1. to take in a liquid, gas, or other substance
吸收(液體、氣體或其他物質)
The sponge quickly absorbed the spilled water.
海綿迅速吸收了灑出來的水。
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
植物從空氣中吸收二氧化碳。
「absorb」主要指物理上的吸收或精神上的專注理解。
物理吸收
EN: to take in a liquid, gas, or other substance
翻譯: 吸收液體、氣體或其他物質
理解資訊
EN: to understand and remember information
翻譯: 理解並記住資訊
吸引注意力
EN: to hold someone's attention completely
翻譯: 完全吸引某人的注意力
承受衝擊
EN: to reduce the effect of an impact or shock
翻譯: 減輕衝擊或震動的影響
小提醒:注意「absorb」在物理吸收(如海綿吸水)與抽象吸收(如吸收知識)的用法差異,後者常與抽象名詞連用。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Absorb" from YouTube Videos
Different ways of knowing | Daniel Tammet
TED
“It stands to reason that we, existing in this world, should, in the course of our lives, absorb intuitively those relationships, And poets, like other artists, play with those intuitive understandings.”
1. to take in a liquid, gas, or other substance
吸收(液體、氣體或其他物質)
The sponge quickly absorbed the spilled water.
海綿迅速吸收了灑出來的水。
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
植物從空氣中吸收二氧化碳。
2. to take in and understand information or ideas
理解,掌握(資訊或想法)
It's hard to absorb so much new information in one lecture.
很難在一次講座中就掌握這麼多新資訊。
She needs time to absorb the details of the report.
她需要時間來理解報告的細節。
3. to take up someone's attention, time, or resources completely
耗盡,佔用(注意力、時間或資源)
The new project will absorb most of our team's energy this month.
這個新專案將耗盡我們團隊這個月大部分的精力。
Her work absorbs her completely, leaving little time for hobbies.
她的工作完全佔用了她,幾乎沒時間從事嗜好。
4. to reduce the effect of a physical force, shock, or change
緩衝,減輕(衝擊或變化)
The car's suspension is designed to absorb shocks from the road.
這輛車的懸吊系統是為了緩衝來自路面的震動而設計的。
The company had to absorb the increased costs.
公司不得不自行吸收增加的成本。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| absorb + [noun] | 吸收(液體、氣體等) | The sponge quickly **absorbed** the spilled water. (海綿迅速**吸收**了灑出來的水。) |
| absorb + [noun] | 理解、掌握(資訊、知識) | It's hard to **absorb** so much new information at once. (很難一次**吸收**這麼多新資訊。) |
| be absorbed in + [noun/gerund] | 全神貫注於… | She was completely **absorbed in** her book. (她完全**沉浸**在她的書中。) |
| absorb + [noun] + into + [noun] | 將…併入、融入… | The small company was **absorbed into** a larger corporation. (這家小公司被**併入**一家更大的企業。) |
| absorb + [noun] | 承受、應對(衝擊、成本等) | The company will **absorb** all the additional costs. (公司將**承擔**所有額外費用。) |
EN:Plants absorb water in order to grow.
翻譯:植物吸收水分是為了生長。
對於動詞 "absorb",應避免使用 "absorb to do" 結構,改用 "absorb in order to do" 或重新組織句子來表達目的。
absorb vs adsorb
absorb 指物質被吸入內部並融合;adsorb 指物質附著在表面,未進入內部。
absorb vs assimilate
absorb 強調接收與容納;assimilate 強調消化、理解並轉化為自身一部分。
absorb vs soak up
absorb 較正式通用;soak up 較口語化,常比喻盡情享受或吸取。
在轉述他人話語或想法時,用來表示「理解並接受」或「消化資訊」。 EN: When I told her the news, she just absorbed it quietly and said she needed time to think. 翻譯: 當我告訴她這個消息時,她只是靜靜地吸收了,然後說她需要時間想想。
EN:He's trying to absorb all the feedback from the meeting before making a decision.
翻譯:他正試著吸收會議中的所有回饋,然後再做決定。
用於強調「完全接納、承受或融入」的狀態,常與「完全」、「全部」等副詞連用。 EN: The team was completely absorbed in the project and lost track of time. 翻譯: 團隊完全沉浸在這個專案裡,都忘了時間。
EN:This new material can literally absorb all the sound in the room.
翻譯:這種新材質真的可以吸收房間裡所有的聲音。
在思考如何表達時,作為暫時的停頓用詞,引出後續更詳細的說明。 EN: The course is designed to... absorb... the key concepts first, then apply them. 翻譯: 這門課程的設計是要…吸收…關鍵概念,然後再應用它們。
EN:We need a plan that can absorb—you know—any unexpected changes in the market.
翻譯:我們需要一個能夠吸收—你知道的—市場上任何意外變化的計畫。
正式寫作注意:在正式或學術寫作中,應避免將 "absorb" 用於口語填充或過於隱喻性的口語表達(如「吸收一下這個想法」)。建議使用更精確的詞彙,如 "comprehend", "integrate", "assimilate", 或 "accommodate"。
absorb the cost
absorb + [cost/expense]
承擔費用
absorb information
absorb + [information/knowledge]
吸收資訊
absorb the impact
absorb + [impact/shock/blow]
緩衝衝擊
be absorbed into
be absorbed into + [organization/group]
被併入,融入
absorb light
absorb + [light/heat/energy]
吸收光線
absorb someone's attention
absorb + [attention/interest]
吸引某人的注意力
absorb a loss
absorb + [loss]
承受損失
×The company will absorb the cost for the new project.
✓The company will absorb the cost of the new project.
使用 'absorb the cost of something' 是固定搭配,介系詞用 'of' 而非 'for'。
×I need to absorb all these informations.
✓I need to absorb all this information.
'Information' 是不可數名詞,沒有複數形式,不能加 's'。搭配的指示詞應為 'this' 或 'that',而非 'these'。
×She was absorbed by the book.
✓She was absorbed in the book.
表達「專注於、沉浸於」某事物時,應使用被動語態 'be absorbed in something',介系詞是 'in',而非 'by'。'By' 通常用於被動語態中引出動作執行者。
×This material can absorb many water.
✓This material can absorb a lot of water.
'Water' 是不可數名詞,不能用 'many' 修飾。表示「大量」時,應使用 'a lot of'、'much' 或 'a great deal of'。
×The company plans to absorb its competitor.
✓The company plans to acquire / take over its competitor.
在商業情境中,'absorb' 通常指合併後整合資源或文化,較少直接用於指「收購」這個動作本身。表達「收購、接管」公司時,更常用 'acquire' 或 'take over'。使用 'absorb' 時,語意焦點在合併後的融合。
×I absorbed the knowledge from the teacher.
✓I absorbed the knowledge the teacher imparted. / I learned from the teacher.
雖然 'absorb' 有「吸收知識」的比喻用法,但直接搭配 'from someone' 略顯不自然。更地道的說法是將來源作為上下文(如 'from the lecture'),或使用 'learn from'。'Absorb' 更強調主動消化理解,而非單純接收。