case
A case is a container for holding things or a specific situation that is being looked at.
Explanation at your level:
A case is a bag or box. You put things in it. For example, a suitcase holds your clothes when you travel. It is a very useful word for everyday life.
A case is a specific situation. If you are sick, the doctor has a case to study. You can also use it for things like a pencil case for your school supplies.
You use case to talk about examples or instances. For example, 'In this case, we should wait.' It is also a container, like a briefcase or a phone case. It is a very common word in news and work.
The word case is used to argue a point, such as 'making a case for change.' It also refers to legal or medical files. Understanding the difference between the physical object and the abstract concept is key to sounding natural.
In advanced English, case often appears in phrases like 'a case in point' or 'to state one's case.' It is frequently used in academic writing to define a specific set of parameters under investigation, distinguishing it from general theory.
At the mastery level, case is used to discuss nuances of evidence and logic. It can imply a 'body of evidence' in legal contexts or a 'specific instance' in philosophical discourse. Its etymological link to 'falling' (Latin casus) provides a deep layer of meaning regarding the nature of fate and occurrence.
30秒でわかる単語
- Case is a container.
- Case is a situation.
- Case is a legal term.
- Case is a medical term.
The word case is a versatile chameleon in the English language. At its most basic level, it refers to a container, like a briefcase, a pencil case, or a display case. Think of it as a protective shell for your belongings.
Beyond the physical, case describes an instance or a situation. When a detective investigates a crime, they are working on a case. When a doctor talks about a patient, they refer to that patient as a case. It is all about isolating a specific event from the rest of the world to study or deal with it more closely.
The history of case is quite fascinating! It comes from the Old French word cas, which itself traces back to the Latin casus, meaning 'a falling' or 'an occurrence.' Originally, it was used to describe how things 'fell out' or happened.
Over time, the meaning shifted from the abstract 'event' to the physical 'container.' This happened because a container is where you keep the 'case' or the 'stuff' related to an event. It is a classic example of how language evolves from the philosophical to the practical.
You will hear case used in almost every professional field. In law, it is a court case. In medicine, it is a clinical case. In daily life, we say just in case to mean 'to be prepared.'
The word is very common and fits into both formal and casual registers. Whether you are talking about your phone case or a strong case for an argument, it is a word that carries weight and precision in any conversation.
Idioms with case are very common. Just in case means doing something to be prepared for a future possibility. In any case is used to mean 'regardless of what happens.' Open-and-shut case describes a situation that is very easy to solve or understand. Case of the Mondays refers to feeling tired or grumpy at the start of the week. Worst-case scenario describes the most negative outcome possible.
The plural is cases. It is a countable noun, meaning you can have 'a case' or 'many cases.' The pronunciation is /keɪs/ in both British and American English, rhyming with base, face, race, place, and trace. The stress is always on the single syllable.
Fun Fact
It used to refer to grammatical cases in Latin, which show how a word 'falls' into a sentence structure.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'a' sound, ends in a soft 's'.
Clear 'k' sound, long 'a', soft 's'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'cash'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Hard 's' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
moderate
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Countable Nouns
one case, two cases
Articles
a case, the case
Compound Nouns
suitcase
Examples by Level
I have a blue case for my phone.
blue cover
singular noun
Put your pens in the case.
box for pens
imperative
This is a big suitcase.
travel bag
compound word
I need a case for my glasses.
protective box
prepositional phrase
Is this your case?
your bag
question
The case is heavy.
the bag
adjective
I lost my case.
my bag
verb
It is a nice case.
good quality
article usage
In this case, we can go home.
The police are working on a new case.
He has a case of the flu.
I bought a new case for my tablet.
Just in case, bring an umbrella.
The lawyer won the case.
It is a rare case of success.
Keep the case closed.
There is no case for your argument.
The doctor reviewed the patient's case.
In most cases, this works well.
She presented a strong case for the project.
The detective solved the case.
I keep my files in a plastic case.
It is a clear case of misunderstanding.
We are looking at each case individually.
The evidence makes a compelling case for reform.
He is a classic case of bad luck.
In any case, we must finish by Friday.
The company is building a case against its rival.
The judge dismissed the case due to lack of evidence.
It is a worst-case scenario.
That is a case in point.
The museum has a glass case for the diamond.
The professor cited a case study to illustrate the theory.
His argument rests on the case of the 1929 crash.
The prosecution failed to prove their case.
We must consider the case for universal healthcare.
It is a textbook case of corporate negligence.
The court heard the case yesterday.
They are making a case for more funding.
The case hinges on one small detail.
The case against him was built on circumstantial evidence.
The philosopher examined the case of human consciousness.
It is a singular case of historical irony.
The legal case set a precedent for future rulings.
He argued his case with great passion.
The case for existentialism is complex.
They are investigating the case of the missing documents.
The case is being heard in the Supreme Court.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"just in case"
to be prepared for a possibility
I brought an umbrella just in case.
neutral"in any case"
regardless of the situation
In any case, we must leave now.
neutral"case in point"
a perfect example
This is a case in point for why we need rules.
formal"open-and-shut case"
easy to solve
The evidence made it an open-and-shut case.
neutral"worst-case scenario"
the worst possible outcome
The worst-case scenario is we lose everything.
neutral"a case of the Mondays"
feeling tired at the start of the week
I think I have a case of the Mondays.
casualEasily Confused
similar sound
case is a container, cash is money
I put my cash in the case.
similar spelling
cause is a reason, case is a situation
The cause of the case is unknown.
similar sound
cage is for animals, case is for items
The bird is in the cage.
rhyme
base is a foundation, case is a container
The base of the case is broken.
Sentence Patterns
In this case, [Subject] + [Verb]
In this case, we will wait.
The case for [Noun] is [Adjective]
The case for change is strong.
Just in case, [Subject] + [Verb]
Just in case, I brought food.
It is a case of [Noun]
It is a case of bad luck.
He has a case of [Noun]
He has a case of nerves.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
Case implies a specific instance or legal/medical context.
They are synonyms but 'case' implies protection.
Phonetic spelling is tricky.
Grammar error.
Preposition usage.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a giant suitcase filled with legal papers.
Native Speakers
Use 'in any case' to change the subject.
Cultural Insight
Detectives always talk about 'cases'.
Shortcut
Always use 'a' or 'the' before case.
Say It Right
Keep the 's' soft.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with 'cash'.
Did You Know?
It comes from the word 'falling'.
Study Smart
Learn it with 'suitcase' first.
Professionalism
Use 'case study' in business.
Plurals
Remember the 'es' ending.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Case: C-A-S-E (Container And Situation Everything)
Visual Association
A detective holding a suitcase.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Use the word 'case' in three different sentences today.
語源
Latin
Original meaning: a falling, occurrence
文化的な背景
None
Used heavily in legal dramas and medical shows.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Travel
- suitcase
- carry-on case
- packing a case
Law
- court case
- legal case
- winning the case
Medicine
- medical case
- case study
- clinical case
Daily Life
- just in case
- pencil case
- phone case
Conversation Starters
"What is the most interesting case you have heard about?"
"Do you prefer a suitcase or a backpack?"
"Why do you think 'case' has so many meanings?"
"Have you ever had to argue a case for something?"
"What is in your pencil case?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to make a case for yourself.
Describe a situation that felt like a 'worst-case scenario'.
If you were a detective, what kind of cases would you solve?
What is the most important thing you keep in a case?
よくある質問
8 問Usually, but it can be a verb meaning to inspect a location.
Cases.
Yes.
Often, yes.
It depends on the context.
It refers to their client's file.
Yes, meaning a box of 12 bottles.
Like 'base'.
自分をテスト
Put the pen in the ___.
Case is a container.
Which means a situation?
Case can mean a situation.
A suitcase is a type of case.
Yes, it is a container for travel.
Word
意味
Context matters.
In this case.
スコア： /5
Summary
The word 'case' is a versatile term that bridges the gap between physical containers and abstract situations.
- Case is a container.
- Case is a situation.
- Case is a legal term.
- Case is a medical term.
Memory Palace
Imagine a giant suitcase filled with legal papers.
Native Speakers
Use 'in any case' to change the subject.
Cultural Insight
Detectives always talk about 'cases'.
Shortcut
Always use 'a' or 'the' before case.
例文
I packed my clothes into the large case before going to the airport.
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abdocion
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abdocly
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aberration
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abfacible
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abfactency
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