Analogy 指透過比較相似性來說明概念或關係的一種方法。
比較說明
EN: A comparison between two things to explain or clarify an idea.
翻譯: 為解釋或闡明一個概念，對兩件事物進行的比較。
相似關係
EN: A similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.
翻譯: 在不同事物之間，某些方面的相似關係。
邏輯推理
EN: A form of reasoning based on the assumption that if things agree in some ways, they will agree in others.
翻譯: 一種基於「若事物在某些方面一致，則在其他方面也會一致」假設的推理形式。
語言修辭
EN: The use of a familiar or simpler thing as a model to understand a more complex one.
翻譯: 使用熟悉或簡單的事物作為模型，來理解更複雜的事物。
小提醒：Analogy 是為了說明，而非證明。它指出相似性，但不代表兩件事物完全相同或必然有因果關係。
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Real-life Examples of "Analogy" from YouTube Videos
Sheikha Al Mayassa: Globalizing the local, localizing the global
TED
“In fact, research has shown that the more the world is flat- if I use Tom Friedman's analogy- or global, the more and more people are wanting to be different And, for us, young people, they're looking to become individuals and find their differences amongst themselves, Which is why I prefer the Richard Wilk analogy of globalizing the local and localizing the global.”
1. a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification
類比，比喻；為解釋或說明而對兩事物進行的比較
He used the analogy of a family to describe the company's structure.
他用家庭來類比，描述公司的組織結構。
The teacher drew an analogy between the human heart and a pump.
老師將人類的心臟和水泵進行類比。
2. a correspondence or partial similarity between two things on which a comparison may be based
相似性，可比性；兩事物間可供比較的對應關係或部分相似之處
There is a clear analogy between the rules of grammar and the rules of mathematics.
文法規則和數學規則之間存在明顯的相似性。
We can see an analogy in how both systems handle errors.
我們可以看到兩個系統在處理錯誤方式上的可比性。
3. a process of reasoning based on such similarity or comparison
類推，類比推理；基於相似性或比較的推理過程
Her argument was built by analogy to a previous court case.
她的論點是透過類推先前的一個法庭案例而建立的。
We can make an analogy from past economic trends to predict future outcomes.
我們可以從過去的經濟趨勢進行類推，以預測未來的結果。
4. a thing which is comparable to something else in significant respects
類似的事物；在重要方面可與他物相比擬的事物
The modern smartphone is a direct analogy to the Swiss Army knife.
現代智慧型手機可直接類比為瑞士軍刀。
She presented several historical analogies to the current political situation.
她提出了幾個與當前政治局勢類似的歷史事例。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| analogy + between + A + and + B | A與B之間的類比 | He drew an analogy between the human heart and a pump. (他將人類的心臟和水泵做了類比。) |
| analogy + with + something | 與某事物的類比 | The teacher used an analogy with a car engine to explain the process. (老師用汽車引擎做類比來解釋這個過程。) |
| by analogy (with/to) | 透過類比（與…） | We can understand this new concept by analogy with a familiar one. (我們可以透過與熟悉概念的類比來理解這個新概念。) |
| make/draw an analogy | 做一個類比 | The author makes an analogy between society and a living organism. (作者將社會與一個活的有機體做了類比。) |
| on the analogy of something | 根據某事物的類比 | The word was formed on the analogy of older terms. (這個詞是根據較舊的術語類比創造的。) |
EN:The analogy of navigating a ship is often used to describe managing a company.
翻譯:駕駛船隻的類比常被用來描述管理公司。
在大多數情況下，analogy to + V 和 analogy of + V-ing 的區別非常細微，可依語感選擇，但若強調「為了說明目的」可用前者，強調「過程比擬」則可用後者。
analogy vs metaphor
Analogy（類比）是透過結構或關係的相似性來解釋概念；Metaphor（隱喻）則是直接將一物描述為另一物，不點明相似性。
analogy vs similarity
Analogy（類比）強調的是兩個不同事物之間關係或結構的對應；Similarity（相似性）僅指特徵或外觀上的相像。
analogy vs comparison
Analogy（類比）是比較的一種特殊形式，專注於不同領域事物間關係的對應；Comparison（比較）則泛指找出事物間的異同。
在對話中，當你轉述或引用他人用過的比喻時，常用 "analogy" 來開頭。 EN: So, to use your analogy, it's like trying to build a house without a foundation. 翻譯: 所以，用你的比喻來說，這就像試圖在沒有地基的情況下蓋房子。
EN:He made an analogy about the brain being a computer, which I thought was helpful.
翻譯:他做了一個大腦像電腦的比喻，我覺得很有幫助。
在解釋複雜概念時，用 "analogy" 來強調你正在使用一個簡化的、易於理解的對照，以加強說服力或清晰度。 EN: Let me give you a simple analogy to explain how this works. 翻譯: 讓我給你一個簡單的比喻來解釋這是如何運作的。
EN:That's not a perfect analogy, but it gets the point across.
翻譯:這不是一個完美的比喻，但它說明了重點。
在組織思緒或尋找合適詞語時，"analogy" 可以用作短暫的停頓填充詞，引導出接下來的比喻性說明。 EN: It's kind of... an analogy would be... watching paint dry. 翻譯: 這有點像是…打個比方的話…就像看著油漆變乾一樣。
EN:How do I put this? Think of it as an analogy for life itself.
翻譯:我該怎麼說呢？把它想成是對生活本身的一個比喻。
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式商業文件中，應謹慎使用口語中常見的 "kind of an analogy" 或 "like an analogy" 這類非正式引入方式。建議使用更直接的表述，例如 "This can be analogized to..." 或 "An apt analogy is..."，以保持語氣的嚴謹與精確。
draw an analogy
draw an analogy between A and B
在A和B之間進行類比
use an analogy
use an analogy to explain/describe something
使用類比來解釋/描述某事
a close analogy
a close/apt/perfect analogy
一個貼切的類比
extend the analogy
extend/push the analogy further
延伸這個類比
the analogy breaks down
the analogy breaks down/fails
這個類比不成立/失效
by analogy
by analogy (with something)
通過類比（與某事物）
a false analogy
a false/misleading analogy
一個錯誤的/誤導性的類比
×He made an analogy between the brain and a computer.
✓He drew an analogy between the brain and a computer.
在英文中，與 analogy 搭配的常見動詞是 "draw" 或 "make"，但 "draw an analogy" 是更自然、更常用的搭配。"Make an analogy" 雖然文法上沒錯，但較不自然。
×The analogy of life is like a journey is common.
✓The analogy of life as a journey is common.
表達「將A類比為B」時，正確的介系詞是 "as"，而不是 "like"。"Like" 多用於簡單的比較，而 "analogy" 作為一個正式的修辭或邏輯概念，後面接 "as" 來引出具體的比喻對象。
×I don't understand this analogy. Can you give me an example?
✓I don't understand this analogy. Can you give me an illustration? / Can you explain it further?
Analogy 本身就是一種透過比較來說明的「例子」或「比喻」。要求對一個 analogy 再給出一個 "example" 在邏輯上不精確。更好的說法是請對方 "illustrate"（闡明）這個類比，或直接要求進一步解釋。
×There are many analogies in these two theories.
✓There are many parallels between these two theories.
"Analogy" 指的是一個具體的比喻或類比說法。當想表達兩個事物之間存在多處「相似之處」或「對應關係」時，應該使用 "parallels" 或 "similarities"。使用 "analogies" 的複數形式在此情境下不自然。
×His argument was based on a weak analogy.
✓His argument relied on a weak analogy.
雖然 "base on" 和 "rely on" 意思相近，但在描述論點「依賴」或「建立在」某種類比上時，"rely on" 或 "rest on" 是更地道、更常用的搭配。"Based on" 在此處語意較不精準。