1. to find something or someone for the first time
首次發現（某物或某人）
Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.
克里斯多福·哥倫布於1492年發現了美洲。
Scientists have discovered a new species of fish in the deep ocean.
科學家在深海發現了一種新的魚類。
Discover Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
discover
verb
快速理解
What does "Discover" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Discover"?
指首次找到、看見、得知或意識到某事物。
- 1
發現（未知事物）
EN: to find something or someone that was previously unknown or hidden.
翻譯: 指找到先前未知或隱藏的事物或人。
- 2
發現（事實、資訊）
EN: to find out information, a fact, or the truth about something.
翻譯: 指得知某事的資訊、事實或真相。
- 3
發覺（自身特質）
EN: to realize or learn about a quality, ability, or interest that you have.
翻譯: 指意識到或了解到自己擁有的某種特質、能力或興趣。
- 4
首次接觸（新事物）
EN: to be the first person to find, visit, or experience something new.
翻譯: 指成為第一個找到、造訪或體驗到某種新事物的人。
小提醒：注意：'discover' 通常指發現原本就存在但未被知曉的事物，而非發明或創造全新事物。
發音（How to Pronounce "Discover" in English）
How to pronounce "Discover" in English?"Discover" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Discover" from YouTube Videos
Nina Tandon: Could tissue engineering mean personalized medicine?
TED
“So with disease models like these, we can fight back faster than ever before and understand the disease better than ever before, and maybe discover drugs even faster.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Discover"?How does "Discover" change by context?
2. to find out information, a fact, or the truth about something
發現（資訊、事實或真相）
I was shocked to discover that he had been lying to me.
我震驚地發現他一直在對我說謊。
The police are trying to discover what caused the accident.
警方正試圖查明事故的原因。
3. to realize that you have a particular ability, interest, or quality
發覺（自己擁有某種能力、興趣或特質）
She discovered a talent for painting during the art class.
她在美術課上發覺了自己有繪畫的天賦。
He discovered that he enjoyed hiking after his first trip to the mountains.
在第一次去爬山之後，他發覺自己很喜歡健行。
4. to be the first person to find and explore a place
（首次）探索發現（某地）
The expedition aimed to discover uncharted islands in the Pacific.
這次探險旨在發現太平洋上未標明的地圖的島嶼。
Early explorers risked their lives to discover new lands.
早期的探險家冒著生命危險去發現新的土地。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Discover"?How to make natural sentences with "Discover"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| discover + noun | 發現（某事物） | Scientists discovered a new species in the rainforest. (科學家在雨林裡發現了一個新物種。) |
| discover + that clause | 發現（某個事實） | She discovered that the letter had been opened. (她發現那封信已經被打開了。) |
| discover + wh- clause (what/who/how, etc.) | 發現（什麼/誰/如何等） | We need to discover what caused the problem. (我們需要找出問題的成因。) |
| discover + noun + V-ing | 發現（某人/某物）正在做某事 | I discovered him reading my diary. (我發現他正在看我的日記。) |
| be discovered + prepositional phrase | 被發現（處於某種狀態或地點） | The ancient city was discovered beneath the sand. (那座古城在沙土下被發現。) |
| discover + noun + to be + adjective/noun | 發現（某人/某物）是… | They discovered the witness to be unreliable. (他們發現證人不可靠。) |
用法說明
How is "Discover" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Discover"?
discover doing vs discover to do
- discover doing 用於描述「發現某人或某物正在進行某個動作」或「發現某個事實或狀態」。這裡的 doing 是動名詞 (gerund)，作為動詞 discover 的受詞。
- discover to do 在標準英語中幾乎不使用。Discover 通常不直接接不定詞 (to + V) 來表示發現的動作。
- 若要表達「發現如何做某事」或「發現做某事的方法」，應使用 discover how to do。
- 若要表達「發現有必要或必須做某事」，則會使用 discover (that) one needs/must/has to do 等從句結構。 EN: The police discovered him hiding in the attic. 翻譯: 警方發現他躲在閣樓裡。
EN:Scientists discovered the drug to be effective.
翻譯:科學家發現這種藥物是有效的。
總結建議
使用 discover (someone/something) doing 來表示發現正在進行的動作，而應避免直接使用 discover to do，改以 discover how to do 或 discover that... 等結構來表達相關概念。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Discover" and similar words?How to choose "Discover" vs alternatives?
discover vs find
「discover」強調首次發現未知或隱藏的事物，帶有意外或探索的意味；「find」則泛指找到或發現任何事物，過程可能是有意或無意的。
discover vs invent
「discover」指發現原本已存在但未知的事物；「invent」則是創造出全新的、原本不存在的事物。
discover vs uncover
兩者都有「發現」之意，但「uncover」更強調主動揭露、揭開隱藏或秘密的事物。
口語用法
How is "Discover" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Discover"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述自己或他人發現某事的時刻。 EN: So I open the box and discover it's completely empty. 翻譯: 於是我打開盒子，才發現裡面完全是空的。
EN:She was like, "I can't believe I discovered this place by accident!"
翻譯:她就說：「真不敢相信我是偶然發現這個地方的！」
語氣強調
常與「just」、「actually」、「finally」等副詞連用，強調發現的即時性、意外感或歷程。 EN: I just discovered the best noodle shop around the corner. 翻譯: 我剛剛才發現轉角那家超棒的麵店。
EN:We finally discovered what was causing that weird noise.
翻譯:我們終於發現是甚麼造成那怪聲了。
停頓填充
在講述故事或思考時，可用 "and then I discovered..." 作為自然的停頓或轉折。 EN: I was going through my old emails, and then I discovered... the invitation from last year. 翻譯: 我正在翻看舊郵件，然後發現了... 去年那封邀請函。
EN:The whole plan seemed perfect. Until we discovered... well, you know what happened next.
翻譯:整個計畫看似完美。直到我們發現... 嗯，你知道後來怎麼了。
注意：在正式寫作（如報告、論文）中，應避免使用上述口語化的停頓或引述句式，建議改用更直接、結構完整的陳述，例如 "It was subsequently found that..." 或 "The investigation revealed that..."。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Discover"?What fixed phrases with "Discover" should I remember?
discover that
discover that + clause
發現（某個事實或情況）
discover the truth
discover + noun phrase
發現真相
discover by accident
discover + by accident
偶然發現
discover a cure
discover + a/the + noun
發現療法/解藥
discover for oneself
discover + for oneself
親自發現；親身體會
discover to one's surprise
discover to one's + emotion noun
驚訝地發現
discover the hard way
discover + the hard way
透過艱難或痛苦的經歷才明白
discover a passion
discover + a + noun (for)
發掘出（對某事的）熱情
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Discover"?Which "Discover" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I discovered a new restaurant yesterday.
✓I found a new restaurant yesterday.
在中文裡，「發現」常用於指找到原本存在但不為人知的事物（如科學發現、秘密）。但在英文中，'discover' 通常不用於日常找到地點或物品（如餐廳、鑰匙），這種情況更常用 'find'。'Discover' 強調的是首次知道或找到某個重要、不為人知的事物。
×I am discovering the truth.
✓I am finding out the truth.
'Discover' 通常被視為一個「瞬間動詞」，表示發現的動作在短時間內完成，不適合用進行式。當想表達「正在逐步查明、找出」的過程時，應使用 'find out' 或 'figure out' 的進行式。
×I discovered to solve the problem.
✓I discovered how to solve the problem.
'Discover' 後面不能直接接不定詞 'to do' 作為受詞。它通常接名詞、名詞子句（that...）、或疑問詞（how, what, where, why 等）引導的子句。
×Columbus discovered America in 1492. (in a context acknowledging indigenous peoples)
✓Columbus arrived in / came to America in 1492.
從歷史角度來看，美洲原住民早已居住在那片土地上，因此用 'discovered'（發現無人知曉之地）並不準確，可能被視為帶有殖民主義色彩。在需要客觀或敏感表述時，應使用更中性的動詞如 'arrived in' 或 'came to'。這是一個關於用詞文化敏感性的常見錯誤。
×I want to discover more about this city.
✓I want to explore / learn more about this city.
雖然 'discover' 有「瞭解、認識」的含義，但用於表達主動去「探索、瞭解」一個已知存在的地方或主題時，'explore'（探索實地）或 'learn about'（學習知識）是更自然、更常用的選擇。'Discover' 更側重於「偶然或經過搜尋後首次獲知」的結果。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Discover"?What are tense/participle forms of "Discover"?
discovers(3rd_singular)discovering(present_participle)discovered(past)discovered(past_participle)