1. an object, item, or physical entity
物體、物品或實體
What is that thing on the table?
桌上那個東西是什麼？
I need to buy a few things from the store.
我需要去商店買幾樣東西。
Thing Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
thing
noun
快速理解
What does "Thing" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Thing"?
「thing」是一個極其通用的名詞，可指具體物品、抽象概念、事件或情況。
- 1
具體物件
EN: a physical object that you can see or touch
翻譯: 一個你能看到或觸摸到的具體物品。
- 2
想法/事件
EN: an idea, fact, activity, or event
翻譯: 一個想法、事實、活動或事件。
- 3
情況/局面
EN: used to refer to a general situation or state of affairs
翻譯: 用於指稱一個普遍的情況或事態。
- 4
泛指事物
EN: used to talk about something without being specific
翻譯: 用於泛指事物，而不特指某樣東西。
小提醒：注意「thing」在口語中常泛指「東西」或「事情」，語境決定其具體含義，例如「The thing is...」是用來引導解釋或重點。
發音（How to Pronounce "Thing" in English）
How to pronounce "Thing" in English?"Thing" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Thing" from YouTube Videos
Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons
TED
“This is the real thing. There's no blood And you can see how focused the surgeons are, how much concentration it takes.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Thing"?How does "Thing" change by context?
2. an event, activity, or situation
事件、活動或情況
The best thing about the trip was the food.
這趟旅行最棒的事情是食物。
A strange thing happened yesterday.
昨天發生了一件奇怪的事。
3. used to refer to a person or animal, often with affection or pity
用於指人或動物，常帶有喜愛或憐憫之意
You poor thing, you look exhausted.
你這可憐的傢伙，看起來累壞了。
She's a sweet little thing.
她是個可愛的小東西。
4. a fact, idea, or aspect
事實、想法或方面
The important thing is to learn from your mistakes.
重要的是要從錯誤中學習。
One thing I don't understand is why he left.
有一件事我不明白，就是他為什麼離開。
5. a characteristic quality or trend
特質、品質或趨勢
Being late is not my thing.
遲到不是我的作風。
Wearing bright colors is her thing.
穿鮮豔的顏色是她的風格。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Thing"?How to make natural sentences with "Thing"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the + thing | 那個東西；那件事 | The thing I like most is reading. (我最喜歡的事情是閱讀。) |
| a + thing | 一個東西；一件事 | I need to buy a thing for the party. (我需要為派對買個東西。) |
| things + to + V | 要做的事情 | I have many things to do today. (我今天有很多事情要做。) |
| thing + about + noun/pronoun | 關於…的事情/特點 | The best thing about her is her kindness. (她最棒的一點是她的善良。) |
| thing + of + noun | …的東西 | It's a thing of beauty. (那是個美麗的東西。) |
| do + the + right thing | 做正確的事 | He always tries to do the right thing. (他總是試圖做正確的事。) |
| first thing | 第一件事；首先 | I'll call you first thing in the morning. (我早上第一件事就是打電話給你。) |
| the last thing + clause | 最不想要/不希望的事 | The last thing I want is to upset you. (我最不希望的就是讓你難過。) |
| have a thing for + noun | 對…有特別的喜好 | She has a thing for vintage cars. (她對古董車有特別的喜好。) |
| make a thing (out) of + noun/gerund | 對…小題大作 | Don't make a thing of it; it was just a mistake. (別小題大作，那只是一個錯誤。) |
用法說明
How is "Thing" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Thing"?
thing vs. things
- thing 通常指單一的、具體的物體、想法或事件。
- things 是複數形式，泛指多個物品、情況、或抽象概念（如「事物」、「情況」）。
- 在非正式口語中，thing 有時也用作模糊的替代詞，指代一個想法、問題或話題，例如 "the thing is..."。
- 片語 the thing 常指最重要或最相關的部分。 EN: The most important thing is to be honest. 翻譯: 最重要的事是誠實。
EN:She told me all the things that happened while I was away.
翻譯:她告訴了我所有我不在時發生的事情。
總結建議
談論單一具體項目時用 thing，泛指多個項目或情況時用 things。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Thing" and similar words?How to choose "Thing" vs alternatives?
thing vs object
thing 泛指任何事物，object 通常指具體、有形的物體。
thing vs item
thing 是通用詞，item 常指清單、清點或分類中的特定項目。
thing vs stuff
thing 可數，指單一事物；stuff 不可數，泛指一堆材料、物品或事物。
口語用法
How is "Thing" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Thing"?
引述
在口語中，常用 "thing" 來引述或指代他人剛說過的話，尤其是當記不清原話或想概括大意時。 EN: He was talking about the whole work-life balance thing. 翻譯: 他當時在講那個關於工作與生活平衡的事。
EN:So you're into the gardening thing now?
翻譯:所以你現在對園藝那檔事有興趣了？
語氣強調
與 "the" 或 "this/that" 連用，或使用 "thing is..." 的結構，來帶出重點或表達強烈感受。 EN: The thing is, I already promised someone else. 翻譯: 重點是，我已經答應別人了。
EN:I just love the whole cozy café thing.
翻譯:我就是超愛那種溫馨咖啡館的調調。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語言時，"thing" 常被用作填充詞，代替一時想不起的具體名稱或細節。 EN: Could you pass me that... thing, the remote control? 翻譯: 你可以把那個……東西，遙控器遞給我嗎？
EN:We need to buy the thing for the door, you know, the new lock.
翻譯:我們得去買那個裝門上的東西，你知道的，新鎖。
正式寫作注意：上述口語用法（尤其是作為填充詞或過於模糊的指代）在正式書寫、學術論文或商業報告中應避免使用，應選擇更精確、具體的詞彙。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Thing"?What fixed phrases with "Thing" should I remember?
the thing is
the thing is (that) ...
問題是…；重點是…
do your own thing
do your own thing
做自己想做的事；我行我素
first thing
first thing (in the morning/ tomorrow)
（早上/明天）第一件事
a thing of the past
a thing of the past
過去的事物；已過時的東西
know a thing or two
know a thing or two (about something)
略知一二；頗有了解
not a thing
not a thing
什麼都沒有；一點也沒有
the real thing
the real thing
真品；貨真價實的東西
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Thing"?Which "Thing" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I have many things to do.
✓I have a lot of things to do.
在肯定句中，修飾可數名詞複數時，通常使用 'a lot of' 或 'many'，但 'many things' 在口語中較少用於肯定句，'a lot of things' 更自然。
×The most important thing is that we must on time.
✓The most important thing is that we must be on time.
'must' 是情態助動詞，後面必須接原形動詞。這裡需要動詞 'be' 來構成 'be on time'（準時）這個片語。
×It's not a big thing.
✓It's not a big deal.
雖然 'a big thing' 字面上是『一件大事』，但表達『沒什麼大不了、不重要』的慣用語是 'not a big deal'。'Not a big thing' 聽起來不自然。
×I like the thing which you gave me.
✓I like the thing (that) you gave me.
在定語從句中，先行詞是 'thing' 這類不定代名詞或帶有 'the' 的特定事物時，關係代名詞通常用 'that'，或者省略。用 'which' 雖然文法上可能正確，但較不常見或聽起來不自然。
×I have a thing to tell you.
✓I have something to tell you.
'a thing' 通常指一個具體的、可數的物件或一個特定事項。要表達『有些事、某件事』（較抽象或未明確指定）時，應該用不定代名詞 'something'。
×My favorite thing is listen to music.
✓My favorite thing is listening to music. / My favorite thing to do is listen to music.
在 'My favorite thing is' 後面，若接動作，應使用動名詞 (gerund) 形式。或者可以使用 'My favorite thing to do is' 的句型，此時 'is' 後面接原形動詞。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Thing"?What are tense/participle forms of "Thing"?