Guessing New Words
AdvancedDo not stop for every new word — use the context, signal words and word parts to make a smart guess.
- Three steps: read the context → break prefix/root/suffix → test it in the sentence
- Synonym signals: or, means, i.e.; opposite signals: but, however, although
- Word parts: un- (not) · -ful (full of) · -less (without) · -er (a person who does it)
文體小知識：Never stop at a new word.
§Text Passage
1Mr Chan is a frugal man who lives in our estate. He never spends money on expensive things. He repairs his own shoes with glue and thread. He takes a bus even when it rains, although he could easily take a taxi. He grows vegetables on his balcony and picks up old furniture from the street. His neighbours think he is strange, and the children sometimes laugh at his old shirt.
2But Mr Chan does not care about their comments. Every month, he puts part of his salary into the bank. He brings his own water bottle and cooks simple meals at home. 'Things break. Money disappears. But knowledge and time stay with you,' he always says. His only luxury is a second-hand dictionary that he bought thirty years ago. He reads it every night, because books, he says, are the cheapest way to travel.
3Last month, the whole neighbourhood learned the truth about Mr Chan. He has saved enough to retire early, and he donated one million dollars to the children's library in our district. Now people greet him politely in the lift, and some even ask him for advice about saving money. He says, 'Money is useful, but time is more valuable. Spend both carefully.'
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Mr Chan is a frugal man who lives in our estate.
陳先生是個很省儉的人，住在我們屋苑。
He never spends money on expensive things.
他從來不會花錢買貴東西。
He repairs his own shoes with glue and thread.
他會自己用膠水同線補鞋。
He takes a bus even when it rains, although he could easily take a taxi.
就算下雨他都搭巴士，雖然他大可以乘的士。
He grows vegetables on his balcony and picks up old furniture from the street.
他在露台種菜，還會在街邊撿舊傢俬。
His neighbours think he is strange, and the children sometimes laugh at his old shirt.
那些鄰居覺得他很古怪，小朋友有時還笑他的舊恤衫。
But Mr Chan does not care about their comments.
不過陳先生一點都不介懷別人怎麼說。
Every month, he puts part of his salary into the bank.
他每個月都會將部分薪金存入銀行。
He brings his own water bottle and cooks simple meals at home.
他會自己帶水樽，在家煮些簡單飯菜。
'Things break. Money disappears. But knowledge and time stay with you,' he always says.
他常常說：「物件會爛，錢會花光，但知識同時間會一直留在你身邊。」
His only luxury is a second-hand dictionary that he bought thirty years ago.
他唯一的奢侈品，就是三十年前買的一本二手字典。
He reads it every night, because books, he says, are the cheapest way to travel.
他每晚都會看，因為他說書是最便宜的旅行方式。
Last month, the whole neighbourhood learned the truth about Mr Chan.
上個月，整個屋苑的人都知道了有關陳先生的真相。
He has saved enough to retire early, and he donated one million dollars to the children's library in our district.
他存了足夠的錢可以提早退休，還捐了一百萬給我們區的兒童圖書館。
Now people greet him politely in the lift, and some even ask him for advice about saving money.
現在的人在電梯見到他都會有禮貌地打招呼，有些還問他省錢心得。
He says, 'Money is useful, but time is more valuable. Spend both carefully.'
他說：「錢很有用，但時間更寶貴。兩樣都要小心運用。」
1Summary 重點摘要
Do not stop for every new word — use the context, signal words and word parts to make a smart guess.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Surrounding words.
Use context.
Base of word.
Un-, re-.
-ly, -tion.
Same meaning.
Opposite.
Look up word.
3Step by step Steps
- Use contextThe sentences around a word are your dictionary: Mr Chan is a frugal man who lives in our estate. He never spends money on expensive things — never spends money explains frugal = careful with money.
- Break wordPrefix + root + suffix: un- (not), -ful (full of), -less (without), -er (a person): useful, careless. Break second-hand into two halves and you get 'used'.
- Compareor and means signal synonyms; but and however signal opposites: Money disappears. But knowledge and time stay with you.
- Contrast cluesalthough flips the direction: He takes a bus even when it rains, although he could easily take a taxi — rich enough for taxis, still takes the bus: that is frugal.
- Definition clausesA who/which clause often defines the word: a frugal man who never spends money — the writer explains it for you.
- Substitute and checkPut your guess back into the sentence: Mr Chan is a frugal man → Mr Chan is a careful-with-money man. If it sounds right, it is right.
- Keep readingYou do not need a dictionary for every word — keep reading; key words usually explain themselves later, because good writers do not want you lost.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
The passage begins: Mr Chan is a frugal man who never spends money on expensive things. Without a dictionary, what does frugal mean? Explain your steps.
- Step 1: Read the clause right after the word — who never spends money on expensive things.
- Step 2: Collect more examples — he takes a bus instead of a taxi, repairs his own shoes, grows vegetables on his balcony.
- Step 3: Decide the part of speech and direction — an adjective describing how a person spends money.
- Step 4: Test a synonym — frugal ≈ careful with money.
- Step 5: Put it back into the sentence — a frugal man = a man who is careful with money. It fits.
- Answer: Frugal means careful with money, or thrifty. The reasoning: the clause who never spends money on expensive things explains it directly, and the examples support it — he takes a bus even when it rains, repairs his own shoes and saves part of his salary every month. Guessing from context keeps you reading; only check the dictionary when your guess fails.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What helps guess a word?
Q2What is a prefix?
Q3What is a synonym?
Q4What is an antonym?
Q5What does -ly make?
Q6What does "frugal" mean?
Q7Give an example of frugal.
Q8What did he save?
8Recap Recap
- Three steps: read the context → break prefix/root/suffix → test it in the sentence
- Synonym signals: or, means, i.e.; opposite signals: but, however, although
- Word parts: un- (not) · -ful (full of) · -less (without) · -er (a person who does it)
- From the passage: frugal is guessed from who never spends money… = careful with money
- Do not check every word — keep reading and protect your flow