{"id":4924,"date":"2026-06-02T23:06:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T23:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/18kenglish.com\/collocations-5-types-30-examples-taiwan-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T23:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T23:08:14","slug":"collocations-5-types-30-examples-taiwan-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/18kenglish.com\/ja\/collocations-5-types-30-examples-taiwan-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Collocations Explained: 5 Types & 30 Examples Taiwan Learners Need (2026) | \u82f1\u6587\u642d\u914d\u8a5e\u4e94\u5927\u985e\u578b\u5b8c\u6574\u6559\u5b78"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u672c\u6587\u91cd\u9ede\uff1a<\/strong>\u672c\u6587\u6df1\u5165\u89e3\u6790\u82f1\u6587\u642d\u914d\u8a5e (English Collocations) \u7684\u4e94\u5927\u985e\u578b\uff0c\u4e26\u63d0\u4f9b 30 \u500b\u53f0\u7063\u4e0a\u73ed\u65cf\u8207\u591a\u76ca (TOEIC) \u8003\u751f\u5fc5\u5099\u7684\u5be6\u7528\u7bc4\u4f8b\u3002\u638c\u63e1\u642d\u914d\u8a5e\u662f\u82f1\u6587\u6d41\u5229\u5ea6\u7684\u95dc\u9375\uff0c\u7121\u8ad6\u4f60\u6b63\u5728\u6e96\u5099\u5546\u696d\u82f1\u6587 (Business English) \u6216\u60f3\u627e\u82f1\u6587\u5bb6\u6559 (English tutor) \u5f37\u5316\u53e3\u8aaa\uff0c\u9019\u4efd\u6307\u5357\u90fd\u80fd\u5e6b\u4f60\u8aaa\u51fa\u66f4\u81ea\u7136\u3001\u9053\u5730\u7684\u82f1\u6587\u3002<\/p>\n\n

Have you ever felt that your English sentences are grammatically correct but somehow sound unnatural to native speakers? The secret usually lies in collocations \u2014 the way certain words naturally pair together in English. For Taiwanese professionals (\u53f0\u7063\u4e0a\u73ed\u65cf) preparing for TOEIC (\u591a\u76ca) or working in international companies, learning collocations is the fastest path to sounding fluent rather than translated.<\/p>\n\n

A collocation is a combination of words that English speakers use together so often that any other pairing sounds strange. You "make a decision" \u2014 you don’t "do a decision." You have "heavy rain" \u2014 not "strong rain." Native speakers never think about these patterns; they simply know them. The good news? You can learn them too, and this 2026 guide will show you exactly how.<\/p>\n\n

What Are Collocations? | \u4ec0\u9ebc\u662f\u642d\u914d\u8a5e\uff1f<\/h2>\n\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9aK9pNDfWfE<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A collocation (\u642d\u914d\u8a5e) is a pair or group of words that frequently occur together in English. These combinations are not random \u2014 they follow patterns that native speakers internalize over years of exposure. Linguists estimate that fluent English contains tens of thousands of common collocations, and recognizing them is the difference between textbook English and natural English.<\/p>\n\n

Consider the difference between "fast food" and "quick food." Both adjectives mean roughly the same thing, but only one is correct in this context. "Fast food" is a collocation \u2014 a fixed pairing that English speakers always use. Saying "quick food" would immediately mark you as a non-native speaker, even though your grammar is perfect.<\/p>\n\n

For Chinese speakers learning English, collocations present a unique challenge because direct translation rarely works. The Mandarin phrase \u4e0b\u5927\u96e8 translates literally to "fall big rain," but in English we say "heavy rain" or "pouring rain" \u2014 never "big rain." These mismatches between Chinese and English collocation patterns are where most Chinglish errors originate.<\/p>\n\n

Why Collocations Matter for Taiwan Learners | \u70ba\u4ec0\u9ebc\u642d\u914d\u8a5e\u5c0d\u53f0\u7063\u5b78\u7fd2\u8005\u91cd\u8981<\/h2>\n\n

If you are studying for TOEIC, IELTS, or working in a Taiwanese company that requires English communication, collocations directly affect your score and your career. The TOEIC Listening and Reading test heavily features collocations in the Part 5 incomplete sentences and Part 7 reading passages. Examiners specifically test whether you can pick the natural word pairing among grammatically valid options.<\/p>\n\n

In the workplace, using correct collocations signals professional competence. When you write "I’d like to schedule a meeting" instead of "I want to make a meeting," your colleagues immediately register you as someone who understands business English (\u5546\u696d\u82f1\u6587). This perception affects promotions, client trust, and your confidence in international video calls.<\/p>\n\n

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\"English
English Lesson Home Work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

The 5 Main Types of Collocations | \u4e94\u5927\u642d\u914d\u8a5e\u985e\u578b<\/h2>\n\n

Linguists classify English collocations into several grammatical categories. Understanding these categories helps you organize your study and notice patterns in the English you read and hear every day. Here are the five most important types every Taiwan learner should master.<\/p>\n\n

Type 1: Adjective + Noun | \u5f62\u5bb9\u8a5e + \u540d\u8a5e<\/h3>\n\n

This is the most common collocation pattern in English. An adjective describes a noun, but only specific adjectives fit with each noun. Examples include "strong coffee" (not powerful coffee), "heavy traffic" (not big traffic), "fast food" (not quick food), "deep sleep" (not heavy sleep), and "bright future" (not light future).<\/p>\n\n

Notice that "strong" pairs with "coffee" but not with "rain." "Heavy" pairs with "rain" and "traffic" but not with "coffee." These are not logical rules \u2014 they are conventions you must absorb through repeated exposure.<\/p>\n\n

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\"person
person holding on red pen while writing on book<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Type 2: Verb + Noun | \u52d5\u8a5e + \u540d\u8a5e<\/h3>\n\n

Verb-noun collocations cause the most confusion for Chinese speakers because Mandarin uses different verbs than English. Common examples include "make a decision" (\u505a\u6c7a\u5b9a), "take a photo" (\u62cd\u7167), "do homework" (\u505a\u4f5c\u696d), "have breakfast" (\u5403\u65e9\u9910), "give a speech" (\u6f14\u8b1b), "pay attention" (\u6ce8\u610f), and "catch a cold" (\u611f\u5192).<\/p>\n\n

The verbs "make" and "do" are particularly tricky. You make decisions, plans, mistakes, and progress. You do homework, exercise, business, and the dishes. Memorizing which verb pairs with which noun is essential for sounding natural in office English.<\/p>\n\n

Type 3: Adverb + Adjective | \u526f\u8a5e + \u5f62\u5bb9\u8a5e<\/h3>\n\n

Adverbs intensify or modify adjectives, but only specific pairings sound natural. Examples include "highly recommended" (not very recommended), "deeply concerned," "fully aware," "perfectly clear," "totally exhausted," and "ridiculously cheap." Using the wrong intensifier \u2014 like "very recommended" \u2014 instantly marks your English as non-native.<\/p>\n\n

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\"hot
hot topic words in a 1958 dictionary.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Type 4: Verb + Adverb | \u52d5\u8a5e + \u526f\u8a5e<\/h3>\n\n

Verbs combine with adverbs to specify how an action is performed. Strong examples include "wave frantically," "whisper softly," "strongly deny," "apologize sincerely," and "drive recklessly." In business contexts, you will often hear "respond promptly," "deliver consistently," and "communicate clearly" \u2014 all collocations worth memorizing for client emails.<\/p>\n\n

Type 5: Noun + Noun | \u540d\u8a5e + \u540d\u8a5e<\/h3>\n\n

English frequently joins two nouns to form a new concept. Examples include "round of applause," "bar of chocolate," "ceasefire agreement," "team meeting," "office building," and "career path." Some of these compound into a single word over time ("software," "homepage"), but they all started as collocations.<\/p>\n\n

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\"Painting
Painting Ximending, Taipei City<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Strong vs Weak Collocations | \u5f37\u642d\u914d vs \u5f31\u642d\u914d<\/h2>\n\n

Not all collocations are equally fixed. Linguists distinguish between strong (fixed) collocations and weak (flexible) collocations. Understanding this difference helps you prioritize which combinations to memorize first.<\/p>\n\n

Strong collocations have very few acceptable alternatives. "Auburn hair" is a strong collocation \u2014 "auburn" almost exclusively describes hair color. "Idle threat" and "rancid butter" are similarly fixed. Get these right, and you sound highly fluent to native ears.<\/p>\n\n

Weak collocations allow more flexibility. "Big house" works, but so do "large house," "spacious house," and "enormous house." Weak collocations are easier for learners because the word choice matters less. Focus your memorization energy on strong collocations first.<\/p>\n\n

Common Collocation Mistakes Taiwanese Speakers Make | \u53f0\u7063\u5b78\u7fd2\u8005\u5e38\u898b\u932f\u8aa4<\/h2>\n\n

After years of teaching English in Taipei, I have noticed certain collocation errors appear again and again. Here are the most common ones to watch for in your own speaking and writing.<\/p>\n\n