family
/ˈfæməli/KK
fæ·mə·li
變化形
families
1.
家庭；家人
由父母與子女組成，或彼此有血緣、婚姻或收養關係的一群人。
用法：family 是集合名詞。把家人視為一個整體時，通常接單數動詞；強調個別成員時，尤其在英式英語中，也可接複數動詞。
She called her family after she arrived safely.
她安全抵達後打電話給家人。
My family has dinner on New Year’s Day.
我的家人在元旦吃晚餐。
還有 2 個進階的意思（國小之後才會學到）
2.
家族；世家
在多個世代中彼此有血緣關係，並常共享姓氏的一個家族。
用法：常與姓氏連用，如 the Chen family，指「陳家」或「陳氏家族」。
People in their family are good at music.
他們家的人都很會音樂。
The bakery has been in the family for many years.
這家麵包店已經是家族生意很多年了。
3.
類；族；科
具有共同特徵、來源或結構的一組相關事物、生物、語言或產品。
用法：常見結構為 a family of＋複數名詞，表示「一系列相關的……」。
This shop sells things for the family.
這家店賣家庭用品。
English and Chinese are in the same language family.
英文和中文屬於同一個語系。
常見錯誤
I have a big family members.
I have a big family.／I have many family members.
My family has five people.
There are five people in my family.／My family has five members.
I went to my family's home for dinner.
I went to my family's house for dinner.／I went home for dinner with my family.
My family are very kind.（美式英語中，指整個家庭時）
My family is very kind.
相關字詞
學習提示
・family 最常指「家人」或「家庭」，不是「房子」；房子通常是 house，作為居住與歸屬之處的「家」則常是 home。
・the family 可指某個特定家族或一家人；families 則指多個家庭。
・family 和所有格連用時很常見，例如 my family、her family、the Wang family。