is very important for those of you trying to learn vocabulary, but especially for those

對於正在學習單字的你們是非常重要的，特別是

of you who need to write better. It's very important to write the correct word that you

當你想要增進你的寫作能力的話，使用正確的字來表達你的文意

mean, and sometimes, the only difference between words is one letter, and this one letter makes

是非常重要的！而且，有些細微的不同就只差在一個字母，但卻

a huge difference. Okay? So we're going to look at six sets of commonly confused words.

是完全不同的意思。好，接下來我們來學習怎麼分辨這6組常見的混淆單字吧

Now, we're going to start with "affect" and "effect", and the difference being the "a"

先從「affect」和「effect」這組開始，這兩個單字在開頭字母上，一個是「a」

or the "e". Now, this is one of those pair of words that all teachers in every ESL school,

一個是「e」。這兩個單字是所有教授英語的學校以及

in every ESL class always teach students, but they don't necessarily teach it completely,

在任何英語課程上，都會被提出來教學生的單字組，但是卻沒有被完整的介紹用法

so that's what we're going to look at today. "Affect", verb, in any situation you're looking

所以這就是為什麼我們今天要拿出來討論。「Affect」，常以動詞形態出現

at it, but it basically has two different meanings. One is to have an influence or to

但卻有兩種不同的意思，一個是「產生影響」，另一個是

influence something, someone. It basically means to have some sort of power over something

「影響某事/某人」。像是有某種能力足以影響

to make some sort of change. The noun, they go together, if something affects someone

並促使產生某些變化。而名詞形態時，這兩個會一起討論，也就是當某事「affect」 (影響)某人

or something, then the result of that is the effect. Now, I'm stressing the "e" here just

或某事，所產生的就是「effect」 (影響、結果)。現在我要將字首「e」加重發音

so you hear it, but in reality, in spoken and natural spoken English: "affect", "effect",

讓你可以聽清楚。但在實際口語上的發音，你會發現「affect」、「effect」

"affect", "effect". It sounds almost the same, so you have to be very careful. You especially

「affect」、「effect」的發音幾乎一模一樣，所以你必須非常注意。特別是從

have to think about the context. Okay? Context is very important in... With all these words,

從文章句子裡面去辨識，可以嗎？這幾組單字都需要從句子的上下文

to know which one is being used, because the situation that you hear or read the word in

來了解並分辨被使用的單字是哪個。在不同的情境下，你所聽到所閱讀的單字

will tell you which meaning it is. So the context is everything that is around the word.

都可以在上下文中提供你正確單字意思的線索。因此，文章句子的上下文對於理解單字非常重要

So "affect", to influence something; "effect" is the result or what that influence has done

「affect」，表示去影響到某事；「effect」，表示結果，或是影響力帶來的效果

to something or someone.

左右了某事或某人

"To affect" also means to move someone emotionally. So if you affect someone, it means you have

「To affect」也可以表達對某人情感、情緒上的影響。當你說你 affect(影響)了某人，表示

an emotional... You create an emotional reaction in them. Okay? You can affect them to the

在情緒上打動對方。是一種感情表達的回饋，可以嗎？你可以點到

point of tears, means you're making them sad, you're making them so happy that they're crying.

他們的哭點，也就是讓他們感到悲傷，或是點到笑穴讓他們哭笑不得。

Now, here's the surprising one that many people don't realize: "effect" can also be a verb.

接下來，這可能會讓很多人感到驚訝，因為「effect」（影響）除了名詞，也可以當作動詞

So most ESL teachers will tell you "affect" is a verb, "effect" is a noun, that's it.

很多英語老師只會告訴你「affect」(影響)是動詞，「effect」(影響)是名詞。

But "effect" can also be a verb, it means to bring about.

但是「effect」也有動詞形式，意思是引起、導致

Okay? I'm actually going to write this down for you.

了解嗎？我把它寫在上面給大家看

Now, we especially talk about change. So, for example, a new

這樣的意思特別表示當談論到改變的時候，例如說，有一位

manager comes into a department and he wants to effect a change, a corporate culture change.

新上任的部門主管想要來個新氣象，於是想推動公司內部文化變革

He wants to bring about or to cause a change. Now, this is a little bit of a formal word,

他想要帶來一個新變革、新的改變。這樣的情形下，使用上就會變成較正式的用法

it's a big of a high-end word. If you're writing the IELTS, or TOEFL, or SAT, this is a very

它會變成一個較專業的字彙，尤其是當你寫IELTS、TOFEL或SAT考試時，「effect」會是一個

good word to use as a verb, but make sure that you know how to use it correctly before

很好用的單字。但需要注意使用前必須確定了解單字的意義後

you try. Cause, bring about. So, that's these ones.

再來運用。所以，引起、導致的意思是這一組單字需要注意的

Next, we have "principle" and "principal". They sound the same, but obviously, different

接下來要來討論「principle」和「principal」。它們的發音都一樣，但不同在於

endings. This "principle" is basically a fundamental truth. Something... Like, for example, if

字尾。「principle」代表一個基本的原則或事實，像是.......

you're talking about a scientific principle, this is the truth, and from this truth, we

當你探討到一個科學原理時，那是一個事實，而從這個基本原理延伸出去，

can make other truths or we can have other investigations into other areas. It's a fundamental

我們可以發現更多基於此的真理價值，或是我們可以從原理源頭去延伸更多不同領域的研究。這就是

truth. Now, when a person says that he or she has principles, and something goes against

基本原理。若當一個人說他／她有原則但卻有些事情違背了

their principles, that means that they have a very, very strong belief, and they have

他們的原則，表示說他們有很強的信念，而且他們在

a very strong way of doing something or looking at things, and other people can't change that.

做事和看待任何狀況時都有他們堅持的方式，是旁人無法干涉或改變的。

Okay? So that is a principle.

了解了嗎？這就是「principle」(原理、原則)的意思

But if we look at "principal" like this, we have three different meanings. One meaning,

若是「principal」，就有三種意思。一個是

as a noun, is the head position of an organization. The most common use is at a school. The principal

名詞形式，代表在一個機構組織中居上位的領導者，最常見的就是學校的校長。

at a school is the head of the school; he runs the school or she runs the school. Another

校長是一個學校的最高領導者，他或她負責處理學校上下大小事的運作。另一個

noun form... Another noun use...sorry...of "principal" is the money that you invest that brings you

名詞形式，抱歉，另一個「principal」作為名詞的使用，是代表你所投資的金錢所衍伸出的

interest. Or if you take out a loan from the bank and you have to pay that money back,

利息。或是，當你向銀行借錢，而你之後必須要將所借金額歸還時，

you will have to pay back the principal, which is the original money that they gave you,

你需要歸還本金，也就是當初銀行借貸給你的金額

plus interest. So if you have a mortgage on your house and every month you're paying a

另外再加上利息。所以如果你有房貸，金額會分攤到每個月小筆

little bit, you're paying a little bit from the principal and a little bit of interest

小筆繳納，你需要支付一點本金加上一點利息

until you pay back the whole loan. As an adjective it means...sorry...primary or first. The principal

直到你還清貸款。若是形容詞形式，表示最重要的或是首先的，在一本小說裡

character in a novel means the main character, or the first character, or the most important

重要的角色，也就是主要的角色，或是戲份最重的主角，也或是貫穿文章最重要的

character. Now, keep in mind, they will sound the same, but obviously you can see the difference

人物。請注意，他們的發音一樣，但在英文書寫上有很明顯的

in written English, so pay attention to that. Also, again, use context. Context will tell

差異，要特別注意這部分。此外，記得一定要多利用上下文的句子來幫助理解，你可以

you which meaning you're looking at.

從中知道真正的意思是什麼。

Next, we have "compliment" and "complement". Compliment, complement, they sound almost

接下來，我們來看「compliment」和「complement」。「compliment」、「complement」的發音幾乎

identical. Both can be a noun or a verb. "Compliment" means nice words said about something or someone,

一樣，且都皆有名詞和動詞的形式。「compliment」指的是對某事或某人說好話

or to say nice things. So if you want to compliment me on my lovely shirt today, by all means,

或是讚美。所以若你想稱讚我今天穿了件很好看的上衣的話，記得

do so in the comments section at engVid. But if you don't want to compliment me, that's

可以寫在engVid的討論區，但若你不想給我個讚美，也沒關係啦。

okay, too. But you can compliment this lesson by giving people, your peers more examples.

但你可以按讚這部影片，讓更多人，或是你的朋友們來學更多的英文例子。

"To complement" means to complete or to add something to make the whole more complete.

「To complement」的意思是使之完整或是補足使之可以更完美。

So, for example, if you go to a restaurant and you order a nice steak, the waiter will

例如，當你去餐廳點了一份美味的牛排，服務生會

suggest a good wine to complement that steak. It means the wine flavour and the steak flavour

建議你搭配一杯好酒來與牛排搭配可以更臻完美，來將酒氣的香味與牛排的美味

work together to have a complete, full flavour that you can enjoy. Okay? Compliment, complement.

相互融合成一道完美的餐點，讓你可以享受完整的味蕾饗宴。了解嗎？ 稱讚、補足

Let's look at a few more.

來看看更多單字

Okay, so let's look at our next batch of words. Now, these three, they might seem like they're

這是另一批的混淆單字。這三個字，字面上看來或許不太會

not really problematic because you can see the differences quite clearly, you will also

造成你的混淆，因為你可以很明顯辨別其中的差異，你也可以

hear the differences, but surprisingly, these words are confused quite often, especially

聽出發音的不同，但是，令人意外地，這幾個字卻常常被搞混，特別是

these two. Now, this is "moral", this is "morale", and this is "mortal". Now, you think because

這兩個。你聽，這是「moral」，這是「morale」，而這是「mortal」。「t」的音你可以

of the "t" it should be no problem, but in natural speed English, that "t" is very, very

很容易分辨出來，但是在正常速度下的發音時，「t」的音會非常非常

soft. "My mortal enemy." So that "t" is almost disappearing, and so it sounds like a little

微弱。你聽，「My mortal enemy」（我的死對頭）的「t」發音幾乎聽不見，它會聽起來

bit like "moral" as well. So, when you're... If you're listening to something, you might

有點像「moral」的發音，所以當你在聽英文時，有可能會被

get that confused.

搞混

Now, what is a "moral"? As a noun, when you talk about a fable or a little... It sounds

「moral」是甚麼意思？它是一個名詞，當談論到寓言故事或是恩....像是

like a children's story, but it has a lesson to be learned. There's a lesson to be learned

兒童讀物，裡面會有些需要學習的重點，而這些故事中需要被了解的

from this story, so we call that lesson the moral. The moral of the story is: Be nice

重要概念，我們可以稱為道德知識的學習。故事中的寓意像是：對待鄰居

to your neighbours, or whatever the moral is. As an... As an adjective, we can also

要和善，或是任何一種善良品行等等。當它是形容詞形式時，我們也可以說

say "moral" when we're talking about the choice between good and bad. We talk about social

「moral」是關於善惡之間的選擇，提到像是社會價值

values, we talk about the choice between good and bad, good and evil if you want to call

正確與錯誤中的選擇，或是你也可以比喻成天使與惡魔的善惡抉擇

it, then we're talking about moral, a moral choice. When we use the noun, it's usually

也就是我們所說的道德抉擇。而當我們想要使用名詞形式，通常會是

"morals". We have to worry about our morals as a society; or when you go to church, they

「morals」（moral加上s）。作為一個社會當中的一份子，我們必須注重道德，或是當你去教會，

teach you morals; or when you're growing up, your parents teach you morals. They teach

他們會教導你誡命，或是當你在成長過程中，父母會教你甚麼是道德規範。他們教導你

you what's good, what's bad, what's right, what's wrong. Okay? So that's "moral".

什麼是正確的，什麼是錯誤的。正確，錯誤，這樣了解嗎？所以這就是「morals」（道德）

"Morale", a noun, is a basic feeling or attitude that is shared by a group. It could be a personal

「morale」（士氣），名詞，代表一個團體當中的氛圍或態度，用在表達個人上面

thing as well. So when you're talking about an office full of workers, a good manager

也可以。所以說，一位管理公司上下員工的好的領導者，

will make sure that the morale is high, that everybody's excited, everybody's passionate,

需要幫助並確認員工高昂的工作士氣，讓每個人都充滿工作熱情

everybody wants to be there and everybody wants to work. It's a general good feeling.

每個人都願意付出心力努力工作並享受在工作氛圍裡，營造出愉悅的氣氛

So a high morale. If you have low morale, it means everybody's like dejected; nobody

工作士氣就高。如果士氣低落，表示每個人都垂頭喪氣、情緒低迷

wants to be there, nobody wants to work, everybody feels bad. You won't get much work done.

沒有人想要待在這樣的地方，也無法提起精神工作，事務完成效率也很低

"Mortal" could be a noun or an adjective. A noun is basically a human being, because

「Mortal」可以當名詞或形容詞，當名詞時表示人類，因為

we're all going to die. Adjective "mortal" means something that can die. Okay? So my

死亡是人類生命的終點。而「mortal」當作形容詞時，表示有生命的期限，所以說

mortal enemy is my enemy that's going to kill me, or a mortal plant, or a mortal animal

我的死對頭可以殺死我奪我性命，或是致命的植物，或是動物

can kill. So "mortal" has to do with death. Okay? So these three are often confused; be

都可以置我於死，所以說，「mortal」（無法永生的）與死亡有關。這三個字常被搞混

careful about those.

使用上要特別小心

These two, they look different, they sound different, but they're often mixed, they're

這兩個字，看起來不一樣，發音也不一樣，但他們還是容易被混淆，讓人

often confused. "Personal". If you're talking about "personal", you're talking about yourself,

搞不清楚。當你講到「Personal」這個詞，代表你這個個體，自己本身。

your private ideas, your private thoughts, your private choices or somebody else's private

你想出來的點子，你自己的想法，你的決定，或是某個人的

things. Right? So it's a personal decision. You shouldn't ask me if you should go or stay...

私事，可以嗎？既然是關於私人的決定，那麼想離開或留下都是你的決定，不該徵求我意見

Stay or go. It's a personal decision. I can't tell you. It's for you to make. It's private.

待著或離開，是一個個體自我的決定，所以我無法告訴你怎麼做，是你做主宰，屬於私人的

Here, this is "personnel". So, here, "personal", "personnel". "Personnel" basically... Basically

來聽發音，「personnel」，「personal」、「personnel」。「Personnel」基本上

means staff. So the personnel in a company, we're talking about staff. All the employees

代表職員的意思，所以在公司工作的職員，就是我們所講的員工，所有在公司的工作人員

are the personnel. Basically, any group of people who are involved in something is the

就是職員，基本上，任何多數人參與並共同從事某一事項，就是

personnel. It doesn't have to be in a company, but that's where you'll most commonly see

人員。不限定說一定要在公司裡才算，但公司是你最常見被用來廣泛解釋的例子

it used. So these two, you can't mix.

這兩個字，記得不要搞混

Now, before I continue, I just want to say one last... One more thing. You have to make

在我繼續講下去之前，我要強調一件事，就是一定要搞清楚

sure that you know the differences between all of these, especially for tests like IELTS

這幾組單字間的差異，特別是當你想要參加IELTS的考試時

where spelling counts. So you have one letter difference. One letter will cost you a point

拼字用字很重要，當你寫錯一個單字，就會被扣分

on the IELTS. Okay? So it's very important to know. In tests like SAT that want to check

可以嗎？所以這是需要非常小心注意的，在SAT考試上會測試你的

your vocabulary, they will make sure that you know the differences between certain words.

單字，來了解你對於一些特定單字的辨識和理解能力

So, which brings us to the last batch: "censor", "sensor", "censure". The only difference is

來看最後一組單字，「censor」、「sensor」、「censure」。其中唯一的不同點

this "h" sounds like an "sh". But again, in native speed, in native speakers' English,

是「h」音會聽起來像「sh」，一樣，回到正常口語速度，從英語為母語的人士口中

you won't hear that "sh": "censure". In a sentence, it'll sound the same as "censor".

你不會聽到「sh」的 音。「censure」在句子中的發音就像「censor」

So, what is a "censor"? It can be a noun. As a noun, it is a person who does the censoring.

那「censor」是甚麼意思？它可以當作名詞，代表做檢查的審查人員

As a verb, "to censor" means to cut out or to stop from becoming publically available.

若當作動詞，「to censor」表示刪除，或是不向大眾公開

So when you're talking about news, the news you see... Or any news, for example, about

我們以新聞來舉例，當你所看到的新聞是關於到...像是

the military, okay? The military censors all of the information, so any information that

軍方的消息，他們會審查並刪除資訊，只要是需要保密的資料

they don't want the public to have, they will keep back. They will keep out of the media.

他們就不會向大眾公開，保護機密不外流，拒絕媒體採訪

They will censor it. They will put a block. Okay?

軍方會審查資料，做防護措施，這樣了解了嗎？

A "sensor" is something that detects. Okay? So, for example, you have a smoke detector,

「sensor」就是偵測，例如說，你有一個煙霧偵測器

it has a little sensor inside that feels the smoke and then starts making all the noise

它裡面有小小感應器，可以偵測到煙霧後警鈴大作

that a smoke alarm does. In your camera or in your phone or in your anything, there's

警報器就會響起。或是在你的相機、手機等等，裡面都會有

a light sensor. It sensors how much light there is or isn't. So, again, it comes from

光線感應器，它會偵測明亮度。「sensor」這個字可以溯及到

the word "sense", to feel or to detect because machines don't really feel. Right? So...

「sense」這個單字，表示去感應或偵測，但機器是沒有知覺的，可以嗎？

"Censure" is to express disappointment or anger at someone, but usually in a public

「Censure」，表示對某人的表現感到失望或是不開心，且通常是公開性的表達這樣的情緒

way. So, for example, if I'm the teacher and I have a bad student in my class, I may censure

例如說，在我教的班上有一位表現不好的學生，我可能會在其他學生面前

that student in front of all the other students. I will say, you know: "You're behaving badly,

公開地責罵他，我可能會說：「你的行為表現真的令我很失望

and you shouldn't do that, and you're disturbing your peers", and not very good. So I will

你不該這樣做的，你不該影響你的同學。」這非常不好，所以說我

censure the student. Now, for most of you, you're not going to use this word, you're

責罵了那位學生。對大多數人來說，會用到這個單字的機會很少，而且

not going to hear it too often. If you're going to take an SAT test, for example, you

你也不會很常聽到它。但若你要參加SAT考試，你就一定得

definitely need to know words like this.

知道類似這些字彙

So, if you want to practice all... Your understanding of these words,

好，若你想要練習一下對於這些單字的理解度

go to www.engvid.com, there's a quiz.

在www.engvid.com裡有測驗題

You can also ask me any questions in the comment section.

在討論區裡你也可以問我任何問題

Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and I'll see you again soon.

別忘了訂閱我在YouTube 的教學頻道，希望很快就可以再見到你們

Bye.

下次見囉