TOEFL 單字手冊 — 威威老師編著
威威老師小提醒
TOEFL 是「學術英文考試」，所以單字也要走學術路線。坊間 TOEFL 單字書動輒 5,000-10,000 字，但其實真正高頻的核心字大概 500 個。這本手冊幫你挑出最重要的 500 個 TOEFL 學術核心字，按學科主題分類，搭配近義詞辨析，讓你用最有效率的方式準備 TOEFL。
TOEFL 字彙的特色
為什麼 TOEFL 字彙這麼難？
TOEFL 字彙難度介於 GEPT 高級（C1）和 GRE（C2）之間，特色：
- 學術導向 — 不考日常用字，全部是學術論文、教科書才會出現的字
- 多學科 — 文學、歷史、生物、地質、心理學、藝術史…全部都考
- 同義詞替換 — 閱讀題型「In paragraph X, the word Y is closest in meaning to…」
- 抽象概念 — 大量抽象名詞和學術動詞
TOEFL 字彙準備策略
第 1 階段（基礎）：背 500 個核心字
→ 看到能秒選同義詞
→ 知道大致的中文意思
第 2 階段（進階）：學近義詞辨析
→ 30 組關鍵近義詞群
→ 知道在不同語境用哪個
第 3 階段（衝刺）：閱讀文章累積字彙
→ The Atlantic, Scientific American
→ 每篇文章查 5-10 個生字
TOEFL 高頻近義詞辨析 30 組
TOEFL 閱讀最愛考的就是「同義詞替換題」（synonym in context），這 30 組是出題率最高的：
| 組 | 近義詞群 | 核心差異 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | abundant / plentiful / ample / copious | abundant = 大量的（中性）；copious = 充足的（學術） |
| 2 | acquire / obtain / attain / procure | attain = 達成（目標）；procure = 採購（正式） |
| 3 | adverse / detrimental / unfavorable / harmful | detrimental = 有害的（學術）；adverse = 不利的（正式） |
| 4 | alter / modify / transform / convert | transform = 徹底改變；convert = 轉換（功能/形式） |
| 5 | ambiguous / vague / obscure / equivocal | ambiguous = 模糊（多種解讀）；equivocal = 模稜兩可（刻意） |
| 6 | assert / claim / contend / maintain | contend = 主張（有爭議）；maintain = 堅持（不變立場） |
| 7 | assess / evaluate / appraise / gauge | gauge = 估量（程度）；appraise = 估價（正式） |
| 8 | attribute / ascribe / credit / impute | ascribe = 歸因於（學術）；attribute = 歸功/咎於 |
| 9 | augment / enhance / amplify / bolster | augment = 增加（數量）；amplify = 擴大（聲音/影響） |
| 10 | biased / partial / prejudiced / one-sided | biased = 有偏見（廣泛）；prejudiced = 帶歧視性 |
| 11 | comprise / constitute / encompass / consist of | comprise = 包含（整體→部分）；constitute = 構成（部分→整體） |
| 12 | confirm / verify / validate / corroborate | corroborate = 旁證；validate = 認證（正式） |
| 13 | conspicuous / prominent / noticeable / salient | salient = 顯著的（學術）；conspicuous = 顯眼的（中性） |
| 14 | deduce / infer / conclude / surmise | infer = 推斷（從證據）；surmise = 猜測（不確定） |
| 15 | deplete / exhaust / drain / consume | deplete = 耗盡（資源）；drain = 抽乾（液體） |
| 16 | diminish / decrease / reduce / dwindle | dwindle = 逐漸減少；diminish = 削弱（學術） |
| 17 | discrepancy / disparity / inconsistency / divergence | disparity = 差距（社會）；discrepancy = 不一致（事實） |
| 18 | dispute / contest / challenge / question | contest = 爭奪/質疑（正式）；question = 質疑（中性） |
| 19 | eliminate / eradicate / abolish / extinguish | eradicate = 根除（疾病/問題）；abolish = 廢除（制度） |
| 20 | emulate / imitate / replicate / mimic | emulate = 效法（正面）；mimic = 模仿（中性/負面） |
| 21 | encompass / include / contain / embrace | encompass = 涵蓋（範圍）；embrace = 接受（學術） |
| 22 | establish / found / institute / set up | institute = 建立（制度/程序）；found = 創立（組織） |
| 23 | exemplify / illustrate / demonstrate / typify | typify = 是典型；exemplify = 是範例 |
| 24 | fluctuate / vary / oscillate / waver | oscillate = 擺動（規律）；waver = 動搖（猶豫） |
| 25 | fundamental / essential / vital / crucial | fundamental = 根本的；vital = 攸關生存 |
| 26 | manifest / evident / apparent / obvious | manifest = 明顯的（學術）；apparent = 表面上的 |
| 27 | mitigate / alleviate / ease / relieve | mitigate = 減緩（負面影響）；alleviate = 緩解（痛苦） |
| 28 | postulate / hypothesize / theorize / conjecture | postulate = 假定（前提）；conjecture = 推測（不確定） |
| 29 | proliferate / multiply / spread / propagate | proliferate = 激增；propagate = 傳播/繁殖 |
| 30 | scrutinize / examine / inspect / probe | scrutinize = 仔細審視；probe = 探查（深入） |
一、自然科學 (Natural Sciences)
1.1 生物學 (Biology)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| organism | 生物 | 名詞 | All living organisms require water. | living being |
| species | 物種 | 名詞 | A new species was discovered. | type, kind |
| habitat | 棲息地 | 名詞 | Deforestation destroys habitats. | environment |
| ecosystem | 生態系統 | 名詞 | The ecosystem is in balance. | biosphere |
| predator | 掠食者 | 名詞 | Lions are apex predators. | hunter |
| prey | 獵物 | 名詞 | The deer is prey for wolves. | victim |
| evolve | 演化 | 動詞 | Species evolve over generations. | develop, adapt |
| adaptation | 適應 | 名詞 | This adaptation aids survival. | adjustment |
| dormant | 休眠的 | 形容詞 | The seeds remain dormant in winter. | inactive, latent |
| metabolism | 新陳代謝 | 名詞 | A fast metabolism burns calories. | physiology |
| photosynthesis | 光合作用 | 名詞 | Plants use photosynthesis for food. | - |
| nocturnal | 夜行性的 | 形容詞 | Owls are nocturnal birds. | night-active |
| migrate | 遷徙 | 動詞 | Birds migrate south for winter. | relocate |
| extinct | 絕種的 | 形容詞 | Dinosaurs are extinct. | vanished |
| genetic | 基因的 | 形容詞 | Genetic factors influence traits. | hereditary |
1.2 地球科學 (Earth Science)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sediment | 沉積物 | 名詞 | Rivers deposit sediment downstream. | deposit |
| erosion | 侵蝕 | 名詞 | Wind causes erosion of cliffs. | wearing away |
| geological | 地質的 | 形容詞 | Geological changes take millennia. | earth-related |
| terrain | 地形 | 名詞 | The terrain is mountainous. | landscape |
| crust | 地殼 | 名詞 | The Earth’s crust is fragmented. | outer layer |
| volcanic | 火山的 | 形容詞 | Volcanic activity shapes islands. | igneous |
| seismic | 地震的 | 形容詞 | Seismic waves travel fast. | tremor-related |
| precipitation | 降水 | 名詞 | Annual precipitation is decreasing. | rainfall |
| atmosphere | 大氣層 | 名詞 | The atmosphere protects Earth. | air |
| latitude | 緯度 | 名詞 | At higher latitudes, it’s colder. | parallel |
1.3 化學與物理 (Chemistry & Physics)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| compound | 化合物 | 名詞 | Water is a chemical compound. | mixture |
| molecule | 分子 | 名詞 | Each molecule has atoms. | particle |
| reaction | 反應 | 名詞 | The chemical reaction is rapid. | response |
| catalyst | 催化劑 | 名詞 | A catalyst speeds up reactions. | accelerator |
| velocity | 速度 | 名詞 | The velocity increased steadily. | speed |
| friction | 摩擦力 | 名詞 | Friction slows movement. | resistance |
| equilibrium | 平衡 | 名詞 | The system reached equilibrium. | balance |
| density | 密度 | 名詞 | Lead has high density. | thickness |
| oscillate | 振盪 | 動詞 | The pendulum oscillates regularly. | swing |
| dissipate | 消散 | 動詞 | Heat dissipates quickly. | disperse |
二、社會科學 (Social Sciences)
2.1 歷史 (History)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| era | 時代 | 名詞 | The Victorian era ended in 1901. | epoch, period |
| reign | 統治期 | 名詞 | Her reign lasted decades. | rule, dominion |
| dynasty | 王朝 | 名詞 | The Ming Dynasty flourished. | royal house |
| empire | 帝國 | 名詞 | The Roman Empire expanded. | dominion |
| colonize | 殖民 | 動詞 | Europeans colonized Africa. | settle, occupy |
| revolution | 革命 | 名詞 | The Industrial Revolution transformed society. | upheaval |
| artifact | 文物 | 名詞 | Ancient artifacts were unearthed. | relic |
| civilization | 文明 | 名詞 | The civilization flourished briefly. | culture, society |
| chronicle | 編年史 | 名詞 | Medieval chronicles describe wars. | record |
| obsolete | 過時的 | 形容詞 | The technology became obsolete. | outdated |
| pivotal | 關鍵的 | 形容詞 | A pivotal moment in history. | crucial |
| widespread | 廣泛的 | 形容詞 | The practice was widespread. | prevalent |
| precede | 在…之前 | 動詞 | This event preceded the war. | come before |
| succeed | 繼任 | 動詞 | His son succeeded him as king. | follow, replace |
| diminish | 衰退 | 動詞 | The empire’s power diminished. | decline |
2.2 心理學 (Psychology)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cognitive | 認知的 | 形容詞 | Cognitive abilities decline with age. | mental |
| perception | 感知 | 名詞 | Visual perception can deceive. | awareness |
| stimulus | 刺激 | 名詞 | The stimulus triggered a response. | trigger |
| behavior | 行為 | 名詞 | Aggressive behavior is concerning. | conduct |
| innate | 天生的 | 形容詞 | The instinct is innate. | inborn |
| acquired | 後天的 | 形容詞 | This skill is acquired, not innate. | learned |
| trauma | 創傷 | 名詞 | Childhood trauma has lasting effects. | psychological injury |
| anxiety | 焦慮 | 名詞 | Anxiety affects performance. | worry, unease |
| empathy | 同理心 | 名詞 | Empathy strengthens relationships. | compassion |
| altruism | 利他主義 | 名詞 | True altruism is rare. | selflessness |
2.3 經濟學 (Economics)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| supply | 供應 | 名詞 | Supply exceeds demand. | provision |
| demand | 需求 | 名詞 | Consumer demand drives prices. | requirement |
| commerce | 商業 | 名詞 | E-commerce is booming. | trade |
| trade | 貿易 | 名詞 | International trade benefits both. | commerce |
| commodity | 商品 | 名詞 | Oil is a global commodity. | goods |
| capital | 資本 | 名詞 | Investment capital is scarce. | funds |
| recession | 衰退 | 名詞 | The country entered a recession. | downturn |
| prosperity | 繁榮 | 名詞 | Economic prosperity is widespread. | wealth |
| scarcity | 稀缺 | 名詞 | Water scarcity is a global issue. | shortage |
| surplus | 盈餘 | 名詞 | The country has a surplus. | excess |
三、人文藝術 (Humanities & Arts)
3.1 文學 (Literature)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| narrative | 敘事 | 名詞 | The narrative unfolds slowly. | story |
| protagonist | 主角 | 名詞 | The protagonist faces challenges. | main character |
| antagonist | 反派 | 名詞 | The antagonist is complex. | villain |
| metaphor | 隱喻 | 名詞 | The poem uses powerful metaphors. | figure of speech |
| allegory | 寓言 | 名詞 | The story is an allegory for war. | parable |
| genre | 文類 | 名詞 | The novel defines a new genre. | category |
| prose | 散文 | 名詞 | Her prose is elegant. | non-verse writing |
| verse | 韻文 | 名詞 | The poem is in classical verse. | poetry |
| satire | 諷刺 | 名詞 | The play is political satire. | mockery |
| symbolism | 象徵主義 | 名詞 | Symbolism enriches the text. | imagery |
3.2 藝術與音樂 (Art & Music)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| portrait | 肖像 | 名詞 | The portrait captures her essence. | likeness |
| composition | 作品 | 名詞 | The musical composition is haunting. | piece |
| canvas | 畫布 | 名詞 | The canvas is enormous. | painting surface |
| sculpture | 雕塑 | 名詞 | The marble sculpture is iconic. | statue |
| aesthetic | 美學的 | 形容詞 | The design has aesthetic appeal. | artistic |
| ornate | 華麗的 | 形容詞 | The ornate decorations dazzle. | elaborate |
| minimalist | 極簡的 | 形容詞 | The minimalist style is striking. | simple |
| harmony | 和諧 | 名詞 | The harmony of colors is pleasing. | balance |
| symmetry | 對稱 | 名詞 | The building’s symmetry is perfect. | balance |
| craftsmanship | 工藝 | 名詞 | The craftsmanship is exceptional. | artistry |
3.3 哲學 (Philosophy)
| 英文 | 中文 | 詞性 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ethics | 倫理學 | 名詞 | Medical ethics is complex. | morality |
| paradox | 悖論 | 名詞 | The paradox has no solution. | contradiction |
| dilemma | 困境 | 名詞 | He faced a moral dilemma. | predicament |
| premise | 前提 | 名詞 | The premise is questionable. | assumption |
| inference | 推論 | 名詞 | Draw your own inference. | deduction |
| rational | 理性的 | 形容詞 | A rational argument is needed. | logical |
| empirical | 經驗的 | 形容詞 | Empirical evidence supports this. | observational |
| abstract | 抽象的 | 形容詞 | The concept is highly abstract. | theoretical |
| concrete | 具體的 | 形容詞 | Give a concrete example. | specific |
| pragmatic | 務實的 | 形容詞 | Take a pragmatic approach. | practical |
四、TOEFL 高頻學術動詞 (Academic Verbs)
這些動詞在 TOEFL 閱讀和聽力中極高頻，務必熟記：
| 英文 | 中文 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|
| illustrate | 說明 | The graph illustrates the trend. | demonstrate, show |
| highlight | 強調 | The author highlights key points. | emphasize |
| outline | 概述 | He outlined the main ideas. | summarize |
| summarize | 總結 | Please summarize the article. | recap |
| analyze | 分析 | Scientists analyze the data. | examine |
| synthesize | 綜合 | The book synthesizes various theories. | integrate |
| infer | 推論 | What can you infer from this? | deduce |
| imply | 暗示 | The author implies disagreement. | suggest |
| contradict | 矛盾 | The findings contradict previous research. | refute |
| reinforce | 強化 | These results reinforce the theory. | strengthen |
| undermine | 削弱 | This evidence undermines the argument. | weaken |
| sustain | 維持 | The economy sustains growth. | maintain |
| facilitate | 促進 | Technology facilitates learning. | enable |
| hinder | 阻礙 | Bureaucracy hinders progress. | impede |
| presume | 假定 | We presume the data is accurate. | assume |
| posit | 假設 | The theory posits a connection. | propose |
| refute | 反駁 | The expert refuted the claim. | disprove |
| concede | 讓步 | He conceded the point. | admit |
| advocate | 主張 | The group advocates reform. | support |
| endorse | 支持 | The committee endorsed the plan. | approve |
| dismiss | 駁回 | The judge dismissed the case. | reject |
| discern | 辨別 | It’s hard to discern the truth. | distinguish |
| construe | 解釋 | How do you construe this passage? | interpret |
| denote | 表示 | The symbol denotes danger. | signify |
| evoke | 喚起 | The painting evokes sadness. | elicit |
五、TOEFL 高頻學術形容詞 (Academic Adjectives)
| 英文 | 中文 | 例句 | 同義詞 |
|---|---|---|---|
| comprehensive | 全面的 | A comprehensive review is needed. | thorough |
| substantial | 大量的 | Substantial evidence supports this. | considerable |
| profound | 深遠的 | The impact was profound. | deep |
| superficial | 表面的 | A superficial analysis won’t suffice. | shallow |
| coherent | 連貫的 | The argument is coherent. | logical |
| inconsistent | 不一致的 | The data is inconsistent. | contradictory |
| plausible | 合理的 | A plausible explanation. | believable |
| feasible | 可行的 | The plan is feasible. | practical |
| arbitrary | 武斷的 | The decision was arbitrary. | random |
| subjective | 主觀的 | Beauty is subjective. | personal |
| objective | 客觀的 | Aim for an objective view. | impartial |
| robust | 強健的 | The methodology is robust. | strong |
| tentative | 暫定的 | These are tentative findings. | provisional |
| definitive | 確定的 | A definitive answer is needed. | conclusive |
| ambiguous | 模糊的 | The wording is ambiguous. | unclear |
| explicit | 明確的 | Make your point explicit. | clear |
| implicit | 含蓄的 | The meaning is implicit. | implied |
| inevitable | 不可避免的 | Conflict was inevitable. | unavoidable |
| inherent | 固有的 | Risk is inherent in business. | intrinsic |
| extraneous | 無關的 | Remove extraneous information. | irrelevant |
六、TOEFL 連接詞與轉折語 (Connectors & Transitions)
聽力和閱讀的結構訊號詞，聽到 / 看到馬上知道接下來是什麼：
6.1 因果關係 (Cause & Effect)
- consequently / as a result / thereby / hence / thus
- owing to / due to / on account of
- lead to / give rise to / result in
6.2 對比 (Contrast)
- conversely / on the contrary / in contrast
- nevertheless / nonetheless / notwithstanding
- albeit / whereas / although
6.3 補充 (Addition)
- furthermore / moreover / in addition
- likewise / similarly / correspondingly
- what is more / on top of that
6.4 舉例 (Exemplification)
- for instance / such as / including
- to illustrate / as an example / a case in point
- namely / specifically / in particular
6.5 強調 (Emphasis)
- indeed / in fact / as a matter of fact
- notably / especially / above all
- undoubtedly / certainly / clearly
6.6 結論 (Conclusion)
- in conclusion / to sum up / in summary
- all in all / on the whole / overall
- ultimately / in the final analysis
七、TOEFL 字彙學習秘訣
7.1 不要用單字書硬背！
最差的方法：
- ❌ 從 A 背到 Z
- ❌ 一天背 50 個
- ❌ 只看中文意思
最佳的方法：
- ✅ 主題式記憶（一次一個學科）
- ✅ 一天 10-15 個，重複多次
- ✅ 看例句、查同義詞、自己造句
7.2 真實閱讀累積法
每週讀 2-3 篇學術文章，來源推薦：
| 來源 | 程度 | 特色 |
|---|---|---|
| The Atlantic | 中高級 | 深度文化、社會評論 |
| Scientific American | 高級 | 科學文章，TOEFL 風格 |
| The New Yorker | 高級 | 文學性高，鍛鍊 inference |
| Smithsonian Magazine | 高級 | 歷史、藝術、科學 |
| National Geographic | 中高級 | 地理、生物、文化 |
閱讀方法：
- 第一次讀：不查字典，了解大意
- 第二次讀：標記不會的字（每篇 5-10 個）
- 查字典：看英英解釋 + 例句
- 整理：放入主題式單字筆記
- 一週後複習：用這些字寫 1-2 句話
7.3 同義詞雷達網
TOEFL 閱讀最常考同義詞替換，所以背字時要建立「同義詞雷達網」：
abundant
├─ plentiful (常見、足夠)
├─ ample (充足、足以)
├─ copious (大量、學術)
├─ profuse (極多、豐富)
└─ bountiful (慷慨、富饒)
每背一個字，至少想到 2-3 個同義詞。考試時看到陌生字，可以從同義詞雷達網中猜出意思。
7.4 字根字首字尾法
TOEFL 字彙有 60% 可以用字根字首字尾推測意思：
| 字根 | 意思 | 例字 |
|---|---|---|
| bio- | 生命 | biology, biography, biodiversity |
| chrono- | 時間 | chronology, synchronize, chronic |
| geo- | 地球 | geology, geography, geometry |
| hydro- | 水 | hydrate, hydrogen, dehydrate |
| eco- | 生態 | ecology, ecosystem, economy |
| anthropo- | 人類 | anthropology, anthropomorphic |
| socio- | 社會 | sociology, socioeconomic, sociable |
| psycho- | 心理 | psychology, psychic, psychiatric |
| tele- | 遠 | telescope, telegraph, television |
| micro- | 小 | microscope, microbe, microcosm |
考前一個月衝刺計畫
| 週次 | 重點 | 每日量 |
|---|---|---|
| 第 1 週 | 30 組近義詞辨析 | 5 組/天 |
| 第 2 週 | 自然科學 + 社會科學 字彙 | 20 字/天 |
| 第 3 週 | 人文藝術 + 學術動詞 | 20 字/天 |
| 第 4 週 | 學術形容詞 + 連接詞 + 總複習 | 30 字/天 |
每天必做：
- ✅ 早上：背 20 個新字（10 分鐘）
- ✅ 中午：複習昨天的字（5 分鐘）
- ✅ 晚上：閱讀 1 篇文章 + 整理生字（30 分鐘）
威威老師的最後叮嚀
TOEFL 字彙是一場長期戰役，不要妄想 1 個月背完 5,000 字。
真正高效的方法是：
- 掌握 500 個核心字（這本手冊的內容）
- 建立同義詞雷達網（一個字至少 2-3 個同義詞）
- 每天閱讀 —— 真實學術文章累積語感
- 不會的字當下查，查完隔天複習，一週後再複習一次
- 背搭配詞，不要只背單字 —— 例如不是背 “implement”，而是背 “implement a policy”
TOEFL 字彙的決勝點不是「量多」，而是「能在閱讀和聽力中瞬間理解、瞬間反應」。每天 30 分鐘，三個月後你的字彙量會自然到位。
加油！威威老師相信你做得到！