英文字根 liter
我們每天接觸的「文字」不只是語言的表達工具，它還記錄著歷史、情感、創意，甚至一個人的思想深度。而在英文字裡，與「文字」最直接相關的字根就是 liter，它來自拉丁文的 littera，意思就是「字母」或「書寫的文字」。這個字根衍伸出了許多與文字、閱讀、文學、教育、語言等主題有關的字彙，只要掌握了這個字根，不但可以大大擴充英文詞彙量，還能幫助你更容易理解抽象的概念或高階字彙。下面這30個單字都和 liter 有關，一起來一邊學一邊用故事與例句感受它們的魅力。
1. literature
n. 文學、文學作品
例句：
- Literature allows us to explore different cultures and emotions.
文學讓我們能夠探索不同的文化與情感。 - She studied English literature in university.
她在大學主修英國文學。 - Good literature stands the test of time.
優秀的文學經得起時間的考驗。
2. literate
adj. 有讀寫能力的；通曉的
例句：
- In the modern world, being computer literate is essential.
在現代社會，會使用電腦是基本技能。 - She became literate at the age of six.
她在六歲時學會讀寫。 - He is not only literate but also well-read.
他不只識字，還博覽群書。
3. literacy
n. 識字能力、讀寫能力
例句：
- The country’s literacy rate has improved significantly.
該國的識字率有顯著提升。 - Literacy is the foundation of education.
識字是教育的基礎。 - They launched a new literacy program for adults.
他們為成人開辦了一項新的識字課程。
4. illiterate
adj. 不識字的；n. 文盲
例句：
- Many elderly people in rural areas are still illiterate.
許多偏鄉的老人仍是文盲。 - He is financially illiterate and cannot manage his money.
他對理財一竅不通，沒辦法管理自己的錢。 - Being illiterate can severely limit job opportunities.
不識字會大大限制就業機會。
5. literal
adj. 字面上的；逐字的
例句：
- The literal meaning of the word “fire” is combustion.
「fire」這個字的字面意思是燃燒。 - Don’t take his words too literal.
別把他的話過度解讀成字面意思。 - A literal translation often loses the cultural nuance.
逐字翻譯常常會失去文化上的細微差異。
6. literally
adv. 確實地、照字面地
例句：
- I literally cried when I saw that scene.
我真的在看到那一幕時哭了出來。 - He was literally shaking with fear.
他真的嚇得發抖。 - The phrase “raining cats and dogs” shouldn’t be taken literally.
「下傾盆大雨」這句話不應該按字面來解釋。
7. literati
n. 文人、學者
例句：
- The café was often filled with artists and literati.
那家咖啡館常常聚集著藝術家與文人。 - The literati in ancient China often held poetry contests.
古代中國的文人常常舉辦詩詞比賽。 - He was respected by the literati of his time.
他受到當時文人們的尊敬。
8. obliterate
v. 抹除、消滅
例句：
- The explosion obliterated the entire building.
爆炸將整棟建築夷為平地。 - His name was obliterated from the records.
他的名字被從紀錄中刪除。 - Time cannot obliterate true memories.
時間無法抹去真正的記憶。
9. preliterate
adj. 尚未發展書寫系統的
例句：
- Preliterate societies relied on oral storytelling.
尚未發展文字的社會依賴口述故事傳承文化。 - Children go through a preliterate phase before learning to read.
小孩在學習閱讀前會有一段尚未識字的階段。 - Cave paintings are forms of communication in preliterate times.
洞穴壁畫是尚未有文字時代的溝通形式。
10. transliterate
v. 音譯（把文字從一種字母系統轉換到另一種）
例句：
- His name was transliterated into Chinese.
他的名字被音譯成中文。 - Some words are hard to transliterate accurately.
有些字很難準確音譯。 - Transliteration is common in names and technical terms.
音譯在人名和專業術語中很常見。
11. alliteration
n. 頭韻
例句：
- “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” is an example of alliteration.
「Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers」是頭韻的例子。 - Poets often use alliteration to create rhythm.
詩人常用頭韻來創造韻律。 - Alliteration adds a musical quality to language.
頭韻為語言增添音樂感。
12. obliteration
n. 消滅、抹除
例句：
- The storm caused the obliteration of several villages.
風暴摧毀了好幾個村莊。 - Some memories resist obliteration.
有些記憶無法被抹去。 - The obliteration of history is a dangerous thing.
抹去歷史是一件危險的事。
13. illiteracy
n. 文盲狀態
例句：
- The government is working to reduce illiteracy.
政府正努力降低文盲率。 - Illiteracy affects both individuals and society.
文盲會影響個人也會影響整個社會。 - We must break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.
我們必須打破貧窮與文盲的惡性循環。
14. liter
n. 公升
例句：
- I drink two liters of water every day.
我每天喝兩公升的水。 - This bottle holds one liter of juice.
這瓶子可以裝一公升果汁。 - Gasoline costs per liter vary by country.
各國汽油的每公升價格都不同。
15. literalism
n. 字面主義
例句：
- Biblical literalism is common in some religious groups.
某些宗教團體信奉聖經字面主義。 - His literalism makes him a poor poet.
他的字面理解讓他成不了好詩人。 - Literalism ignores metaphor and nuance.
字面主義忽略了隱喻與細微之處。
16. literarily
adv. 以文學方式地
例句：
- The book was literarily complex and beautifully written.
這本書文學性高，寫得很優美。 - He approached the topic literarily, not scientifically.
他從文學的角度，而非科學角度切入這個主題。 - The film was literarily inspired.
這部電影受到文學作品啟發。
17. literary
adj. 文學的
例句：
- He has a deep literary background.
他有深厚的文學背景。 - The novel won several literary awards.
這本小說贏得了多個文學獎項。 - She works in the literary field.
她從事文學相關工作。
18. literateness
n. 有識字能力、有文學素養
例句：
- Literateness improves one’s ability to analyze text.
有文學素養能提升分析文本的能力。 - Her literateness is evident in her writing.
她的寫作中展現出良好的文學素養。 - Schools aim to enhance students’ literateness.
學校致力於提升學生的語文素養。
19. postliterate
adj. 書面文字使用下降的、後識字時代的
例句：
- Some say we are living in a postliterate society.
有人說我們活在後識字時代。 - Visual media dominate postliterate culture.
視覺媒體主導了後識字文化。 - Postliterate trends are changing education.
後識字趨勢正改變教育模式。
20. letter
n. 字母、信件
例句：
- I received a letter from my old friend.
我收到一封來自老朋友的信。 - “B” is the second letter in the alphabet.
「B」是字母表的第二個字母。 - She wrote a heartfelt letter to her parents.
她寫了一封感人肺腑的信給父母。