1
the gibbon
定冠词 the 与单数名词连用，用于正式或科普语境中指代整个物种。
The gibbon is an agile primate found in the forests of Southeast Asia.
长臂猿是一种生活在东南亚森林中的敏捷灵长类动物。
吉本
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
吉本
English historian best known for his history of the Roman Empire (1737-1794)
The gibbon is an agile primate found in the forests of Southeast Asia.
长臂猿是一种生活在东南亚森林中的敏捷灵长类动物。
A small ape of the family Hylobatidae with long limbs, which they use to travel through rainforests by swinging from branch to branch.
英国历史学家,以其罗马帝国史著称(1737-1794)
English historian best known for his history of the Roman Empire (1737-1794)
最小且最像人类的树栖猿,长臂无尾；分布于南亚和东印度群岛
smallest and most perfectly anthropoid arboreal ape having long arms and no tail; of southern Asia and East Indies
We saw a gibbon swinging from branch to branch at the zoo.
我们在动物园看到一只长臂猿在树枝间荡来荡去。
Gibbons are known for their loud calls that echo through the forest.
长臂猿以它们响亮的叫声而闻名，叫声在森林中回荡。
The gibbon used its long arms to reach the fruit at the top of the tree.
那只长臂猿用长长的手臂够到了树顶的水果。
定冠词 the 与单数名词连用，用于正式或科普语境中指代整个物种。
The gibbon is an agile primate found in the forests of Southeast Asia.
长臂猿是一种生活在东南亚森林中的敏捷灵长类动物。
不定冠词 a 表示泛指某一成员，不特指具体哪一只。
A gibbon swung from one tree to another.
一只长臂猿从一棵树荡到另一棵树上。
复数形式 gibbons 用于泛指长臂猿这一类动物。
Gibbons live in small family groups.
长臂猿以小家庭群体为单位生活。
Not this
I saw two gibbon in the zoo.
Use this
I saw two gibbons in the zoo.
英语可数名词复数需要加 -s，汉语没有复数标记，所以容易漏掉；gibbon 的复数是 gibbons。
Not this
Gibbons are monkeys.
Use this
Gibbons are apes.
长臂猿在生物分类上属于猿（ape），不是猴（monkey），这是词汇选择错误，要区分 ape 和 monkey。
Not this
I read a history book by gibbon.
Use this
I read a history book by Gibbon.
指历史学家爱德华·吉本（Edward Gibbon）时，人名首字母必须大写；小写 gibbon 指动物长臂猿。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
长臂猿物种
There are about 20 gibbon species in Southeast Asia.
东南亚大约有20种长臂猿。
白掌长臂猿
The white-handed gibbon is known for its loud calls.
白掌长臂猿以其响亮的叫声闻名。
长臂猿的叫声
We heard gibbon calls early in the morning.
清晨我们听到了长臂猿的叫声。
长臂猿栖息地
Deforestation threatens the gibbon habitat.
森林砍伐威胁着长臂猿的栖息地。
Use gibbon naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记忆联想：gibbon里的两个b像长臂猿垂下的长臂，中间的o像它抓的树枝，看到bb就想到长臂猿。
语域：neutral 常见场景：动物学教材、自然纪录片、动物园科普 “gibbon”通常指长臂猿，是中性、常用的普通名词，口语和书面语都适用，多用于动物、自然或科普语境。日常描述或正式介绍中都比较常见。
Ribbon rhymes with gibbon: both end in /bən/. Gibberish, giblet, and gibbous are spelling lookalikes with different pronunciations: gibberish and giblet start with /dʒɪb/, while gibbous starts with /ɡɪb/ but ends in /əs/, not /ən/.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.