1. to fail or collapse, especially of a plan or business
（計劃、事業等）失敗，垮掉
The ambitious project foundered due to a lack of funding.
這個雄心勃勃的計畫因資金不足而失敗了。
Without strong leadership, the company quickly foundered.
缺乏強有力的領導，公司很快就垮掉了。
Founder Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
founder
verb
快速理解
What does "Founder" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Founder"?
「founder」作為動詞，主要指企業或計畫的創立，以及船隻因進水或觸礁而沉沒。
- 1
創立（組織、公司）
EN: to establish an organization, company, or institution
翻譯: 創立組織、公司或機構
- 2
（計畫、事業）失敗
EN: to fail or collapse after a promising start
翻譯: （計畫或事業）在看似有良好開端後失敗或崩潰
- 3
（船隻）沉沒
EN: to sink, especially due to filling with water or striking a reef
翻譯: （船隻）沉沒，尤指因進水或觸礁
小提醒：注意「founder」作動詞時，與名詞「founder」（創辦人）發音相同但意思不同。動詞常指「失敗」或「沉沒」，帶有負面含義，與「establish」的正面意義形成對比。
發音（How to Pronounce "Founder" in English）
How to pronounce "Founder" in English?"Founder" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Founder" from YouTube Videos
The Biggest Mistakes First-Time Founders Make - Michael Seibel
Y Combinator
“there are exceptions to every rule, but in general, startups are so hard that it is nice to have a pre-existing relationship with your co-founder, just so you have a sense of whether you're going to be able to get through the hard times together, whether you can work well together.”
(1 out of 39)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Founder"?How does "Founder" change by context?
2. (of a ship) to fill with water and sink
（船隻）進水沉沒
The ship foundered after hitting a hidden reef.
那艘船撞上暗礁後進水沉沒了。
In the fierce storm, several vessels were in danger of foundering.
在猛烈的暴風雨中，好幾艘船都有沉沒的危險。
3. to stumble or fall, especially a horse
（尤指馬）絆倒，摔倒
The horse foundered on the rocky path and threw its rider.
馬在岩石小徑上絆倒，把騎手摔了下來。
The exhausted animal foundered and could not get back up.
那匹筋疲力盡的馬摔倒後無法再站起來。
4. to establish or originate (an institution, organization, etc.)
創立，創辦（機構、組織等）
He founded the company with just a small loan from his family.
他僅憑家人的一筆小額貸款創辦了這家公司。
The university was founded over two centuries ago.
這所大學創立於兩個多世紀前。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Founder"?How to make natural sentences with "Founder"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| founder + on + (something) | 因（某物）而失敗、擱淺 | The ship foundered on the rocks. (那艘船觸礁沉沒了。) |
| founder + as + (role/type) | 以…的身份失敗 | He foundered as a leader after the scandal. (醜聞後，他作為領導者徹底失敗了。) |
| (plan/idea) + founder | （計畫、想法）失敗、破滅 | Their ambitious project foundered due to lack of funding. (他們雄心勃勃的計畫因資金不足而失敗了。) |
| founder + under + (pressure/weight) | 在（壓力、重擔）下崩潰、垮掉 | The company foundered under the weight of its debts. (該公司在債務重壓下垮掉了。) |
用法說明
How is "Founder" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Founder"?
founder doing vs founder to do
- founder doing 通常描述一個具體、正在發生或習慣性的失敗或崩潰過程。
- founder to do 則較為少見，可能出現在表示「為了做某事而失敗」或「未能做到某事」的語境中，但通常不自然。
- 動詞 founder 本身常與 on 或 upon 連用，表示失敗的原因（如
founder on/upon something）。 - 最常見且自然的用法是 founder 作為不及物動詞，後面直接接原因或地點，或單獨使用。 EN: The company's ambitious project foundered due to lack of funding. 翻譯: 該公司的雄心勃勃計畫因資金不足而失敗了。
EN:The ship foundered on the hidden rocks during the storm.
翻譯:那艘船在暴風雨中因撞上暗礁而沉沒。
總結建議
建議將 founder 主要作為不及物動詞使用，搭配 on/upon 指出失敗原因，或單獨使用，避免使用 founder to do 這種不自然的結構。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Founder" and similar words?How to choose "Founder" vs alternatives?
founder vs establish
「founder」強調從無到有地創立一個組織或機構，通常指創始人親自參與的創建行為；「establish」則更廣泛，指建立、設立或使某事物穩固存在，可以是機構、制度、關係或事實。
founder vs create
「founder」特指創立一個持續運作的組織或機構；「create」含義最廣泛，指創造任何新的事物，可以是具體物件、抽象概念或藝術作品。
founder vs launch
「founder」指創立一個長久存在的組織實體；「launch」則指推出、發起一個產品、專案或活動，強調開始的動作。
口語用法
How is "Founder" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Founder"?
引述
在口語中，當轉述他人的話或想法時，常會用「founder」來簡潔地描述失敗或無法繼續的狀況。 EN: He said the whole plan would founder if we didn't get more funding. 翻譯: 他說如果我們拿不到更多資金，整個計畫就會失敗。
EN:I told her the partnership would founder over creative differences.
翻譯:我告訴她，這份合作關係會因為創意分歧而告吹。
語氣強調
在非正式對話中，可以用「founder」來強調某件事徹底失敗或陷入困境，語氣比「fail」更生動、更具畫面感。 EN: My attempt to bake a soufflé totally foundered—it collapsed the second I opened the oven. 翻譯: 我試著烤舒芙蕾完全失敗了—我一打開烤箱門它就塌了。
EN:Their relationship foundered after that huge argument about money.
翻譯:他們在為錢大吵一架後，關係就徹底破裂了。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，有時會用「founder」作為一個短暫的停頓點，引出後續的解釋或結果。 EN: The project was going well... then it just foundered, you know, when the lead developer left. 翻譯: 專案本來進行得很順利...然後就失敗了，你知道的，就在首席開發者離開的時候。
EN:We had big dreams for the startup, but... well, it foundered. The market just wasn't ready.
翻譯:我們對這間新創公司懷抱遠大夢想，但是...唉，它失敗了。市場根本還沒準備好。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將「founder」用於過於口語或比喻性的情境。建議使用更精確的詞彙，如「fail」、「collapse」、「be unsuccessful」或「cease to function」。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Founder"?What fixed phrases with "Founder" should I remember?
founder on
founder on [something]
（船隻）觸礁擱淺；因…而失敗
founder under
founder under [weight/pressure/burden]
因（重量、壓力、負擔）而垮掉、失敗
founder as
founder as [role/position]
以…身份創辦（公司、組織）
founder together
founder together
共同創辦
founder upon
founder upon [idea/principle/belief]
基於（某個想法、原則、信念）而創立
founder in
founder in [year]
於（某年）創立
founder and
founder and [title]
創辦人兼…
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Founder"?Which "Founder" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×The company was foundered in 1995.
✓The company was founded in 1995.
混淆了 'found'（建立）的過去分詞 'founded' 與 'founder'（動詞意為失敗/沉沒）。'Founder' 作動詞時意為（計劃）失敗或（船）沉沒，不是 '建立'。表示 '建立' 應使用動詞 'found' 的相應形式。
×He founders a new club every year.
✓He founds a new club every year.
將名詞 'founder'（創辦人）誤用作動詞 '建立' 的現在式。動詞 'to found'（建立）的現在式第三人稱單數是 'founds'。'Founder' 作動詞時有完全不同的意思（失敗/沉沒），不表示 '建立'。
×Their marriage foundered because they loved each other.
✓Their marriage foundered because they grew apart.
誤用 'founder' 的語境。動詞 'founder' 意指徹底失敗、崩潰或沉沒，通常用於因問題、困難或缺乏基礎而失敗的情況。它帶有負面、災難性的含義，不適用於正面或簡單結束的情況。
×The plan is about to founder next week.
✓The plan is likely to founder next week.
誤將 'founder' 用作計劃性的未來事件。'Founder' 描述的是因內在缺陷或外部壓力導致的失敗結果，通常不是一個有意識安排的未來事件。它更常描述一個正在發生或已發生的失敗過程，而非一個確切的未來時間點。
×She successfully foundered the company.
✓She successfully founded the company.
混淆 'founder'（動詞：失敗）與 'found'（動詞：建立）的語義。'Successfully founder' 是矛盾的，因為 'founder' 本身就意味著失敗。要表達成功地建立，必須使用 'found'。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Founder"?What are tense/participle forms of "Founder"?
founders(3rd_singular)foundering(present_participle)foundered(past)foundered(past_participle)