-
首頁
-
new訂閱制數位訂閱制 Ivy Engrest 介紹 數位訂閱制 優惠方案 註冊享免費體驗 7 天，再送 $300
-
看文章登入註冊公開精選文章
機會成本：讓你的選擇更理性 How Much? Understanding Opportunity Cost
要搭這班還是下一班公車？要點便宜的還是貴的？
#克漏字 #心靈·療癒 #投資理財
難度 收藏文章
我們每一次做選擇時，都是在權衡目前可取得的事物與必須放棄的另一樣事物的成本
>> (開放試讀) 91分鐘攻頂台北101！不只學單字，教你用 4 個高階文法讀懂這場「世紀壯舉」
文章主講 賴世雄, Jennifer
Decisions, decisions! Every day we come across situations in which we have to make a choice. Economists have long realized that when we make decisions, we are considering our unlimited wants against limited time, money, services, and opportunities. Every time we choose, we weigh the cost of one item we can have now against something else we have to give up. Economists call this “opportunity cost,” and you don’t have to have a PhD in economics to benefit from knowing how the concept works and how it can improve our life choices.
決定，決定！每一天我們都會遇到需要做決定的情況。經濟學家長久以來都知道，當我們做決定時，我們考量的是無窮的慾望對上有限的時間、金錢、服務和機會。我們每一次做選擇時，都是在權衡目前可取得的事物與必須放棄的另一樣事物的成本。經濟學家稱之為「機會成本」，而你不需要擁有經濟學博士學位，也能從了解這個概念是如何運作以及它如何能改善我們生活中的選擇獲益。
economist [ iˈkɑnəmɪst ] n. 經濟學家
unlimited [ ʌnˈlɪmɪtɪd ] a. 無限制的
limited [ ˈlɪmɪtɪd ] a. 有限的
a PhD 博士學位與「費用」相關的單字
- cost [ kɔst ] n. 成本；費用
- price [ praɪs ] n. 價格，價錢（價錢的昂貴或便宜要用 high 或 low 來修飾）
- value [ ˈvælju ] n. 價值
- charge [ tʃɑrdʒ ] n.（尤指對某一服務或活動的）費用∕收費
fee[ fi ] n. 費用（指付給專業人員辦事的手續費、醫師的診察費、律師的辯護費，或其他的報名費、入場費等）- fare [ fɛr ] n.（乘坐公車、計程車、火車、船隻、飛機等的）交通費
- rent [ rɛnt ] n. 租金
- rate [ ret ] n.（依標準級距的）費用∕價格
- toll [ tol ] n.（常用來指道路、橋梁等的）通行費
(source: LMspencer / Shutterstock.com)A simple choice between buying a dinner in an expensive restaurant and at a more affordable food stand can illustrate opportunity cost. The money you spend on the high-class restaurant meal is certain to be more than one at a food stand. If you choose the restaurant, you will enjoy a good meal and the enjoyment of fine dining. However, the extra money spent on that meal compared to the food from the food stand will be lost. You sacrifice a cheaper meal for a costlier one. This is an example of “opportunity cost.”
要在昂貴的餐廳還是在比較負擔得起的小吃攤買晚餐，這種簡單的選擇就能說明機會成本。你在高級餐廳吃一餐所花費的金額肯定會比在小吃攤多。如果你選擇了餐廳，你將能享受很棒的一餐和精緻餐飲帶來的愉快。不過，你將會損失比在小吃攤吃飯多花的那些錢。你為了更昂貴的一餐而犧牲較便宜的一餐。這便是「機會成本」的一例。
high-class [ ˌhaɪˈklæs ] a. 高級的
sacrifice [ ˈsækrəˌfaɪs ] vt. & n. 犧牲
at the sacrifice of... 犧牲⋯⋯
costly [ ˈkɔstlɪ ] a. 昂貴的
Should you go to college? That would take at least four years plus the expenses for tuition, books, and other supplies. During that time you would probably not be earning any money. The lost opportunity of earning money is your opportunity cost of obtaining a college degree. Before you make your next purchase, whether for a house, car, college degree, or just a coffee, consider what you must forgo to make that purchase.
你該不該讀大學呢？那至少要花上四年的時間，加上學費、書籍和其他必需品的費用。在那段時間，你也可能賺不到任何錢。失去賺錢的機會便是你取得大學學位的機會成本。在你下一次購物之前，不管是房子、車子、大學學位或僅僅是一杯咖啡，先想想你花下那筆錢時必須放棄的東西吧。
tuition [ tuˈɪʃən ] n. 學費（不可數）
obtain [ əbˈten ] vt. 取得，獲得
forgo [ fɔrˈgo ] vt. 放棄接著閱讀
➸ 別再患得患失了！小心錯失恐懼症 Recognizing FOMO and How to Combat It
➸ 做自己的時間管理大師 ── 番茄鐘工作法 Managing Time with the Pomodoro Technique
➸ 總覺得自己好棒棒？小心達克效應上身！>> 生活裡的療癒小火光The Uplifting Aroma of Scented Candles
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●●unlimited[ʌnˋlɪmɪtɪd]a. 無限制的●●vt. 花費；使失去n. 費用；代價三態cost / cost [kɔst] / cost [kɔst]=expenseWe need to lower our transportation cost.
我們必須減少交通成本。Roger transformed the business at the cost of his health.
羅傑犧牲了健康來改變公司。How much does that book cost?
那本書花多少錢買的？That car cost me a fortune.
買那輛車花了我不少錢。The reporter’s racist comments cost him his job.
這位記者種族歧視的言論讓他丟了工作。高中 Level 1●●n. 價值；重要性；價值觀（此意恆用複數）vt. 珍惜，重視This building has a value of more than 20 million NT dollars.
這棟建築物價值超過 2,000 萬新臺幣。Gordon wondered why such a high value was placed on the artwork.
戈登想知道為什麼這藝術品會如此受到重視。I believe this book will be of great value to both teachers and students.
我相信這本書對老師和學生都很重要。Herman later learned that his values were different
from his girlfriend’s.
赫曼後來瞭解到，他的價值觀和他女友的價值觀並不同。I value / treasure our friendship.
我很珍惜我們的友誼。多益綠色英檢初級高中 Level 2●vt. & vi. 收費；將（某物）充電vt. 控訴n. 收費；控訴；負責The company charged me NT$500 for fixing the television.
那家公司向我索取新臺幣 500 元的電視修理費。Stores in this country all charge for plastic bags.
此國商店的塑膠袋都要收費。Did you charge the battery for the digital camera?
數位相機的電池你充電了嗎？Your cellphone went dead. You should let your battery charge.
你手機沒電了。你電池應該要充電了。The police charged the man with robbery.
警方以強盜罪起訴該名男子。The booklet is free of charge.
這本小冊子是免費的。Luke was arrested on a charge of car theft.
路克因被控偷車罪而被捕。Who takes charge of this department?
誰負責這個部門？多益綠色英檢初級高中 Level 2●●●vt. 出租，租給vt. & vi. 租借n. 租金I rent an apartment from Mr. Wang for NT$6,000 a month.
我向王先生租了一間公寓，每月新臺幣 6,000 元。Becky was still considering buying or renting an apartment in this city.
貝琪還在考慮要在這城市買還是租公寓。Mr. Brown makes ends meet by renting rooms (out) to students.
布朗先生把房間租給學生，以維持收支平衡。How much is your monthly rent for your apartment?
你每月公寓租金是多少錢？That rich landlord has five apartments for rent.
那個有錢的房東有 5 棟公寓要出租。多益棕色英檢初級高中 Level 2●vt. 評比為n. 比率、速率The rate of unemployment has been rising in recent years.
近年來的失業率逐漸上升。This resort is rated as the most beautiful place in the country.
這個觀光勝地被評為該國最美的地方。At any rate, their performance did not live up to our expectations.
無論如何，他們的表現並不如我們所預期。The country's population is growing at a slow rate.
該國的人口以緩慢的速度成長。The doctor checked Gary's heart rate.
醫生檢查了蓋瑞的心率。高中 Level 3●vi. (鐘聲) 響起n. 過路費 ; 傷亡人數Hannah just got a job collecting tolls on the freeway.
漢娜剛找到一份在高速公路上收過路費的工作。The hurricane took a heavy toll, causing the death of hundreds of people.
該颶風造成重大傷亡，導致數百人死亡。The church bell tolled in mourning for those who died in the accident.
教堂的鐘聲響起，為在該起意外中死亡的人哀悼。多益藍色英檢中高高中 Level 5●high-class[ ˌhaɪˈklæs ]adj. 高級的●.vt. & n. 犧牲Those martyrs sacrificed their lives for democracy.
那些烈士們為民主犧牲了生命。Peter worked hard to build up his company at the sacrifice of his health.
彼得拚命努力創立公司卻犧牲了健康。Peter worked hard to build up his company at the cost of his health.
彼得拚命努力創立公司卻犧牲了健康。Parents often make great sacrifices for their children.
父母常為孩子做出巨大的犧牲。多益金色英檢中級高中 Level 4●●●●forgo[ fɔrˈgo ]vt. 放棄Practical Phrases
●a PhD degree博士學位Bill is working hard to get his PhD degree.
比爾正努力攻讀他的博士學位。●at the sacrifice of...犧牲了……Peter worked hard to build up his company at the sacrifice of his health.
彼得拚命努力創立公司卻犧牲了健康。Peter worked hard to build up his business at the sacrifice of his health.
彼得拚命發展事業，卻犧牲自己的健康。本篇內容出自《常春藤解析/生活英語雜誌》，
2026/02/16 00:00 前買享優惠Ivy Engrest 訂戶在訂閱期間訂閱紙本(無贈品版本)再享最低 62折優惠!）>>
【雜誌訂閱】讀樂樂，不如重樂樂
回饋與建議
為了提供更好的閱讀體驗與學習感受，有任何建議或問題歡迎留言讓我們知道，感謝～
英文問題僅回答您對本篇文章的疑慮（發現單字拼錯、文法有問題）等，其他延伸問題恕不提供回答服務。謝謝。學會了嗎？✋來答題得 熊贈點～
恭喜答對獲得 熊贈點 1點
答
題
賺
點
數作者
Bruce E. Bagnell
常春藤解析英語雜誌資深外籍教師，中英文流利，曾為台灣大學資深教授，與賴世雄老師為多年好友。
每週專屬文章及最新優惠訊息推播！立即享每週精選文章及最新優惠推播!
