階級的白人和拉丁裔居民組成。
- white person
the adjective + noun form, generally preferred over the noun alone
文法句型
whites and + other groups
用法筆記
Using 'white' as a noun to refer to a person (e.g., 'a white') can be considered insensitive or overly reductive. The adjective form ('white people', 'a white person') is generally more respectful. The noun form is most commonly used in plural for demographic or statistical contexts.
常見錯誤
6. clothing or fabric that is white in colour, considered as a separate group from
白色衣物
白色的衣服或布料
clothing or fabric that is white in colour, considered as a separate group from coloured or dark items
Élise separated the whites from the dark clothes before putting them in the washing machine.
Élise 在把衣服放進洗衣機前，先把白色衣物和深色衣物分開。
separate the whites — laundry sorting
The tennis club requires all players to wear whites on the court.
網球俱樂部要求所有球員在球場上穿著白色服裝。
wear whites — sports dress code
Anya packed her whites in a separate bag so they would not stain.
Anya 把她的白色衣物另外裝袋，以免染色。
The hotel laundry service washed the whites with bleach to keep them bright.
飯店的洗衣服務用漂白水洗白色衣物，以保持亮白。
文法句型
wash the whites
wear whites
用法筆記
This noun is always plural. It is used in two main contexts: laundry (sorting whites from colours) and sports (where certain sports like tennis and cricket require white clothing as uniform).
常見錯誤
white — 動詞
1. to turn something a white colour, or to give it a paler appearance than before,
使變白
用化學方法或塗料使某物變成白色
to turn something a white colour, or to give it a paler appearance than before, often by using a chemical such as bleach or a special dental treatment
The dentist recommended a special gel to white her teeth.
牙醫推薦一種特殊的凝膠來美白她的牙齒。
white teeth — cosmetic dental treatment
Some people use bleach to white their clothes at home.
有些人會在家裡用漂白水漂白衣物。
white + clothes — laundry use
The sun had whitened the old wooden boards on the deck over the years.
多年來，陽光把陽台上的舊木板曬白了。
Jenna whitened the walls with a fresh coat of paint before moving in.
Jenna 在搬進去之前，用新油漆把牆壁刷白了。
- blacken
to make something black or darker
文法句型
white + object
be whitened
用法筆記
This verb is relatively rare in modern English. The more common form is 'whiten' (with the -en suffix). 'To white' something focuses on the result, while 'to whiten' emphasises the process. Both are interchangeable.