喜樂美語

核心畫面

The thing that pushes something else into happening — pull the first domino and the rest fall.

可以想成一條因果鏈的最前端：某件事一發生，就推動了後面的結果。動詞「cause」是「去推那一下」，名詞「cause」…更多收起可以想成一條因果鏈的最前端：某件事一發生，就推動了後面的結果。動詞「cause」是「去推那一下」，名詞「cause」是「推那一下的那個東西」。先抓住「源頭→結果」這個畫面，其他意思都是從這裡延伸出去的。

Four branches

造成結果的源頭

最貼近核心畫面的一群：直接講「源頭→結果」這件事。動詞是去推動結果，名詞是推動結果的那個源頭。

make happen (something bad) · verb · B2

To make something happen, especially something bad.

造成 / 引起

讓人有理由去做的根據

從「源頭」往「心理上的源頭」延伸：不是讓事情發生的原因，而是讓你有理由去感覺、去行動的那個根據——情緒或行動背後的「推力」。

good reason to feel or act · noun · B2

A good enough reason to feel or act in a certain way.

理由 / 正當理由

一群人共同投入的目標

再往外推一層：「值得去做的理由」放大成一群人共同相信、努力追求的目標。原本是「我行動的理由」，這裡變成「大家一起行動的理由」。

a cause (movement or aim) · noun · B2

An aim or idea that a group of people believe in and work hard to support.

理念 / 運動目標

法律上待審的案件

一條較舊、較專門的法律分支：法庭裡待處理的案子。仍可連回核心——一個案件就是「需要查明源頭、釐清是非」的事情——但在現代英語裡這個用法已偏專業、少見。

a legal case · noun · B2

A legal matter that a court hears and decides.

（法律）案件

原始詞典資料10 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

causenoun詞源 1/kɔːz/

  • 1

    The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

    • They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.
    • We thanke you both, yet one but flatters vs, As well appeareth by the cauſe you come, Namely, to appeale each other of high treaſon.
  • 2

    Sufficient reason.

    • There is no cause for alarm.
    • The end of the war was a cause for celebration.
  • 3

    A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.

    • God befriend us, as our cause is just.
    • The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause.
  • 4

    obsoleteSake; interest; advantage.

    • I did it not for his cause.
  • 5

    obsoleteAny subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.

    • What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
  • 6

    lawA suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

causeverb詞源 1/kɔːz/

  • 1

    To set off an event or action; to bring about; to produce.

    • The lightning caused thunder.
    • Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.[…]She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat.
  • 2

    To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.

    • His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.
    • I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.
  • 3

    obsoleteTo assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

    • He, to shifte their curious request, / Gan causen why she could not come in place.

這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。