[英文單字學習 IX] Prefixes, Roots, & Suffixes
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
un-
not (不是); opposite (相反)
uncover (揭開), unlock (解鎖), unsafe (不安全)
re-
again (再次); back (回來)
rewrite (重寫), reread (重讀), return (返回)
in-, im-, ir-, i-
not (不是); into (進入)
incorrect (不正確), insert (插入), inexpensive (不昂貴), illegal (非法), irregular (不規則), inability (無能)
dis-
not (不是), away (遠離), apart (分開), negative (否定)
disagree (不同意), discord (不和), discomfort (不適), discontent (不滿), distrust (不信任)
en-, em-
cause to (導致)
enjoy (享受), endure (忍耐), enlighten (啟發), entail (涉及)
non-
not (不是)
nonsense (無意義), nonverbal (非言語), nonstick (不粘), nonspecific (不特定)
in-, im-
in (在), into (進入), not (不是)
invade (入侵), implant (植入), imperfect (不完美), immoral (不道德), inedible (不可食), incapable (無能)
over-
too much (太多)
overload (超載), overdo (過度做), overact (過度反應), overboard (過猶不及), overdose (過量)
mis-
wrongly (錯誤地)
misjudge (誤判), misinterpret (誤解), misguided (誤導), mismatch (配對失誤), misplace (放錯地方)
sub-
under (下面)
submarine (潛水艇), subtext (副文), substandard (低標準), substitute (替代), subversive (顛覆)
pre-
before (之前)
preview (預覽), pretest (預測), prevent (預防), preplan (預先計劃)
inter-
between (之間), among (其中)
interstate (州際), international (國際), intermission (間歇), intermingle (交織), interface (介面)
fore-
before (之前)
foreshadow (預示), foresight (遠見), foreseeable (可預見), forecast (預報), foreground (前景)
de-, dis-
opposite of (相反的), not (不是)
depose (廢位), detour (繞道), dehydrated (脫水), decaffeinated (去咖啡因), discord (不和), discomfort (不適), disengage (脫離)
trans-
across (跨越); move between (移動之間)
transatlantic (橫越大西洋), transcend (超越), transfer (轉移), transact (交易), transport (運輸)
super-
above (上面)
supersonic (超音速), superstar (超級明星), supernatural (超自然), superstore (超市)
semi-
half (半)
semicircle (半圓), semiprecious (半寶石), semicolon (分號), semifinal (半決賽)
anti-
against (反對)
antifreeze (防凍劑), antithesis (對立說), antitrust (反托拉斯), antidote (解毒劑), antisocial (反社會)
mid-
middle (中間)
midterm (中期), Midwest (中西部), midstream (中流), midway (中途), midnight (午夜)
under-
too little; not enough (太少；不夠)
under (在（或到）下面/下方)
最近有幾位同學詢問是否用字首 (prefix)、字根 (root word)、字尾 (suffix) 是學習英文單字最有效率的方式?
個人覺得用這幾種語素 (morpheme)*記單字只是一種學習方式，所謂的有效和無效必須要看同學的程度、目標、學習環境和資源等等的因素。由於每位同學學習英文的需求都不同，所以並沒有一種最有效率的學習的方式 (請注意這並不代表沒有高效率學習的方式) 。
例如有些人強烈提倡用字首、字尾、字根學習，但是多數英文詞彙是自由語素 (free morphemes, independent words) 如 dog, courage, syntax 用字首、字根、字尾並無法幫助同學推理出這些詞彙的定義。即使可以以字根慢慢推出模糊的字義，在一些狀況(例如GRE考試中)不一定有時間應用這策略，更別指望能推測出精準的定義。
另一方面來說，如果同學對字首、字尾、字根有基礎的概念，的確在解讀和學習新的單字上是有幫助的。例如單詞 construction，字首「con 」的意思是「 一起 ，與」，字根是「 stru、struct」來自拉丁詞 「struere、 structus」 定義為「建築，開發或創造」，字尾「-tion 」讓我們知道是名詞 。「-tion 」來源於拉丁語，定義涵蓋 「行為的過程，結果，情況，性質，狀況」。Struct 本身不是一個獨立的語素 (free morpheme) ，它是規範語素 (bound morpheme)，必須和其它語素結合成單詞，但透過與其它語素的結合它能夠被組成超過30個單詞 (e.g., structure, structural, construction, destructive, instructor, obstruct, etc.)。以這歸納法，同學能迅速的對大量的詞彙有基礎的認知。除此之外，在寫句子時，若學習者對常用的字尾熟悉，更能選到詞性正確的字來造句 (e.g., construct, v. -> construction, n. -> The construction of the new airport is well underway.) 。可見學習字首、字根、字尾對單字解讀、學習和應用是有幫助的!
總結是同學應該熟悉多種單字學習的策略，了解自己學習單字的目標，才能在不同狀況和條件下找出當下最適合自己的高效率學習方式。
*語素 (morpheme) : 語言最小的意義單位，涵蓋字首 (prefix)、字根 (root word)、和字尾 (suffix)。
以下提供同學一些字首、字根、字尾的學習資源和其它單字學習的方式:
常見字首
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
ante-
before (之前)
antebellum (戰前的), antecedent (先行的), anterior (前面的)
be-
to, completely (完全地)
belittle (貶低), befriend (交朋友), bejeweled (鑲嵌寶石的)
bene-
good, well (好的, 良好的)
beneficial (有益的), benefit (利益), benediction (祝福), benevolent (仁慈的)
circum-
around, about (圍繞, 關於)
circumference (圓周), circumvent (迴避)
co-, com-, con-, col-
together, with (一起, 與)
cooperate (合作), copilot (副駕駛), committee (委員會), commit (承諾), concur (同意), concert (音樂會), collide (相撞), collaborate (合作), colleague (同事)
dia-
across, through (橫穿, 穿過)
diagonal (對角線的), diameter (直徑), diagnostic (診斷的)
ex-
out, from (出, 從)
expel (驅逐), excavate (挖掘), exhale (呼氣)
homo-
same, alike (相同的)
homonym (同音異義詞), homogenize (使均質化), homophone (同音字)
hyper-
over, above, excessive (過度, 超過)
hyperactive (過動的), hyperventilate (過度呼吸), hypercritical (過分批評的), hyperthermia (高溫)
mal-
bad, evil (壞的, 邪惡的)
malicious (惡意的), maladjusted (適應不良的), malnutrition (營養不良)
micro-
small (小的)
microscopic (顯微的), microcosm (小宇宙), microbiology (微生物學), microwave (微波)
multi-
many, much (許多的)
multiply (乘), multigrain (多穀的), multiple (多個的)
para-
beside, alongside (旁邊的)
paraprofessional (準專業的), paralegal (法律助理)
poly-
many, much (許多的)
polygon (多邊形), polyester (聚酯纖維)
post-
after, behind (之後, 背後的)
postwar (戰後的), posterior (後方的), postdate (遲於)
pro-
forward, earlier, prior to (向前, 早於)
project (計畫), proceed (繼續進行), progress (進步)
retro-
back, backward (向後)
retroactive (追溯的), retrogression (退步)
tele-
distant (遠的)
telephone (電話), telegraph (電報), television (電視)
therm-
heat, warm (熱, 溫暖)
thermostat (溫控器), thermal (保溫的)
trans-
across; move between (橫跨; 移動之間)
transatlantic (橫渡大西洋的), transcend (超越), transfer (轉移), transact (交易), transport (運輸)
uni-
one, single (一個的)
universe (宇宙), unicycle (獨輪車), unicorn (獨角獸)
常見字根
Root
Meaning
Origin
Examples
aqua
water (水)
Greek
aquarium (水族館), aqueduct (引水道), aquaculture (水產養殖), aquamarine (海藍寶), aquaplane (水滑板), aquatic (水生的)
aud
hearing (聽覺)
Latin
audio (音頻), audition (試聽), audiovisual (視聽的), auditorium (禮堂), inaudible (聽不見的)
auto
self (自己)
Greek
autograph (親筆簽名), autobiography (自傳), automobile (汽車), autocrat (獨裁者), autonomy (自治)
astro
star (星星)
Greek
astronomy (天文學), astrophysics (天體物理學), astrology (占星術), astronaut (太空人), astronomer (天文學家), asterisk (星號)
biblio
book (書本)
Greek
Bible (聖經), bibliography (參考書目), bibliophobia (恐書症), bibliophile (愛書者), biblioklept (偷書賊)
bio
life (生命)
Greek
biography (傳記), biology (生物學), autobiography (自傳), bionic (仿生的), biotic (生物的), antibiotic (抗生素), biometrics (生物測量)
chron
time (時間)
Greek
synchronize (同步), chronology (年表), chronic (慢性的), chronicle (編年史), anachronism (時代錯誤)
cide
to kill, a killer (殺害, 殺手)
Latin
homicide (殺人), suicide (自殺), genocide (種族滅絕)
corp
body (身體)
Latin
corpse (屍體), corporation (公司), corps (軍團), incorporate (合併), corporeal (肉體的), corpulence (肥胖)
cred
to believe (相信)
Latin
credit (信用), credentials (證件), credulous (輕信的), incredible (難以置信的)
demo, dem
the people (人民)
Greek
democracy (民主), demography (人口統計), demagogue (煽動家), endemic (地方性的), pandemic (全球大流行)
dic, dict
speak, tell (說, 告訴)
Latin
dictate (口述), dictation (聽寫), diction (措詞), dictator (獨裁者), verdict (裁決), predict (預測), contradict (反駁), benediction (祝福)
dorm
sleep (睡眠)
Latin
dormant (休眠的), dormitory (宿舍), dormer (天窗), dormouse (睡鼠)
geo
earth (地球)
Greek
geology (地質學), geologist (地質學家), geometry (幾何學), geography (地理學), geographer (地理學家), geopolitical (地緣政治的)
graph
to write, to draw (寫, 畫)
Greek
autograph (親筆簽名), biography (傳記), photograph (照片), telegraph (電報), lithograph (石版印刷)
homo
same, alike (相同的)
Greek
homonym (同音異義詞), homogenize (同質化), homophone (同音字)
hydro
water (水)
Greek
hydroplane (水上飛機), dehydrate (脫水), hydroelectric (水電的), hydrogen (氫)
ject
throw (拋, 投)
Latin
reject (拒絕), project (投射), inject (注入), injection (注射), projection (投影)
junct
to join (連結)
Latin
junction (交叉點), conjunction (連接詞), adjunct (附屬), juncture (關鍵時刻)
logos, logy
study (學術)
Greek
geology (地質學), astrology (占星術), biology (生物學), numerology (數字學), zoology (動物學), technology (科技), psychology (心理學), anthropology (人類學), mythology (神話學)
luna
moon (月亮)
Latin
lunar (月球的), lunacy (瘋狂), lunatic (瘋子), interlunar (月球之間的)
meter
measure (測量)
Greek
meter (米), thermometer (溫度計), diameter (直徑), geometry (幾何學), optometry (視力測量), barometer (氣壓計), centimeter (公分), symmetry (對稱), voltammeter (伏安計)
micro
small (小的)
Greek
microscopic (顯微的), microscope (顯微鏡), microcosm (微觀世界)
mega, macro
great, large (大的)
Greek
megaphone (擴音器), megalith (巨石), megatons (百萬噸), megalopolis (大都會), macroclimate (大氣候), macroevolution (宏觀進化)
min
small, little (小的)
Latin
minimal (最小的), minimize (最小化), minimum (最小值), mini (迷你), miniature (微型), minuscule (極小的), minute (微小的), minority (少數)
mit, mis
send (發送)
Latin
mission (任務), transmit (傳送), transmission (傳輸), remit (匯款), missile (導彈), submission (提交), permit (允許), emit (發出), emissary (密使)
path
feeling, suffering (感情, 痛苦)
Greek
pathetic (可憐的), pathology (病理學), apathy (冷漠), antipathy (反感), sympathy (同情), telepathy (心電感應), empathy (同感), sociopath (反社會人格)
ped
foot (腳)
Latin
pedestrian (行人), pedal (踏板), peddle (叫賣), peddler (小販), pedicure (足部護理), pedometer (計步器)
philia
love, friendship (愛, 友情)
Greek
philosopher (哲學家), Philadelphia (費城), philanthropist (慈善家), philharmonic (愛樂), Philip (菲利普)
phobia
fear, intense dislike (恐懼, 強烈不喜)
Greek
claustrophobia (幽閉恐懼症), xenophobic (仇外的), arachnophobia (恐蛛症)
phono
sound (聲音)
Greek
phonograph (留聲機), microphone (麥克風), symphony (交響樂), telephone (電話), phonogram (語音記號), megaphone (擴音器), phony (假的), euphony (悅耳之音), xylophone (木琴)
photo
light (光)
Greek
photograph (照片), photosynthesis (光合作用), telephoto (遠攝), photometer (光度計), photosensitive (感光的)
port
carry (運載)
Latin
port (港口), transport (運輸), transportation (交通運輸), portable (攜帶的), portage (運費), report (報告)
psycho
mind, mental (心靈, 精神的)
Greek
psychology (心理學), psychic (心靈的), psychotropic (作用於心智的), psychologist (心理學家)
rupt
to break (破裂)
Latin
disrupt (擾亂), interrupt (中斷), rupture (破裂), corrupt (腐敗的)
spect
see (看)
Latin
respect (尊敬), inspection (檢查), inspector (檢查員), spectator (觀眾), spectacles (眼鏡), prospect (前景)
scope
look at (觀察)
Greek
microscope (顯微鏡), telescope (望遠鏡), periscope (潛望鏡), kaleidoscope (萬花筒)
script
to write (寫)
Latin
scribble (潦草書寫), manuscript (手稿), scripture (經文), prescription (處方)
sol
sun (太陽)
Latin
solar (太陽的), solar system (太陽系), solstice (至日), solarium (日光浴室), parasol (陽傘)
struct
build, form (建造, 形成)
Latin
instruct (指導), instruction (指示), construction (建造), reconstruction (重建), destruct (破壞), destruction (毀壞), infrastructure (基礎建設), construe (解釋), instrument (儀器), instrumental (有幫助的)
therm
heat, warm (熱, 溫暖)
Greek
thermostat (恆溫器), thermal (熱的)
tele
distant (遠端的)
Greek
telephone (電話), television (電視), telegraph (電報), telephoto (遠攝), telescope (望遠鏡), telepathy (心靈感應), telethon (電話募捐)
terra
land (土地)
Latin
terrarium (玻璃園藝容器), extraterrestrial (外星的), Mediterranean Sea (地中海), subterranean (地下的), terrain (地形), terra firma (堅實的地面)
vert, vers
to turn (轉動)
Latin
reverse (反轉), versatile (多才多藝的), invert (倒置), convert (轉變), divert (轉移)
zoo
animal (動物)
Greek
zoology (動物學), zoogeography (動物地理學), zootoxin (動物毒素)
常見字尾
Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-s, -es (plural)
more than one (多於一個)
hotels (酒店), amendments (修正案), wishes (願望), prefixes (前綴)
-ed (past tense)
in the past (過去式)
walked (走過), jumped (跳過), helped (幫助過)
-ing (present tense)
in the present (現在進行時)
walking (正在走), jumping (正在跳), helping (正在幫忙)
-ate (verb)
become (成為)
complicate (使複雜), hesitate (猶豫), eradicate (根除), placate (安撫), demonstrate (示範), procrastinate (拖延), ruminate (反芻)
-en (verb)
become, to make (成為, 使成為)
enlighten (啟發), tighten (緊縮), frighten (嚇唬), brighten (照亮), dampen (潮濕), fasten (繫緊), heighten (提高), loosen (放鬆), straighten (弄直)
-ify, -fy (verb)
make or become (使成為)
terrify (恐嚇), verify (驗證), clarify (澄清), dignify (使尊貴), rectify (糾正), magnify (放大), classify (分類)
-ize, -ise (verb)
to make; to become (使成為)
hypnotize (催眠), fertilize (施肥), civilize (使文明), rationalize (合理化), criticize (批評), categorize (分類), polarize (兩極分化), modernize (現代化), chastise (懲戒), italicise (斜體), romanticize (浪漫化)
-ly (adverb)
how something is (副詞表方式)
quickly (快速地), easily (容易地), happily (快樂地), majestically (莊嚴地), nonchalantly (漠不關心地), literally (字面上), barely (僅僅), carefully (小心地), abruptly (突然地)
-acy (noun)
state or quality (狀態或品質)
privacy (隱私), occupancy (居住), democracy (民主), buoyancy (浮力), saliency (突出), literacy (識字), secrecy (保密), politely (有禮貌地), rapidly (迅速地)
-ance, -ence (noun)
state or quality of (狀態或品質)
maintenance (維護), eminence (卓越), prominence (突出), dominance (支配), coincidence (巧合), decadence (衰落), cadence (節奏)
-dom (noun)
place or state of being (狀態或存在的地方)
freedom (自由), kingdom (王國), wisdom (智慧), fiefdom (封地), boredom (無聊), martyrdom (殉道)
-er, -or, -ist, -ian, -eer (noun)
one who; what/that/which (某人；某物)
trainer (訓練者), teacher (教師), toaster (烤麵包機), mentor (導師), survivor (倖存者), orator (演說家), governor (州長), pianist (鋼琴家), specialist (專家), dentist (牙醫), librarian (圖書管理員), magician (魔術師), technician (技術員), engineer (工程師), pioneer (先鋒)
-ism
doctrine, belief (主義, 信仰)
communism (共產主義), socialism (社會主義), pragmatism (實用主義), realism (現實主義), feudalism (封建主義), racism (種族主義), Catholicism (天主教信仰), Buddhism (佛教), capitalism (資本主義)
-ist
one who (從事者)
chemist (化學家), socialist (社會主義者), biologist (生物學家), publicist (公關人員), realist (現實主義者), romanticist (浪漫主義者), pragmatist (實用主義者)
-ity, -ty
quality of (品質)
veracity (真實性), honesty (誠實), clarity (清晰), laxity (鬆弛), sanity (神志清醒), vanity (虛榮), rigidity (僵硬), velocity (速度), curiosity (好奇心), responsibility (責任感)
-ment
condition of (條件)
argument (爭論), judgment (判斷), apartment (公寓), contentment (滿足), resentment (怨恨), basement (地下室)
-ness
state of being (狀態)
heaviness (重), happiness (快樂), openness (開放性), harshness (嚴厲), cleanliness (清潔), carelessness (粗心)
-ion, -sion, -tion
state of being; quality; act (狀態; 質量; 行為)
concession (讓步), transition (過渡), action (行動), erosion (侵蝕), vision (視覺), invitation (邀請), conclusion (結論), condemnation (譴責)
o-logy
study of (學科)
biology (生物學), mineralogy (礦物學), ecology (生態學)
-age
result of an action (行動的結果)
marriage (婚姻), pilgrimage (朝聖)
-hood
condition of being (狀態)
neighborhood (鄰里), falsehood (謊言), childhood (童年)
-ary
place for, collection of; one who (場所, 集合; 某人)
glossary (詞彙表), library (圖書館), secretary (秘書), dignitary (高官)
-ship
art or skill of, condition, rank, group of (藝術或技能, 條件, 等級, 群體)
leadership (領導), citizenship (公民身份), ownership (所有權), companionship (伴侶關係), friendship (友誼)
-able, -ible
able to be, worthy of, capable of (能夠, 值得, 有能力的)
comfortable (舒適的), likable (可愛的), enjoyable (令人愉快的), honorable (光榮的), predictable (可預測的), terrible (可怕的), sensible (明智的), incredible (難以置信的), edible (可食用的), visible (可見的)
-ful
notable for, full of (著名的, 充滿的)
fanciful (幻想的), beautiful (美麗的), wonderful (奇妙的), colorful (多彩的), eventful (多事的), fearful (恐怖的), hateful (可恨的), resentful (憤恨的)
-ic, -al, -ial, -ical
pertaining to, relating to (相關的)
energetic (精力充沛的), historic (歷史的), caustic (腐蝕性的), volcanic (火山的), refusal (拒絕), regional (地區的), proposal (提案), fatal (致命的), cordial (熱情的), territorial (領土的), spatial (空間的), social (社會的), comical (滑稽的), historical (歷史的), magical (魔法的), logical (邏輯的), rehearsal (排練)
-ious, -ous
characterized by, full of, having (特徵是, 充滿, 擁有)
nutritious (營養的), portentous (凶兆的), pretentious (矯揉造作的), curious (好奇的), furious (憤怒的), prosperous (繁榮的)
-ish
having the quality of (具有…的品質)
fiendish (惡魔般的), childish (幼稚的), selfish (自私的), boyish (男孩氣的)
-ive
having the nature of, somewhat like (具有…的本質, 有點像)
creative (創造性的), festive (節慶的), responsive (響應的), positive (積極的), negative (消極的), inventive (發明的)
-less
without (沒有)
endless (無盡的), fruitless (徒勞的), worthless (無價值的), powerless (無力的), bottomless (無底的), relentless (無情的), selfless (無私的)
-y, -ly
characterized by; act in a way that (以…為特徵; 表現出某種行為方式)
sleazy (邋遢的), pudgy (胖乎乎的), funny (有趣的), foggy (有霧的), risky (有風險的), milky (乳白色的), sudsy (起泡的), curly (卷曲的), crazy (瘋狂的), shiny (閃亮的), manly (有男子氣概的), heavenly (天堂般的)
如何運用英文字根、字首增加英文字彙量: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/learn-prefixes-and-suffixes-to-expand-your-vocabulary/4140658.html
美國國小、國中學習的字根表
https://bit.ly/2J5u8Kp
字根和字首的列表: https://www.learnthat.org/pages/view/roots.html
字尾的列表: https://www.learnthat.org/pages/view/suffix.html
字根、字首字典
https://itunes.apple.com/tw/app/e4f%E5%AD%97%E6%A0%B9%E5%AD%97%E9%A6%96%E5%AD%97%E5%85%B8/id1080556151?mt=8
字首、字根、字尾線上查尋器:
http://www.english4formosa.com/?q=ety-search
Sources:
http://www.english-for-students.com/struct.html
https://www.etymonline.com/word/-tion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_(linguistics)
http://www.all4you.com.tw/web3/vip/tips/e-index1-3.htm
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/grow-your-vocabulary-by-learning-root-words/4113426.html
英文單字學習 I: http://wp.me/p44l9b-IJ (Overview)
英文單字學習 II: http://wp.me/p44l9b-Yi (Collocation – COCA)
英文單字學習 III: http://wp.me/p44l9b-Yk (Passive to Active)
英文單字學習 IV: http://wp.me/p44l9b-Yo (Learning from Context)
英文單字學習 V: http://wp.me/p44l9b-Yt (Phonetics)
英文單字學習 VI: http://wp.me/p44l9b-Yq (Word Stress)
英文單字學習 VII: http://wp.me/p44l9b-Yv (Word Choice)
英文單字學習 VIII: https://goo.gl/ZCJzGP (Word Map)
學科分類單字+聽說讀寫練習: https://goo.gl/15u9tt
英語搭配詞的教與學: http://goo.gl/s0g2Tc
托福、雅思核心詞彙: https://wp.me/p44l9b-1yU
GRE詞彙和學習資源: http://ecy1979.wixsite.com/ecy-lounge-new/gre
GRE學習資源大全: https://goo.gl/GsPd5R
心智圖詞彙攻略: https://bit.ly/31rvaFL
西红柿酱的做法与保存，西红柿酱的做法与保存一年不坏近视镜片价格及球面与非球面选择对比：哪种更适合您？