- 1
A smaller story running inside the main story. In a novel, film, or TV series, the subplot follows some of the same characters (or a few side ones) through their own set of events, while the main plot carries the weight.
A smaller story running inside the main story一個藏在主線故事裡面的較小故事 In a novel, film, or TV series在小說、電影，或電視劇裡 the subplot follows some of the same characters (or a few side ones)支線劇情會跟著幾個一樣的角色（或是幾個配角） through their own set of events走過屬於他們自己的一連串事件 while the main plot carries the weight而主線負責撐起整個故事的重量
A detective film's main plot is catching the killer; the subplot might be the detective's failing marriage. Good subplots are not decoration — they usually comment on the main story, giving the theme a second angle, and they often join up with the main plot near the end.
A detective film's main plot is catching the killer一部偵探片的主線是抓到兇手 the subplot might be the detective's failing marriage支線可能是偵探快要破裂的婚姻 Good subplots are not decoration好的支線不是裝飾品 they usually comment on the main story, giving the theme a second angle它們通常會呼應主線故事，給主題一個第二種角度 and they often join up with the main plot near the end而且常常在接近結尾時跟主線匯合
Notice the countable grammar: a subplot, two subplots, the romantic subplot. It is a normal word for anyone who talks about stories — students, , fans online — so it is not stiff or academic, though you will not use it about your own day.
Notice the countable grammar要注意這是可數名詞 a subplot, two subplots, the romantic subplot一個subplot、兩個subplots、the romantic subplot（愛情支線） It is a normal word for anyone who talks about stories — students, reviewers, fans online對任何討論故事的人來說——學生、影評人、網路上的粉絲——這都是個普通的字 so it is not stiff or academic所以不生硬也不學術 though you will not use it about your own day不過你不會用它來說自己的一天
People do stretch it beyond fiction: news writers say the wage dispute was an interesting subplot to the election, meaning a smaller storyline inside a bigger event. Sport commentary loves this use.
People do stretch it beyond fiction人們確實會把它用到小說以外的地方 news writers say the wage dispute was an interesting subplot to the election新聞寫手會說薪資糾紛是這場選舉裡一個有趣的subplot meaning a smaller storyline inside a bigger event意思是一個大事件裡的小故事線 Sport commentary loves this use體育評論很愛這種用法
There is a rare verb *to subplot*, but you can safely ignore it.
There is a rare verb *to subplot*有一個很少見的動詞to subplot but you can safely ignore it但你可以放心忽略它
組成sub- 'under, below, lesser' + plot 'the events of a story'. Same prefix pattern as subgroup, subheading, subcommittee: a smaller one inside a bigger one.
同家族的字
- subheadingsame sub- 'lesser one inside a bigger one'
- subcommitteesame pattern — a smaller committee inside a larger one
- subwaysame sub- 'under'
原始詞典資料3 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。
subplotnoun/ˈsʌb.plɒt/
- 1
A plot within a story, subsidiary to the main plot.
- 1978, R.B. Lee & R. Misiorowski, Script Models: A Handbook for the Media Writer, Subplot, a story line enclosed within the principal story to provide relief from the main plot's tension, add character dimension, etc.
- Structurally, the two most variant scenes (outside of Scene ii) are Scenes 3 and 4 in which the compiler works out the variant subplot.
- 2
A subdivision of a plot of land, especially one used for an agricultural experiment.
- [...] on sixteen 8/10-acre plots (12.8 acres) well distributed over the area. [...] A 1/160-acre subplot was established in a randomly chosen corner of each [...]
- 1999, E. K. Sadanandan Nambiar, Christian Cossalter, Site Management and Productivity in Tropical Plantation Forest, There are 72 trees in each plot (6x12) and 36 trees in each subplot.
subplotverb/ˈsʌb.plɒt/
- 1
To provide (a story) with a subplot.
- In the pictures of places, too, an author uses economy; and for his plot, complicated and subplotted as it may seem, he cannot count on having vast stretches of eternity in which to elaborate forever.
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。