Top 100 Vocabulary for Visiting and Touring EU | Delft

This is a guide for curious visitors, students and families who want to explain what they notice. You do not need specialist knowledge to begin. Start with an ordinary question: what changed, how was it made, or what can I actually see? Then choose the word that makes your answer more exact. A useful word earns its place by helping you notice a difference, describe a process or ask for the help you need.

English can help with visitor conversations, but this article is not a Dutch phrasebook and does not assume that everyone you meet speaks English. Keep a written place name available, begin politely and give the other person time to answer. When a technical word becomes an obstacle, explain the idea in everyday English. Saying the small wheel that changes the sharpness can be more helpful than repeatedly saying an unfamiliar term.

The capital letters in each pronunciation cue mark the strongest stress. These cues are accessible approximations rather than complete phonetic transcriptions. The Chinese and pinyin explain the selected English meaning; some headwords have additional meanings in other situations. Learn the meaning shown here before collecting those alternatives. Read the English example aloud, cover it, and make a fresh sentence about an object that you can picture clearly.

All example sentences, conversations and writing passages are imagined learning practice. They do not report an actual visit, quote a staff member, confirm a workshop service or promise that an object is currently displayed. Practical requests are questions to ask, not assurances about availability. Check the linked official pages for current access, admission, booking requirements and arrangements before travelling.

Choose your reading route

Before the words: six useful Delft connections

Delft Blue: connect appearance with process

Royal Delft’s craftsmanship explanation describes liquid clay poured into plaster moulds, careful finishing, decoration and firing. Its hand-painted decoration uses a cobalt-based mixture that looks dark before firing and becomes blue through the firing process. The same official explanation distinguishes hand painting from transfer decoration. These are different production methods, so a blue pattern alone does not tell you how a particular piece was made. Read Royal Delft’s process explanation.

Vermeer: know what kind of image you are viewing

The Vermeer Centrum Delft describes itself as an information and experience centre. It presents reproductions rather than original paintings by Johannes Vermeer. That distinction changes a useful question: you might ask how the image helps explain light or composition, rather than assume that the surface in front of you is the painter’s original canvas. Check the centre’s official explanation.

A city view is also a set of choices

The Mauritshuis dates Vermeer’s View of Delft to around 1660–1661. Its account explains how the artist organised water, buildings and sky and adjusted parts of the visible city. Treat the work as a composed painting, rather than a photograph that records every building exactly. The work belongs to the Mauritshuis collection in The Hague; verify its current display status before planning a separate visit. Explore the official collection entry.

Small instruments, careful observation

TU Delft’s historical collection connects Antoni van Leeuwenhoek with Delft and describes his use of small lenses and his written observations. Modern TU Delft research has also investigated surviving single-lens microscopes. The useful visitor connection is between an instrument, the evidence it makes visible and the words used to record a finding. This guide does not claim that you can handle an original instrument on a visit. Read TU Delft’s historical account and the research record.

Technology is another route into the city

Delft Marketing describes TU Delft Science Centre activities involving technology, guided making and robotics. Its visitor page links to the relevant university booking pages. Use those links to check the activity, age requirements and availability that fit your visit; do not assume that every activity is a walk-in exhibition. See the official Delft visitor information.

A planning note to check before departure

Checked on 4 October 2026: Museum Prinsenhof Delft’s official renovation page says that the museum closed on 5 January 2025 and remains temporarily closed for renovation and refurbishment. The page describes future changes as plans. Do not treat an illustration of a proposed entrance or gallery as an existing visitor facility, or a planning period as a guaranteed reopening day. Read the current renovation notice. The Oude Kerk’s own website separately explains its leaning tower, another reason to look carefully at shapes without guessing their cause.

A finished object hides a sequence of decisions. A pot may look simple, yet its shape, surface and decoration answer different questions. Shape tells you about form; surface tells you about texture or finish; decoration tells you about an applied design. Start by separating those questions. Instead of saying that the whole object is beautiful, choose one detail and explain what interests you about it.

Imagine comparing two practice tiles on a classroom desk. One has a neat blue line and the other has a softer blue patch. You can describe the visible difference without claiming that one required more skill or is more valuable. The next useful question concerns method: was the mark painted with a brush, printed or made in another way? Observation comes first; explanation follows when you have enough information.

Process descriptions become clearer when each sentence has an active verb. Compare the vague statement, The clay has many things done to it, with a sequence that names actions: the maker shapes the material, smooths an edge and checks the surface. Do not add a step merely because it sounds likely. When you are learning from a demonstration, listen for the order and ask whether a step happens before or after another.

Material vocabulary also helps you protect what you buy or handle. A description of a crack is more useful than a general complaint that something looks wrong. Point to the area without scraping it or testing its strength. Ask permission before touching a display object, even when its surface looks robust. An explanation of making should increase your care, as well as your appreciation.

1. quartz

Say it: kworts

中文: 石英 · shíyīng

Meaning: A hard mineral made of silicon dioxide, used in many materials, including some ceramic mixtures.

Example: The diagram lists quartz as one ingredient, so I want to understand its role.

中文例句: 图表把石英列为一种原料，所以我想了解它的作用。

2. casting seam

Say it: KAS-ting seem

中文: 合模线 · hémóxiàn

Meaning: A line left on a cast object where separate parts of its mould met.

Example: On this object, the casting seam shows where the two mould sections joined.

中文例句: 在这个物件上，合模线显示出两部分模具的连接位置。

3. engobe

Say it: ahn-GOHB

中文: 化妆土 · huàzhuāngtǔ

Meaning: A liquid clay-based coating applied to a ceramic surface to change its colour or texture.

Example: I would ask whether the engobe changes the surface before the decoration is added.

中文例句: 我会问，在添加装饰之前，化妆土是否会改变表面。

4. biscuit firing

Say it: BIS-kit FY-er-ing

中文: 素烧 · sùshāo

Meaning: An initial firing that hardens a ceramic object before a later glazing stage.

Example: The workshop chart places biscuit firing before the application of glaze.

中文例句: 工作坊的流程图把素烧放在施釉之前。

5. glaze firing

Say it: glayz FY-er-ing

中文: 釉烧 · yòushāo

Meaning: Heating a glazed ceramic object so that its glaze matures into a surface coating.

Example: The instructor asks what changes during glaze firing.

中文例句: 老师问的是釉烧过程中会发生什么变化。

6. kiln shelf

Say it: kiln shelf

中文: 窑棚板 · yáo péngbǎn

Meaning: A heat-resistant slab that supports objects inside a kiln during firing.

Example: In the model kiln, each tiny bowl rests on a kiln shelf.

中文例句: 在窑炉模型中，每只小碗都放在一块窑棚板上。

7. mould release

Say it: mohld ri-LEES

中文: 脱模剂 · tuōmójì

Meaning: A substance used on a mould’s surface to help a formed object separate from it.

Example: Before describing the demonstration, I checked whether the maker had used mould release.

中文例句: 在描述示范之前，我确认了制作者是否使用过脱模剂。

Use it well: This is a general mould-making term, not a claim that Royal Delft uses a release agent in the process described above.

8. Royal Delft

Say it: ROY-ul delft

中文: 皇家代尔夫特 · Huángjiā Dài’ěrfūtè

Meaning: The English name of the Delft ceramics producer associated with the De Porceleyne Fles factory.

Example: Before visiting Royal Delft, I will read its official explanation of the making process.

中文例句: 参观皇家代尔夫特之前，我会阅读其官方网站对制作工艺的介绍。

9. banding wheel

Say it: BAN-ding weel

中文: 陶艺转台 · táoyì zhuàntái

Meaning: A freely rotating stand that supports ceramic work while it is decorated or shaped by hand.

Example: The artist turns the banding wheel slowly while adding a line around the bowl.

中文例句: 艺术家一边缓缓转动陶艺转台，一边沿着碗画上一条线。

Use it well: A banding wheel turns a supported object for access; it is not the same tool as a powered wheel used to throw pots.

10. sponging

Say it: SPUN-jing

中文: 海绵修整 · hǎimián xiūzhěng

Meaning: Using a sponge to smooth or clean a ceramic surface during finishing.

Example: The process diagram shows sponging after the object comes out of the mould.

中文例句: 流程图展示了物件脱模之后进行的海绵修整。

11. brush tip

Say it: brush tip

中文: 笔尖 · bǐjiān

Meaning: The end of a brush that touches the working surface and helps control a painted mark.

Example: Only the brush tip touches the paper when I practise a very fine line.

中文例句: 练习画细线时，只有笔尖接触纸面。

12. water-based paint

Say it: WAW-ter bayst paynt

中文: 水性颜料 · shuǐxìng yánliào

Meaning: Paint that uses water as its main liquid carrier rather than an organic solvent.

Example: The label says water-based paint, but we still follow the handling instructions.

中文例句: 标签写着水性颜料，但我们仍然遵守使用说明。

13. colour wash

Say it: KUL-er wosh

中文: 薄涂色层 · bótú sècéng

Meaning: A thin, usually diluted layer of colour spread across a surface.

Example: I add a pale colour wash to the sketch before drawing the darker details.

中文例句: 我先在素描上薄涂一层浅色，再画较深的细节。

14. decal

Say it: DEK-al

中文: 贴花 · tiēhuā

Meaning: A design prepared on a backing so that it can be transferred onto another surface.

Example: One cup carries a decal, while the other has brush-painted decoration.

中文例句: 一只杯子使用贴花，另一只杯子的装饰由画笔绘制。

15. screen printing

Say it: skreen PRIN-ting

中文: 丝网印刷 · sīwǎng yìnshuā

Meaning: A printing method that pushes ink through selected open areas of a mesh screen.

Example: The classroom diagram shows how screen printing repeats the same design on several sheets.

中文例句: 课堂图示展示了丝网印刷如何在几张纸上重复同一个图案。

16. firing temperature

Say it: FY-er-ing TEM-pruh-chur

中文: 烧成温度 · shāochéng wēndù

Meaning: The temperature reached or specified during the firing of a ceramic object.

Example: I would ask why the firing temperature must suit both the material and its coating.

中文例句: 我会问，为什么烧成温度必须同时适合材料及其涂层。

17. clay body

Say it: klay BOD-ee

中文: 坯体配料 · pītǐ pèiliào

Meaning: The prepared mixture of clay and other ingredients from which a ceramic object is formed.

Example: The sample card describes the clay body separately from the blue decoration.

中文例句: 样品卡把坯体配料与蓝色装饰分开介绍。

Use it well: This refers to the prepared forming mixture. A glaze or decorative coating is a separate part of the finished object.

18. test tile

Say it: test tyl

中文: 试验砖片 · shìyàn zhuānpiàn

Meaning: A small ceramic piece used to try a glaze, colour or surface treatment before wider use.

Example: We compare a test tile with the intended final finish.

中文例句: 我们把试验砖片与预期的最终效果进行比较。

19. brittle

Say it: BRIT-ul

中文: 脆的 · cuì de

Meaning: Likely to break or crack rather than bend when force is applied.

Example: A brittle sample may look solid, so we should not test it by bending it ourselves.

中文例句: 脆性样品看起来可能很结实，因此我们不应自行弯折来测试它。

20. blot

Say it: blot

中文: 吸去液体 · xīqù yètǐ

Meaning: To remove liquid by gently pressing an absorbent material against it.

Example: In the painting exercise, I blot the wet brush on paper before making another mark.

中文例句: 在绘画练习中，我先用纸吸去画笔上的水分，再画下一笔。

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Looking at a picture is a language exercise in choosing evidence. Imagine an interior scene with a figure beside a window. You can say where the brightest area is and where the shadow falls. You cannot know the person’s feelings merely because the room is quiet. A careful description separates what is visible from what you imagine: the figure faces away from us; perhaps the artist wants us to wonder what the figure is doing.

Try describing the same image from two distances. From farther away, notice the large light and dark areas. From closer up, examine edges and small marks, while respecting any viewing barrier. The words that help with the whole arrangement may differ from the words that help with one detail. This is why a strong paragraph moves from a broad observation to a selected example rather than listing every object in sight.

A practical speaking pattern is detail, relationship, effect. Name a bright window, explain its relationship to the darker room, then suggest how the contrast directs your attention. Use seems or suggests when you are interpreting. These words do not make your answer weak; they show that you understand the difference between a visible feature and your response to it. Someone else may notice a different effect and still support it well.

You can practise without a famous artwork. Place an ordinary cup near a window at home and describe the light from a safe viewing position. Move your own viewpoint rather than shining a strong light into anyone’s eyes. Compare two sketches or photographs that you are allowed to make. A small, familiar object can teach you how to use precise English before a museum visit.

21. diffuse light

Say it: di-FYOOS lite

中文: 漫射光 · mànshèguāng

Meaning: Light spread in many directions, often producing less sharply defined shadows than a small direct source.

Example: Diffuse light from the covered window makes the shadows in our photograph less distinct.

中文例句: 遮挡后的窗户透入漫射光，使照片中的阴影不那么清晰。

22. side lighting

Say it: syd LY-ting

中文: 侧面照明 · cèmiàn zhàomíng

Meaning: Lighting that reaches a subject mainly from one side.

Example: Side lighting reveals the folds along the curtain.

中文例句: 侧面照明显现出窗帘上的褶皱。

23. cast shadow

Say it: kast SHAD-oh

中文: 投影 · tóuyǐng

Meaning: A dark area formed on a surface when an object blocks light from reaching it.

Example: The cup’s cast shadow stretches across the table in the drawing.

中文例句: 在这幅画中，杯子的投影延伸到桌面上。

24. reflected light

Say it: ri-FLEK-tid lite

中文: 反射光 · fǎnshèguāng

Meaning: Light that bounces from a surface before reaching another object or the viewer.

Example: Reflected light from the white card brightens the darker side of our model.

中文例句: 白卡纸反射的光照亮了模型较暗的一侧。

25. picture plane

Say it: PIK-chur playn

中文: 画面平面 · huàmiàn píngmiàn

Meaning: The flat surface on which an image is made, considered in relation to the space it represents.

Example: The tutor asks how the painted room seems to extend beyond the picture plane.

中文例句: 老师问，画中的房间看起来是如何向画面平面后方延伸的。

26. colour temperature

Say it: KUL-er TEM-pruh-chur

中文: 色温 · sèwēn

Meaning: A way of describing a light source’s colour appearance along a warm-to-cool range.

Example: We compare the colour temperature of two lamps without assuming that the brighter one is warmer.

中文例句: 我们比较两盏灯的色温，而不预先认定更亮的灯色调更暖。

Use it well: Here the term concerns the appearance of illumination, not the physical heat of a lamp or an object.

27. tonal value

Say it: TOH-nul VAL-yoo

中文: 明度 · míngdù

Meaning: The relative lightness or darkness of an area in an image.

Example: Even without colour, the sketch uses tonal value to separate the wall from the doorway.

中文例句: 即使没有色彩，这幅素描也利用明度来区分墙面与门口。

28. soft edge

Say it: soft ej

中文: 柔和边缘 · róuhé biānyuán

Meaning: A boundary between shapes or tones that changes gradually rather than forming a sharp line.

Example: A soft edge lets the cloth blend gently into the shadow behind it.

中文例句: 柔和的边缘使布料逐渐融入后方的阴影。

29. hard edge

Say it: hard ej

中文: 清晰边缘 · qīngxī biānyuán

Meaning: A sharply defined boundary between neighbouring shapes or tones.

Example: The hard edge of the window frame contrasts with the blurred curtain in my sketch.

中文例句: 在我的素描中，窗框清晰的边缘与模糊的窗帘形成对比。

30. negative space

Say it: NEG-uh-tiv spays

中文: 负空间 · fù kōngjiān

Meaning: The area around or between the main objects in an image or design.

Example: I sketch the negative space between the chair legs before drawing the legs themselves.

中文例句: 我先画椅子腿之间的负空间，再画椅子腿本身。

31. overlap

Say it: oh-ver-LAP

中文: 重叠 · chóngdié

Meaning: To cover part of another shape or object from a particular viewpoint.

Example: The two rectangles overlap in my sketch, making one appear nearer than the other.

中文例句: 在我的素描中，两个长方形相互重叠，使其中一个显得更近。

32. underpainting

Say it: UN-der-payn-ting

中文: 底层绘画 · dǐcéng huìhuà

Meaning: An initial painted layer that helps establish an image before later layers are added.

Example: The artist uses an underpainting to organise the main light and dark areas.

中文例句: 艺术家利用底层绘画来安排主要的明暗区域。

33. glint

Say it: glint

中文: 闪光 · shǎnguāng

Meaning: A small, brief or concentrated flash of reflected light.

Example: A glint on the glass draws my attention to the window.

中文例句: 玻璃上的一点闪光把我的注意力引向窗户。

34. spatial relationship

Say it: SPAY-shul ri-LAY-shun-ship

中文: 空间关系 · kōngjiān guānxì

Meaning: The way objects or areas are positioned relative to one another.

Example: I describe the spatial relationship between the table, the figure and the doorway.

中文例句: 我描述桌子、人物与门口之间的空间关系。

35. interior scene

Say it: in-TEER-ee-er seen

中文: 室内场景 · shìnèi chǎngjǐng

Meaning: An image or description showing activity or objects inside a building.

Example: The interior scene contains one chair, an open book and a shaded window.

中文例句: 这个室内场景中有一把椅子、一本打开的书和一扇遮着光的窗户。

36. optical illusion

Say it: OP-ti-kul ih-LOO-zhun

中文: 视觉错觉 · shìjué cuòjué

Meaning: An effect in which what a person sees differs from the physical arrangement or properties of the object.

Example: The drawing creates an optical illusion that makes equal lines look different in length.

中文例句: 这幅画产生了一种视觉错觉，使等长的线条看起来长短不同。

37. viewfinder

Say it: VYOO-fyn-der

中文: 取景器 · qǔjǐngqì

Meaning: A camera device or simple frame used to choose the boundaries of a view.

Example: I use a cardboard viewfinder to decide which part of the street to draw.

中文例句: 我用纸板取景框来决定画出街景中的哪一部分。

38. visual balance

Say it: VIZH-oo-ul BAL-uns

中文: 视觉平衡 · shìjué pínghéng

Meaning: An arrangement in which the visual weight of different elements feels suitably distributed.

Example: A small dark shape can change the visual balance of an otherwise pale composition.

中文例句: 一个小小的深色形状就能改变原本色调浅淡的构图中的视觉平衡。

39. windowpane

Say it: WIN-doh-payn

中文: 窗玻璃 · chuāng bōli

Meaning: A single sheet of glass fitted into a window.

Example: In the sketch, a bright reflection crosses the lower windowpane.

中文例句: 在素描中，一道明亮的反光横过下方的窗玻璃。

40. full-size

Say it: ful syz

中文: 原尺寸的 · yuán chǐcùn de

Meaning: Made at the same dimensions as the original object rather than enlarged or reduced.

Example: A full-size reproduction helps us compare the image’s dimensions with our own bodies.

中文例句: 原尺寸复制品帮助我们把图像的大小与自己的身体进行比较。

Use it well: For a reproduction, full-size means the original artwork’s dimensions. It does not mean that every depicted person is life-size.

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A larger image is not automatically a clearer answer. Imagine a classroom photograph enlarged until its edges become blurry. You can see a bigger shape, but you may not gain enough detail to identify it. This gives you a useful question for a science demonstration: does the instrument make the object look larger, reveal finer detail, or both? The distinction helps you listen actively instead of treating every technical claim as the same thing.

Careful observation needs a record. Write what you looked at, what you changed and what you noticed afterwards. If you adjusted a control and the image improved, record the adjustment rather than simply writing that the equipment worked. In a learning activity, follow the demonstrator’s directions and leave unfamiliar controls alone. You are learning how to ask about a method, not using a vocabulary list as an operating manual.

The words maybe and because do different jobs. Maybe introduces a possibility; because offers a reason. Imagine seeing a dark spot in a practice image. You might suggest that it is part of the sample, but you would need a way to check whether it came from dust or the imaging process. A confident voice cannot replace a useful test. Good English makes the uncertainty visible so that another person can respond intelligently.

For a family conversation, ask each learner to finish two sentences: I noticed, and I still want to know. The first should contain a specific observation; the second should open a genuine question. An adult can model this too. Showing that you are willing to revise an answer creates a better learning atmosphere than turning every display into a race to name the correct fact.

41. single-lens microscope

Say it: SING-gul lenz MY-kruh-skohp

中文: 单透镜显微镜 · dān tòujìng xiǎnwēijìng

Meaning: A microscope that uses one lens to magnify a small object.

Example: The lesson compares a single-lens microscope with a design that combines several lenses.

中文例句: 这节课把单透镜显微镜与组合使用多个透镜的设计进行比较。

Use it well: The distinction is the single magnifying lens, rather than a combination of lenses in a compound optical system.

42. lens grinder

Say it: lenz GRYN-der

中文: 透镜研磨师 · tòujìng yánmóshī

Meaning: A person who shapes optical lenses by grinding their surfaces.

Example: The lens grinder checks the surface carefully before moving to the next stage.

中文例句: 透镜研磨师先仔细检查表面，再进入下一道工序。

43. specimen holder

Say it: SPES-uh-min HOHL-der

中文: 样品夹持器 · yàngpǐn jiāchíqì

Meaning: A fixture that keeps a sample in position while it is examined or tested.

Example: In the model instrument, the specimen holder prevents the sample from shifting sideways.

中文例句: 在仪器模型中，样品夹持器防止样品向侧面移动。

Use it well: The holder is a supporting fixture; a slide is one possible surface on which a sample may be placed.

44. comparison sample

Say it: kum-PAIR-uh-sun SAM-pul

中文: 对比样品 · duìbǐ yàngpǐn

Meaning: A sample examined alongside another to help identify similarities or differences.

Example: We use a comparison sample to decide whether the darker patch is unusual.

中文例句: 我们使用对比样品来判断那块较暗的区域是否异常。

45. control variable

Say it: kun-TROHL VAIR-ee-uh-bul

中文: 控制变量 · kòngzhì biànliàng

Meaning: A condition deliberately kept the same while another factor is investigated.

Example: In our paper experiment, the distance from the lamp is a control variable.

中文例句: 在我们的纸上实验方案中，灯与物体之间的距离是一个控制变量。

Use it well: A control variable is a condition held fixed. It is different from a control group used for comparison.

46. naked eye

Say it: NAY-kid eye

中文: 肉眼 · ròuyǎn

Meaning: Human vision without magnifying equipment such as a microscope or telescope.

Example: The dot is visible to the naked eye, but its tiny details are not.

中文例句: 肉眼能看到这个小点，却看不到其中细小的细节。

47. inference

Say it: IN-fer-uns

中文: 推断 · tuīduàn

Meaning: A conclusion reached by reasoning from evidence rather than directly observing the conclusion itself.

Example: My inference is that the surface is uneven, but I need another view to check.

中文例句: 我的推断是表面不平整，但我需要换个角度查看才能确认。

48. outlier

Say it: OWT-ly-er

中文: 离群值 · líqúnzhí

Meaning: An observation or result that differs noticeably from the others in a set.

Example: One unusually high result is an outlier, so we check it rather than quietly deleting it.

中文例句: 一个异常偏高的结果是离群值，因此我们会检查它，而不是悄悄删掉它。

49. assumption

Say it: uh-SUMP-shun

中文: 假定 · jiǎdìng

Meaning: An idea accepted as a starting point without having been established as true.

Example: My first assumption was that the mark belonged to the sample, not the lens.

中文例句: 我最初的假定是，这个斑点在样品上，而不是在透镜上。

50. criterion

Say it: kry-TEER-ee-un

中文: 判断标准 · pànduàn biāozhǔn

Meaning: A standard used to judge something or make a decision.

Example: Our main criterion is whether a beginner can understand the model’s instructions.

中文例句: 我们的主要判断标准是初学者能否理解模型的操作说明。

Use it well: Criterion is singular; the usual plural is criteria.

51. assertion

Say it: uh-SUR-shun

中文: 断言 · duànyán

Meaning: A statement presented as true, which may still need evidence to support it.

Example: The assertion that one design is better needs a clear reason and a fair comparison.

中文例句: 说某个设计更好的断言，需要明确的理由和公平的比较来支持。

52. counterexample

Say it: KOWN-ter-ig-ZAM-pul

中文: 反例 · fǎnlì

Meaning: An example that shows a general statement is not always true.

Example: One successful result in dim light is a counterexample to the claim that the device never works there.

中文例句: 设备在昏暗光线下成功运行一次，就能反驳它在那里从不工作的说法。

53. baseline

Say it: BAYS-lyn

中文: 基准 · jīzhǔn

Meaning: An initial measurement or condition used as a reference for later comparison.

Example: We record a baseline before changing the model so that the comparison has a starting point.

中文例句: 我们在改动模型之前记录基准，使比较有一个起点。

54. bias

Say it: BY-us

中文: 偏差 · piānchā

Meaning: A systematic tendency in a method or judgement that can favour certain results or conclusions.

Example: Choosing only the clearest photographs could introduce bias into our comparison.

中文例句: 只选择最清晰的照片，可能会使我们的比较产生偏差。

Use it well: This is the research sense of bias. It does not necessarily mean deliberate dishonesty.

55. inconclusive

Say it: in-kun-KLOO-siv

中文: 无定论的 · wú dìnglùn de

Meaning: Not providing enough clear evidence to settle a question.

Example: The second test is inconclusive because the image is too blurred to interpret confidently.

中文例句: 第二次测试没有定论，因为图像太模糊，无法有把握地解读。

56. relevant

Say it: REL-uh-vunt

中文: 相关的 · xiāngguān de

Meaning: Directly connected with the question or matter being considered.

Example: The object’s weight is relevant to our carrying plan, while its colour may not be.

中文例句: 物件的重量与我们的搬运计划相关，而它的颜色可能无关。

57. credible

Say it: KRED-uh-bul

中文: 可信的 · kěxìn de

Meaning: Reasonably worthy of belief because the evidence or source gives grounds for trust.

Example: A credible explanation should show where its information comes from and acknowledge uncertainty.

中文例句: 可信的解释应该说明信息来源，并承认不确定之处。

58. qualify

Say it: KWOL-uh-fy

中文: 限定说法 · xiàndìng shuōfǎ

Meaning: To limit or add conditions to a statement so that its meaning is more accurate.

Example: I qualify my claim by explaining that we tested only one model.

中文例句: 我说明我们只测试过一个模型，以此限定自己的说法。

Use it well: Here qualify means limit a claim, rather than become eligible for something.

59. clarify

Say it: KLAR-uh-fy

中文: 澄清 · chéngqīng

Meaning: To make a statement, instruction or idea easier to understand.

Example: Could you clarify whether the number refers to the object or its enlarged image?

中文例句: 您能否澄清一下，这个数字指的是物体，还是放大后的图像？

60. elaborate

Say it: ih-LAB-uh-rayt

中文: 详细说明 · xiángxì shuōmíng

Meaning: To develop an explanation by adding relevant detail.

Example: Please elaborate on how the second observation changed your first explanation.

中文例句: 请详细说明第二次观察如何改变了您最初的解释。

Use it well: This entry uses the verb elaborate, with the final sound rayt. The adjective has a different final sound.

Back to all 100 words · Continue to the next chapter

An engineering demonstration becomes more interesting when you ask what the design is meant to do. Imagine a small classroom model that must carry a toy across a gap. Its purpose gives you a standard for judging it. A model can look elegant but fail to carry the load; another can work well while still needing a clearer way for a person to operate it. Appearance and performance deserve separate descriptions.

When discussing a change, name the problem before naming the solution. The model tipped when the toy reached the edge is a useful starting point. We made it better is too broad. Explain which part changed and what happened on the next attempt. You do not need impressive terminology for every component. A precise ordinary phrase is better than a specialist word that you cannot explain.

Keep the human user in the discussion. A switch might be easy to see but difficult to reach. Instructions might be accurate yet too dense for a beginner to follow. These observations give you a reason to ask how a design was tested with people. Avoid assuming that your own needs are universal: a person with different height, strength, vision or experience may encounter a different difficulty.

A workshop is also a shared space. Watch the demonstration, keep the working area clear and ask which actions you may perform. If you do not understand an instruction, say so before continuing. Clear questions save time and protect other participants. None of the equipment words below authorises you to operate machinery, change a safety setting or enter a restricted university space.

61. iteration

Say it: it-uh-RAY-shun

中文: 迭代 · diédài

Meaning: One repetition of a design or development cycle, often incorporating changes from an earlier attempt.

Example: Our second iteration uses a wider base after the first model tipped over.

中文例句: 第一个模型倾倒后，我们的第二次迭代采用了更宽的底座。

62. user testing

Say it: YOO-zer TES-ting

中文: 用户测试 · yònghù cèshì

Meaning: Trying a design with intended users to learn how well it meets their needs.

Example: During user testing, a beginner finds the start button difficult to locate.

中文例句: 在用户测试中，一位初学者发现启动按钮很难找。

63. feedback loop

Say it: FEED-bak loop

中文: 反馈回路 · fǎnkuì huílù

Meaning: A process in which information about a result is used to influence what happens next.

Example: The model’s feedback loop adjusts the motor after checking its speed.

中文例句: 模型的反馈回路在检测速度后调整电机。

64. circuit board

Say it: SUR-kit bord

中文: 电路板 · diànlùbǎn

Meaning: A board that supports electronic components and connects them through conductive paths.

Example: In the diagram, the circuit board connects the button to the small lamp.

中文例句: 在图示中，电路板把按钮与小灯连接起来。

65. input

Say it: IN-put

中文: 输入 · shūrù

Meaning: A signal, instruction or other information that enters a device or system.

Example: Pressing the model’s button sends an input to its controller.

中文例句: 按下模型的按钮会向控制器发送输入信号。

66. output

Say it: OWT-put

中文: 输出 · shūchū

Meaning: A result, signal or action produced by a device or system.

Example: The lamp flashing is the output we observe after pressing the button.

中文例句: 按下按钮后，小灯闪烁是我们观察到的输出。

67. component

Say it: kum-POH-nunt

中文: 部件 · bùjiàn

Meaning: An individual part that contributes to the operation or structure of a larger object.

Example: Before describing the model, choose one component and explain what it does.

中文例句: 描述模型之前，先选择一个部件并解释它的作用。

68. friction fit

Say it: FRIK-shun fit

中文: 摩擦配合 · mócā pèihé

Meaning: A connection held in place by tight contact and friction between fitted surfaces.

Example: The cardboard model uses a friction fit, so the tab stays in the slot without glue.

中文例句: 纸板模型采用摩擦配合，因此插片无需胶水也能固定在插槽中。

69. structural support

Say it: STRUK-chur-ul suh-PORT

中文: 结构支撑 · jiégòu zhīchēng

Meaning: A part or arrangement that helps a structure carry loads or remain stable.

Example: Our sketch adds structural support beneath the longest section of the model bridge.

中文例句: 我们的草图在桥梁模型最长的部分下方增设了结构支撑。

70. centre of gravity

Say it: SEN-ter uv GRAV-uh-tee

中文: 重心 · zhòngxīn

Meaning: The point through which an object’s total weight can be considered to act.

Example: The instructor asks how adding a heavy piece might change the model’s centre of gravity.

中文例句: 老师问，添加一个重物可能如何改变模型的重心。

71. plumb line

Say it: plum lyn

中文: 铅垂线 · qiānchuíxiàn

Meaning: A weighted string used to establish a vertical direction.

Example: In the classroom drawing, a plumb line gives us a vertical reference beside the leaning model.

中文例句: 在课堂图示中，铅垂线在倾斜的模型旁提供了竖直参照。

72. rigid

Say it: RIJ-id

中文: 刚性的 · gāngxìng de

Meaning: Resistant to bending or changing shape under the forces being considered.

Example: The rigid frame keeps its shape while the thin covering moves slightly.

中文例句: 刚性框架保持形状不变，而薄薄的覆盖层稍有移动。

73. stress test

Say it: stres test

中文: 压力测试 · yālì cèshì

Meaning: A controlled test that challenges a design to reveal limits or weaknesses.

Example: We discuss a stress test on paper rather than pushing unfamiliar equipment beyond its safe use.

中文例句: 我们在纸上讨论压力测试，而不把不熟悉的设备推到安全使用范围之外。

74. material property

Say it: muh-TEER-ee-ul PROP-er-tee

中文: 材料特性 · cáiliào tèxìng

Meaning: A characteristic of a material, such as stiffness or conductivity, that affects its behaviour.

Example: Flexibility is the material property that matters most for our folding part.

中文例句: 对于我们的折叠部件，柔韧性是最重要的材料特性。

75. wear and tear

Say it: wair und tair

中文: 日常磨损 · rìcháng mósǔn

Meaning: Gradual damage or deterioration caused by ordinary repeated use.

Example: The demonstration handle shows wear and tear after many practice sessions.

中文例句: 经过多次练习使用，示范用的把手出现了日常磨损。

76. safety goggles

Say it: SAYF-tee GOG-ulz

中文: 护目镜 · hùmùjìng

Meaning: Protective eyewear designed to shield the eyes during particular activities.

Example: Before the supervised task begins, we ask which safety goggles the instructor requires.

中文例句: 在受指导的任务开始前，我们询问老师要求使用哪种护目镜。

77. dexterity

Say it: dek-STER-uh-tee

中文: 灵巧性 · língqiǎoxìng

Meaning: Skill and control in small, careful movements, especially with the hands.

Example: Connecting the tiny model pieces requires dexterity rather than great strength.

中文例句: 连接细小的模型部件需要灵巧性，而不是很大的力气。

78. manual control

Say it: MAN-yoo-ul kun-TROHL

中文: 手动控制 · shǒudòng kòngzhì

Meaning: Operation directed by a person rather than performed automatically by a system.

Example: The diagram contrasts manual control of the model with an automatic programme.

中文例句: 图示对比了模型的手动控制与自动程序。

79. fastener

Say it: FAS-uh-ner

中文: 紧固件 · jǐngùjiàn

Meaning: A device, such as a screw or clip, used to hold parts together.

Example: The instructor identifies the fastener before explaining how the two model parts connect.

中文例句: 老师先指出紧固件，再解释模型的两个部件如何连接。

80. trial run

Say it: TRY-ul run

中文: 试运行 · shì yùnxíng

Meaning: A preliminary attempt used to check a procedure or device before its intended use.

Example: Our trial run reveals that the written instructions leave out an important step.

中文例句: 我们的试运行发现，书面说明遗漏了一个重要步骤。

Back to all 100 words · Continue to the next chapter

A helpful request gives the other person something specific to answer. Compare Tell me everything about the workshop with I would like to know how long the session lasts and whether beginners can join. The second request sets a manageable scope. You can ask another question after listening. Trying to include every concern in one long sentence often makes the conversation harder for both people.

Practical language matters when you are carrying a delicate object or planning around an activity. Describe the item or booking clearly, explain the uncertainty, and ask for the next step. If you are concerned about damage, point out what you can see without deciding the cause. If your visit depends on access arrangements, ask about the actual route and any restrictions rather than relying on a general reassuring label.

A written note can prevent mistakes in a noisy room. Ask for the relevant time, location or instructions in writing when that would help. Read the details back and check that you understood them. This is especially useful when a collection arrangement happens on a different day from a workshop. The imagined examples below practise the language; the provider’s current terms determine the real arrangement.

Leave space for the answer to be no. A polite request is not a demand for an exception. If a service is unavailable, ask what suitable alternative the provider can suggest. When a museum is closed, a current official information page may be more useful than an old travel article. Being flexible with your plan does not mean being vague with your questions.

81. packaging insert

Say it: PAK-uh-jing IN-surt

中文: 包装内衬 · bāozhuāng nèichèn

Meaning: A piece fitted inside packaging to position or protect an object.

Example: Could you show me how the packaging insert supports the vase inside the box?

中文例句: 您能否给我看一下，包装内衬如何在盒子里支撑花瓶？

Use it well: The insert is a particular supporting piece within the package, rather than a general name for all packing materials.

82. bubble wrap

Say it: BUB-ul rap

中文: 气泡膜 · qìpàomó

Meaning: Flexible plastic packaging containing small pockets of air that help cushion an object.

Example: We place bubble wrap between the two delicate pieces.

中文例句: 我们在两件易碎物品之间放置气泡膜。

83. packing slip

Say it: PAK-ing slip

中文: 装箱单 · zhuāngxiāngdān

Meaning: A document placed with a shipment that lists the items included in the package.

Example: I compare the packing slip with the contents before putting the empty box away.

中文例句: 收起空箱之前，我把装箱单与箱内物品进行核对。

84. surface scratch

Say it: SUR-fis skrach

中文: 表面划痕 · biǎomiàn huáhén

Meaning: A narrow mark caused by something scraping across an object’s outer surface.

Example: The photograph shows a surface scratch, but it does not tell us how the mark happened.

中文例句: 照片显示有一道表面划痕，却不能说明划痕是如何产生的。

85. inspect

Say it: in-SPEKT

中文: 检查 · jiǎnchá

Meaning: To examine something carefully in order to assess its condition or details.

Example: May I inspect the item with you before it is wrapped?

中文例句: 包装之前，我可以和您一起检查这件物品吗？

86. upright

Say it: UP-ryt

中文: 直立的 · zhílì de

Meaning: Positioned vertically, with the top above the base rather than lying on its side.

Example: The instructions say to keep the box upright during handling.

中文例句: 说明要求搬运时保持盒子直立。

87. replacement part

Say it: ri-PLAYS-munt part

中文: 替换零件 · tìhuàn língjiàn

Meaning: A component used in place of another that is missing, damaged or no longer suitable.

Example: Is a replacement part available for the small stand, or must the whole stand be changed?

中文例句: 这个小支架有替换零件吗，还是必须更换整个支架？

Use it well: The phrase names the component itself. A replacement service or a full replacement object is a different request.

88. handle with care

Say it: HAN-dul with kair

中文: 小心轻放 · xiǎoxīn qīngfàng

Meaning: An instruction to move or hold an item cautiously to reduce the risk of damage.

Example: The label says handle with care, so I ask how the package should be carried.

中文例句: 标签写着小心轻放，所以我询问应该如何搬运这个包裹。

89. reschedule

Say it: ree-SHED-yool

中文: 重新安排时间 · chóngxīn ānpái shíjiān

Meaning: To arrange a different time or date for a planned activity.

Example: Could we reschedule the activity if the new time is available and the booking terms allow it?

中文例句: 如果新时段有空位且预订条款允许，我们可以重新安排活动时间吗？

90. closed footwear

Say it: klohzd FOOT-wair

中文: 遮住脚趾和大部分脚面的鞋 · zhēzhù jiǎozhǐ hé dà bùfen jiǎomiàn de xié

Meaning: Shoes that cover the toes and most of the foot, rather than leaving them exposed like sandals.

Example: Does the practical activity require closed footwear, and are there any other clothing rules?

中文例句: 这项实践活动要求穿遮住脚趾和大部分脚面的鞋吗，还有其他着装规定吗？

91. reopening date

Say it: ree-OH-puh-ning dayt

中文: 重新开放日期 · chóngxīn kāifàng rìqī

Meaning: The date on which a place is expected or confirmed to open again after a closure.

Example: Before planning the visit, I check whether the reopening date is confirmed or only proposed.

中文例句: 规划参观之前，我会核实重新开放日期是已经确定，还是仅为计划。

92. alternative venue

Say it: awl-TUR-nuh-tiv VEN-yoo

中文: 替代场地 · tìdài chǎngdì

Meaning: A different place where an activity can happen instead of the originally intended location.

Example: If the original room is unavailable, has an alternative venue been confirmed?

中文例句: 如果原来的房间无法使用，是否已经确定替代场地？

93. booking reference

Say it: BOOK-ing REF-er-uns

中文: 预订编号 · yùdìng biānhào

Meaning: A code or identifier used to locate a particular reservation.

Example: I will keep the booking reference available when asking about my reservation.

中文例句: 询问预订情况时，我会准备好预订编号。

94. dispatch

Say it: di-SPACH

中文: 发货 · fāhuò

Meaning: To send an item out to its destination.

Example: Could you tell me when you expect to dispatch the finished item?

中文例句: 您能否告诉我，预计什么时候把完成的物品发出？

95. accompanying adult

Say it: uh-KUM-puh-nee-ing AD-ult

中文: 陪同成人 · péitóng chéngrén

Meaning: An adult who attends an activity with another participant, often a child.

Example: Does an accompanying adult need a separate reservation for this activity?

中文例句: 参加这项活动的陪同成人需要单独预订吗？

96. language option

Say it: LANG-gwij OP-shun

中文: 语言选项 · yǔyán xuǎnxiàng

Meaning: One of the languages available for an activity, explanation or set of instructions.

Example: Which language option is available for the session we are considering?

中文例句: 我们考虑参加的这一场活动提供哪种语言选项？

97. availability

Say it: uh-vay-luh-BIL-uh-tee

中文: 可预约情况 · kě yùyuē qíngkuàng

Meaning: Whether a place, service or time slot can be used or booked when needed.

Example: I will check availability before promising the group that we can join the activity.

中文例句: 在向同行的人保证能参加活动之前，我会先核实可预约情况。

98. lead time

Say it: leed tym

中文: 所需准备时间 · suǒxū zhǔnbèi shíjiān

Meaning: The time needed between making a request and the item or service being ready.

Example: What lead time should we allow between placing the request and receiving the finished piece?

中文例句: 从提出要求到收到成品，我们应该预留多长准备时间？

Use it well: Ask whether the stated lead time ends when the item is ready or when it is dispatched; delivery may take additional time.

99. snug

Say it: snug

中文: 贴合稳固的 · tiēhé wěngù de

Meaning: Fitting closely and comfortably, without too much extra space.

Example: The package needs a snug fit so that the object cannot slide freely inside.

中文例句: 包装需要贴合稳固，让物品不能在里面随意滑动。

100. standby

Say it: STAND-by

中文: 候补 · hòubǔ

Meaning: A status of waiting ready for a possible opportunity without a confirmed place or immediate use.

Example: Is there a standby option if all the places are currently booked?

中文例句: 如果目前所有名额都已预订，有候补选项吗？

Back to all 100 words · Continue to the next chapter

Worked example: turn a loose impression into a paragraph

This is an imagined writing exercise, not a report of a Delft visit. Begin with a deliberately weak sentence: The picture was nice and there were many things in it. It gives the reader a reaction but no evidence. Improve it by selecting one visible relationship. You could describe a bright window beside a darker wall, then explain how that contrast guides your attention. The goal is a clear observation, not the largest possible number of art words.

Model paragraph: In the imagined interior scene, side lighting falls across the table while the far corner remains dark. A soft edge around the cloth makes the transition gentle, but the hard edge of the window frame feels more definite. My eye moves towards the illuminated area first. I cannot tell what the figure is thinking, so I would describe the posture before suggesting a mood. This gives my interpretation a visible starting point.

Notice the paragraph’s order. It begins with a location and a relationship, selects two details, describes their effect and finally limits the interpretation. That last sentence matters. Good descriptive writing does not pretend that every personal impression is a fact. Try rewriting the paragraph about a different imagined room. Keep the order of thinking, but choose your own objects and avoid copying phrases that no longer fit.

Worked example: explain a change

Imagine a supervised classroom design activity. A small model tips sideways when a toy is placed near one end. Before changing anything, describe the problem in one sentence. Then ask what you are allowed to adjust. A useful explanation names a change and a result: We moved the support closer to the loaded end, and the model stayed upright in our next test. This is clearer than saying that the second model was much better.

Now add a limitation. One successful attempt does not establish that the design will work under every condition. You might write that you used the same toy and repeated the same movement, but did not test a heavier load. That sentence is valuable English because it tells a reader what your claim includes. In school writing, a sensible limitation can make an explanation more convincing than an unsupported superlative.

Turn the activity into a conversation with a partner. One person explains the result; the other asks which condition stayed the same. Swap roles and introduce a different result. Keep all physical activity hypothetical unless a responsible instructor is supervising a suitable exercise. You can practise the language fully with sketches and spoken descriptions.

Remember words by using them in decisions

Choose five headwords from different chapters and write one short situation in which each word would help you. A word about light might help describe a photograph; a word about evidence might help qualify a claim; a handling word might help protect a purchase. This makes the vocabulary easier to retrieve because you connect each word with a purpose rather than memorising an isolated translation.

On the next day, cover the English headwords and use the Chinese meanings as prompts. Say the English word, explain it in simple English and make a new example. If you remember only the translation, return to the definition and identify the important distinction. For instance, a term describing a surface is different from a term describing the material underneath it. A word is secure when you can recognise that boundary.

For stronger learners, practise correcting a plausible mistake. Write an inaccurate sentence, explain why it is inaccurate and replace it with a careful one. You might correct an assumption that a reproduction is an original, or that a larger image always contains more useful detail. This is not a trick exercise. It develops the habit of checking what your words actually commit you to saying.

A short writing task to take home

Write a paragraph of about 150 words about one imagined object, picture or demonstration. Include a clear opening, two selected observations, one explanation and one question you would still like to ask. Use five headwords naturally. Do not force unrelated terms into the paragraph simply to meet the number. If a term interrupts the reader’s understanding, replace it with a clearer phrase and try that word in a different piece of writing.

Check your work in three passes. First, underline factual claims and decide whether each is observed, sourced or imagined. Second, check that every chosen headword matches its intended meaning. Third, read the paragraph aloud and shorten any sentence in which you lose track of the subject. A partner should be able to say what you noticed and why it mattered without needing to ask what every sentence means.

The most useful result of this lesson is a more attentive way of visiting. You can enjoy a beautiful surface while asking how it was made, appreciate a picture while distinguishing observation from interpretation, and admire an invention while asking what problem it solves. Take a few well-understood words with you, listen carefully to the answers, and let the next question grow from what you genuinely learn.

Two imagined visitor conversations

Visitor: I can see a hairline crack near the base. Could you help me inspect it before we discuss packaging?

Staff member: Let us look at it together first. Please leave the object on the counter while I check.

Visitor: Does this workshop booking include time for a trial run, and will someone explain the controls?

Staff member: I will check the session details. Which activity and date are you asking about?

In the first conversation, the visitor names a visible concern without accusing anyone of causing it. In the second, the visitor asks two related questions and the reply narrows the request. Practise changing one detail at a time: the part of the object, the activity, or the information needed. Avoid memorising a whole conversation so rigidly that you stop listening to the actual answer.

Official sources and checking your plan

The linked official pages support the factual Delft context above. Use the relevant venue page again close to your visit, because programmes, access arrangements and display status can change. This article teaches language; a practice sentence does not establish a provider’s policy or confirm a reservation.

• Royal Delft Museum: Liquid clay cast in plaster moulds
• Vermeer Centrum Delft: Information and experience centre uses reproductions, not original Vermeer paintings
• Mauritshuis: View of Delft dated c.1660–1661
• TU Delft Library / Tresor: Leeuwenhoek's Delft connection, small lenses, observations recorded in letters
• TU Delft Repository: Modern researchers investigated surviving Leeuwenhoek single-lens microscopes
• Delft Marketing / VVV Delft: Technology and robotics visitor activities connected to TU Delft Science Centre
• Museum Prinsenhof Delft: Closed on 5 January 2025, currently temporarily closed
• Oude en Nieuwe Kerk Delft: Oude Kerk has a leaning tower
• Nidec Drive Technology / Shimpo: Banding wheel as a rotating support for hand building, painting and decorating ceramics

Continue exploring the Vocabulary Lists Control Tower for more connected word guides.

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