1. to form a mental image of something
想像，設想
I can't quite picture him as a teacher.
我實在無法想像他當老師的樣子。
Try to picture the scene in your mind.
試著在腦海中想像那個場景。
She pictured herself living in a cottage by the sea.
她想像自己住在海邊的小屋裡。
Picture Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
picture
verb
快速理解
What does "Picture" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Picture"?
「picture」作動詞時，主要表示在心中想像或描繪事物，也可指用圖像或文字來呈現。
- 1
想像
EN: to imagine or form a mental image of something
翻譯: 在心中想像或構思某事物
- 2
描繪
EN: to describe or represent something in words or pictures
翻譯: 用文字或圖像來描述、呈現某事物
- 3
設想
EN: to envision or conceive of a situation or possibility
翻譯: 設想某種情況或可能性
小提醒：注意「picture」作動詞時，後面常直接接名詞或名詞子句（如「I can't picture him as a teacher」），或用於被動語態表示「被描繪」（如「She is pictured with her family」）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Picture" in English）
How to pronounce "Picture" in English?"Picture" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Picture" from YouTube Videos
Why are these 32 symbols found in caves all over Europe | Genevieve von Petzinger | TED
TED
“The oldest systems of graphic communication in the world -- Sumerian, cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the earliest Chinese script- all emerged between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago, with each coming into existence from an earlier protosystem made up of counting marks and pictographic representations where the meaning and the image were the same, So a picture of a bird would really have represented that animal.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Picture"?How does "Picture" change by context?
2. to describe something in a particular way
描述，描繪
The article pictures the company as an innovative leader.
這篇文章將該公司描繪成一個創新的領導者。
He is often pictured as a tough negotiator.
他常被描述為一個強硬的談判者。
3. to show someone or something in a photograph or painting
拍攝；畫出
The photograph pictures the whole family at the beach.
這張照片拍下了全家人在海灘的畫面。
The artist pictured the mountain landscape beautifully.
藝術家將山景畫得非常美麗。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Picture"?How to make natural sentences with "Picture"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| picture + noun/pronoun | 想像（某人/某物） | I can't quite picture him as a teacher. (我實在無法想像他當老師的樣子。) |
| picture + noun/pronoun + as + noun | 把…想像成… | She always pictured herself as a successful entrepreneur. (她總是把自己想像成一位成功的企業家。) |
| picture + noun/pronoun + V-ing | 想像…正在做… | Can you picture him wearing a suit and tie? (你能想像他穿西裝打領帶的樣子嗎？) |
| picture + wh-clause | 想像…（某種情況） | Try to picture how the room will look after renovation. (試著想像一下房間裝修後會是什麼樣子。) |
| be pictured + prepositional phrase / V-ing | 被描繪/拍攝成… | The actor was pictured leaving the restaurant with friends. (這位演員被拍到與朋友們離開餐廳。) |
用法說明
How is "Picture" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Picture"?
picture doing vs picture to do
- picture doing 是標準且常見的用法，表示「想像（做某事）」，動名詞（doing）描述的是想像中的畫面或情境。
- picture to do 在標準文法中並不正確，通常會被視為錯誤。動詞 "picture" 後面不接不定詞（to do）來表示想像的動作。
- 若要表達「想像某人做某事」，會使用 picture someone doing 的結構。
對比範例： EN: I can't picture living without my phone. 翻譯: 我無法想像沒有手機的生活。
EN:I can't picture to live without my phone.
翻譯:此用法不自然且被視為錯誤。
EN:Can you picture him wearing a suit?
翻譯:你能想像他穿西裝的樣子嗎？
EN:Can you picture him to wear a suit?
翻譯:此用法不自然且被視為錯誤。
總結建議
使用 "picture" 作為動詞時，其後應直接接動名詞（doing）或受詞加動名詞（someone doing），避免使用 "picture to do" 的結構。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Picture" and similar words?How to choose "Picture" vs alternatives?
picture vs imagine
「picture」強調在腦海中形成具體、生動的圖像或畫面，而「imagine」則更廣泛地指構思、設想或幻想某事物，不一定有清晰的視覺畫面。
picture vs visualize
「picture」較為口語、通用，指在腦中形成圖像；「visualize」則更正式、更具目的性，常指有意識地運用想像力來構建或預見圖像，多用於學習、規劃或心理技巧中。
picture vs envision
「picture」側重於對已知或回憶中事物的具體描繪；「envision」則更側重於對未來、可能性或理想狀況的展望與構想。
口語用法
How is "Picture" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Picture"?
引述
在口語中，"picture" 常用來引述或重述他人的話，以確認理解或表達同理。 EN: So you're saying you can't picture yourself living there? 翻譯: 所以你的意思是，你無法想像自己住在那裡？
EN:I can just picture her saying, "I told you so."
翻譯:我完全可以想像她會說：「我早就告訴過你了。」
語氣強調
與 "just" 或 "can't even" 等詞連用，以強調想像的難易度或生動性。 EN: I just can't picture him as a teacher. 翻譯: 我就是無法想像他當老師的樣子。
EN:Can you even picture how chaotic that would be?
翻譯:你甚至能想像那會有多混亂嗎？
停頓填充
在思考或描述時，用作短暫的停頓填充詞，引出後續的想像場景。 EN: Picture this: we're on a beach, with no work emails. 翻譯: 想像一下：我們在海灘上，沒有工作郵件。
EN:It was so weird. Picture, like, a completely silent party.
翻譯:那太奇怪了。想像一下，就像一個完全安靜的派對。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將 "picture" 用作口語化的停頓填充詞（如 "Picture, like,..."），或過於隨意的引述方式。建議改用 "imagine"、"visualize" 或更結構化的表達，例如 "One might envision..."。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Picture"?What fixed phrases with "Picture" should I remember?
picture someone/something
picture + [sb/sth]
想像、設想某人或某事
picture someone doing something
picture + [sb] + [doing sth]
想像某人正在做某事
picture that
picture + [that-clause]
想像（某種情況）
hard to picture
hard/difficult/easy to picture
難以/容易想像
picture something in one's mind
picture + [sth] + in one's mind
在腦海中描繪/想像某事物
picture someone as something
picture + [sb] + as + [sth]
將某人想像成某種樣子或身分
vividly picture
vividly/clearly picture
生動地/清晰地想像
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Picture"?Which "Picture" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I picture a beautiful landscape in my mind.
✓I can picture a beautiful landscape in my mind.
作為動詞時，'picture' 通常需要情態動詞（如 can, could）或助動詞來表示「想像」的能力或動作，單獨使用容易與名詞用法混淆。
×When I close my eyes, I picture.
✓When I close my eyes, I picture a peaceful beach.
動詞 'picture' 是及物動詞，必須接賓語（想像的內容），不能單獨使用。
×I am picturing you as a teacher right now.
✓I picture you as a teacher.
動詞 'picture' 表示一種瞬間的認知或想像，通常不使用進行式（-ing），除非強調反覆或持續的想像過程。
×I picture with a happy family.
✓I picture myself with a happy family.
使用 'picture' 表示「想像自己處於某種情境」時，必須明確指出主體（如 myself, yourself），不能直接接介系詞片語。
×I picture that it will rain tomorrow.
✓I imagine that it will rain tomorrow.
'picture' 通常接具體的影像或場景（名詞或動名詞），而 'imagine' 可接抽象概念或從句。預測未來事件常用 'imagine'。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Picture"?What are tense/participle forms of "Picture"?
pictures(3rd_singular)picturing(present_participle)pictured(past)pictured(past_participle)