Element 是可數名詞，為一各式英檢的必備單字 (CEFR B2)。

考點 1    

最常考的意思是「元素；要素」。

例如：The new thriller novel is still incomplete because it lacks a few significant elements.，其中 element 字尾可加 s，複數形，代表有數個要素之意。參照〈釋義A ▶ 例1〉

考點 2    

另一用法其實也會在日常生活中出現，但就較偏向「大自然界的元素」。

例如：Advanced chemistry students are expected to memorize the full periodic table of elements within the first academic semester.，其中 periodic table of elements 即元素週期表，在化學課中應該也常聽到吧！參照〈釋義H ▶ 例5〉

 釋義A    essential characteristics of an (abstract) thing 要素 

例1 ▶ The new thriller novel is still incomplete because it lacks a few significant elements such as a greater sense of suspense, gripping psychological tension, and a stronger presence of emotional darkness.
這本新的懸疑小說仍未完成，因為它缺少一些重要元素，例如更強烈的懸疑感、引人入勝的心理緊張和更強烈的情感黑暗氛圍。

例2 ▶ Many people dislike traveling by plane because they assume there are greater elements of danger out of their control in the air rather than on solid ground.
許多人不喜歡搭飛機旅行，因為他們認為在空中比在堅硬地面上有更多不受他們控制的危險要素。

 釋義B    a small amount of a feeling or quality 因素 

例3 ▶ Although Brandon’s concerns about exceeding the budget for upcoming events were quite exaggerated, they did carry an element of truth to them, and members grew careful about their future spending.
儘管布蘭登對即將舉行的活動超出預算的擔憂相當誇張，但他們確實有一定道理，會員們對未來的支出越來越謹慎。

例4 ▶ Critics believe that this series of animated films performed remarkably well because they were able to harness the element of surprise to repeatedly entertain their audience of young children.
評論家認為，這一系列動畫電影的表現非常出色，因為它們能夠利用驚喜的元素來反覆娛樂兒童觀眾。

 釋義C    distinct, fundamental parts of a larger system 基礎原理 

例5 ▶ Gaining a steady foundation in grammar is but only a single element of fully understanding the English language.
建立穩固的文法基礎只是完全理解英語語言的其中一個要素。

例6 ▶ Sarah’s graduate school thesis seamlessly intertwines fundamental elements of corporate management, psychological behavior, and modern technological influences.
莎拉的碩士論文巧妙地交織了企業管理的基本元素、心理行為以及現代技術影響。

 釋義D    small group within a larger group 一組（成分） 

例7 ▶ Although crime statistics remained constant in the city, it became apparent that most of the reported cases originated from exponentially smaller elements in peripheral parts of the city.
雖然該城市的犯罪統計保持穩定，但變得明顯的是，大多數報告的案件來自城市邊緣地區的極小部分。

例8 ▶ The university camping club continued to thrive on campus due to the substantial number of extroverted elements that helped encourage everyone else to participate in group activities.
大學露營社團因擁有大量外向成員，這些成員幫助鼓勵其他人參加團體活動，因此在校園內持續蓬勃發展。

 釋義E    individual unit within a mathematical or scientific process 一小部分；測量

例9 ▶ Experiments of this nature usually involved imposing one element of an experiment against a multitude of variables in other studies as a way of comparing similar methodologies.
這種性質的實驗通常涉及將實驗的一個要素強加於其他研究中的多個變量，作為比較類似方法的一種方式。

例10 ▶ Professor Harris expressed concern over the statistical elements of the study as they did not represent sufficiently clear distinctions from one another.
哈里斯教授對這項研究的統計元素表示擔憂，因為它們之間缺乏足夠清晰的區別。

 釋義F    primary elements 要素（金木水火土） 

例1 ▶ Some traditional cultures base characteristics of human nature on distinct manifestations of elements of the natural world; for example, patterns of aggression are attributed to influences of natural fire energy.
一些傳統文化將人性特徵建立在自然世界元素的獨特表現上；例如，攻擊行為的模式被歸因於自然界火元素的影響。

例2 ▶ Western cultures have historically divided the natural elements into the four distinct substances of earth, water, air, and fire.
西方文化在歷史上將自然元素分為地、水、風和火四種不同的物質。

 釋義G    (bad) weather （惡劣）天氣 [大風大雨、自然力量]

例3 ▶ The sailors on the ship lost their calm composure as they were battered by the increasingly harsher elements of the high seas.
當船上的水手受到日益嚴酷的惡劣海上環境的襲擊時，他們失去了冷靜。

例4 ▶ Many elderly people choose to retire in coastal areas due to more favorable climates, even though these locations place locals at the occasionally cruel disasters of the elements.
許多年長者選擇退休到沿海地區，因為那裡的氣候更宜人，儘管這些地方偶爾會讓當地居民遭受自然元素的殘酷災害。

 釋義H    chemical elements 化學元素 

例5 ▶ Advanced chemistry students are expected to memorize the full periodic table of elements within the first academic semester.
高等化學學生應在第一學期內記住完整的元素週期表。

 釋義I    in one’s element 處於相宜、適當的環境

例6 ▶ Although Tina did not make friends easily and shied away from many social circles, she was very much in her element in the university’s volleyball team, having played competitively for many years.
儘管蒂娜不容易交朋友，並且避開許多社交圈子，但她在大學排球隊中非常得心應手，因為她多年來一直參加競爭激烈的比賽。

例7 ▶ The foreign exchange students came from rural towns in Eastern Europe and did not adjust easily to the urban environment of their new school, so they were completely out of their element until they found other students of similar backgrounds in their new communities.
這些外國交換學生來自東歐的鄉村小鎮，並且不容易適應新學校的城市環境，因此在找到在他們的新社區中具有相似背景的其他學生之前，他們感到完全不適應。