Improve Your Vocabulary: Part 1

Today, let's talk about the form of a word.

今天，讓我們來談談單字的形態。

In the coming weeks, we will talk about meaning and usage.

在接下來的幾週裡，我們將討論意義和用法。

The form of a word can relate to how it sounds, is written, and what its parts are.

單字的形態可能涉及它的發音、書寫方式以及構成部分。

Knowing the sounds of a word includes recognizing it when it is spoken and being able to say it correctly.

了解單字的發音包括能辨識它被說出來時的聲音，並能正確地發音。

This includes the individual sounds and also how the sounds may change when people are saying the word quickly.

這包含個別的聲音，以及當人們快速說出該單字時聲音可能發生的變化。

For example, it's nice to meet you.

例如，很高興認識你。

When some people say this sentence at a natural speed, they might make a ch sound at the end of the word meet and the beginning of the word you, although the words' spellings do not suggest this.

當有些人以自然的速度說出這句話時，他們可能會在 meet 這個單字的結尾和 you 這個單字的開頭發出 ch 的音，儘管這兩個單字的拼寫並未暗示這一點。

This sound change does not affect the meaning of the words, but it might cause you trouble when you are trying to understand the sentence.

這種發音變化並不影響單字的意義，但可能會在您試圖理解這句話時造成困擾。

In English, stress is important to the sound of a word, and it can even decide whether a word is a noun or a verb.

在英語中，重音對單字的發音很重要，甚至能決定一個單字是名詞還是動詞。

For example, the word spelled R E C O R D can be thought of as two words.

例如，拼寫為 R E C O R D 的單字可以視為兩個不同的單字。

When we stress the first part of the word record, it is a noun.

當我們強調 record 這個單字的第一部分時，它是名詞。

When we stress the second part of the word record, it is a verb.

當我們強調 record 這個單字的第二部分時，它是動詞。

What appears to be one word is really two parts of speech.

看似一個單字的東西，其實是兩種詞性。

This is part of knowing what form a word takes.

這是了解單字形態的一部分。

The form of a word also involves its parts.

單字的形態也涉及它的構詞部分。

It is important to recognize the root word in addition to prefixes or suffixes.

除了前綴或後綴外，識別詞根非常重要。

These are added beginnings or endings which change the meaning of the word's root.

這些是添加在開頭或結尾的部分，用以改變單字詞根的意義。

For example, knowing that the word addition includes recognizing the verb to add plus the suffix tion, which suggests a state or an action.

例如，知道 addition 這個單字包含動詞 add 加上後綴 tion，這表示一種狀態或動作。

Knowing the word untrue includes recognizing the base word true and the prefix un, which means not.

知道 untrue 這個單字包含基礎單字 true 和前綴 un，un 的意思是「不」。

When we look at English words in this way, we can see that our vocabulary expands by understanding a word's form.

當我們以這種方式檢視英語單字時，我們可以發現透過理解單字的形態，我們的詞彙量得以擴展。

As we saw in the word record, the same word can work as two parts of speech.

正如我們在 record 這個單字中所見，同一個單字可以作為兩種詞性使用。

VOA fans, the best way to improve your vocabulary is to really know a word, its form, meaning and usage, not just a definition.

美國之音的粉絲們，提升詞彙量最好的方法是真正掌握一個單字，包括它的形態、意義和用法，而不僅僅是定義。

Do you have a question about American English?

您有關於美式英語的問題嗎？

Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews. Com.

請將電子郵件寄至 learningenglish@voanews.com。

And that's ask a teacher.

以上就是「問老師」。

I'm Gina Bennett.

我是吉娜·班奈特。