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ENGLISH
HKDSE
SPTSS

Name:

Every journey begins with a single step.

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Writing notes - Collocations
A. Collocations using the most Common Words

1. problem (問題)

1. cause (造成) 1. serious (嚴重)

2. face (面對) 2. difficult (困難)
3. tackle (處理) 3. thorny (棘手) problem (s)
4. alleviate (舒緩) 4. emotional (情緒)/ physical (身體) psychological (心理)
5. solve (解決) 5. social (社會)

Example: The one-child policy has caused a lot of serious social problems.

Example: Although we face many difficult problems in our life, we have to be optimistic and
persistent.

Example: In order to tackle the thorny problem of milk powder shortage, the government has
imposed restrictions on the export of the product.

Example: Communicating with and encouraging our loved ones can alleviate their emotional
problems.

2. adversity (逆境)

1. face (面對) a lot of / many (很多) adversities

2. overcome (克服)

Example: An athlete has to face a lot of adversities in his or her career. He should try his best to
overcome them and achieve excellent results in sports events.
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3. difficulty (困難)
1. cause (造成) 1. great /serious (嚴重) difficulty (ies)
2. face (面對) 2. economic / financial (經濟)
3. tackle (處理)
4. overcome (克服)

Example: Language barriers have caused great difficulties to the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.

Example: Although Kobe Bryant faced serious difficulties in his recovery process, he remained
upbeat and determined.

Example: To tackle the economic difficulties after the COVID-19 epidemic, the government offers
subsidies to shops and restaurants..

Example: With the widespread use of credit cards, university students may face financial
difficulties if they overspend.

Example: Deng Xiaoping overcame great difficulties during the Cultural Revolution and eventually
became the leader of China.

4. trouble (麻煩)
1. cause (造成)
2. have (有)
1. serious (嚴重)
3. get into (陷入) trouble
2. financial (經濟)
4. get out of (擺脫)
5. avoid (避免)

Example: The controversy over the implementation of national education in primary and
secondary schools caused serious trouble to the government.

Example: When people have financial trouble, they may borrow money from loan sharks.

Example: When youngsters become obsessed with luxury goods, they will get into serious
financial trouble.

5. opinion / view (意見)

1. my (我的)
1. opinion
1. express (表達) 2. our (我們的)
2. view
3. their (他們的)
Example: I am writing to express my opinion on the declining birth rate.

Example: As Hong Kong is a free society, people can express their view without being persecuted
by the government.
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6. suggestion / recommendations / proposal (提議)
1. make 1. my (我的) 1. suggestion (s)
put forward (提出) 2. some (有些) 2. recommendation(s)
2. adopt / implement (實行) 3. proposal
Example: In the following, I will make some suggestions.

Example: I hope that you will implement my recommendations.

7. advice (建議)
1. give (給) 1. some (一些) advice
2. take / follow (跟從) 2. the (這個)
3. my (我的)
Example: In this article, I will give you some advice on how to nurture your children.

Example: If you follow my advice, you will become much healthier.

8. education (教育)
1. compulsory (強制的) / free (免費的)
2. higher / tertiary / university (大學的)
secondary (中學的)/ primary (小學的)
1. provide (提供)
3. professional / vocational (職業的)
2. get / receive (接受) education
4. special (特殊的)
3. complete (完成)
5. health / physical (健康的)
6. sex (性)
7. general / liberal (通識)
Example: Since the 1970s, the government has provided compulsory education for primary and
secondary school students.

Example: Through receiving tertiary education, we can enhance our all-round development.

Example: In order to train the working skills of youngsters, the government should provide more
vocational education for them.

Example: After completing special education, the physically-disabled and the mentally-disabled can
work in sheltered workshops (庇護工場).

Example: Students can broaden their horizons and improve their critical thinking through
receiving general education.
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9. studies (學習)
1. pursue (追求)
1. further (進一步)
2. neglect (忽略)
2. their (他們的)
3. begin (開始)
3. undergraduate (大學的) (academic )studies
4. complete / finish (完成)
4. secondary (中學的)
5. continue (繼續)
5. primary (小學的)
6. quit / give up (放棄)
Example: Every year, many local secondary school graduates pursue further studies in foreign
countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Example: Sad to say, many secondary students are obsessed with entertainment and neglect their
academic studies.

Example: Normally, children in Hong Kong begin their primary studies at the age of 6 and complete
their studies when they are 12.

Example: Lifelong learning is emphasized in Hong Kong. Even after their graduation, many people
continue their studies.

Example: In the past, many children had to give up their studies due to poverty.

10. knowledge (知識)

1. acquire (獲取)
1. useful (有用的)
2. accumulate (累積)
2. common (普通) knowledge
3. absorb (吸收)
3. working / practical / professional (工作的)
4. disseminate (傳播)

Example: We can acquire knowledge through reading books and browsing the Internet.

Example: Textbooks are not our only medium of learning. We can accumulate a lot of common
knowledge from newspapers and magazine.

Example: Students absorb a lot of useful knowledge and exam skills in tutorial classes.

Example: University students can acquire professional knowledge through internship programmes.

Example: Wikipedia has disseminated a wide variety of knowledge to Internet users.

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11. skills (技能)
1. professional (職業的)
1. require (需要)
2. communication (溝通)
2. acquire (獲取)
3. leadership (領導)
3. learn (學習) skills
4. inter-personal (人際)
4. master (掌握)
5. critical-thinking (批判)
5. improve / enhance (改善)
6. examination (考試)

Example: Answering the examination questions of Liberal Studies requires critical thinking skills.

Example: Through being leaders of different interest clubs, students can learn leadership skills.

Example: Participating in voluntary activities can improve our communication skills.

Example: Students can master examination skills by attending tutorial classes.

12. experience (經驗)

1. rich (豐富的)
1. get / gain (獲取) 2. first-hand (第一手)
experience
2. accumulate (累積) 3. practical / professional (職業的)
4. working (工作的)

Example: We can gain rich experience through doing part-time jobs.

Example: Nowadays, teenagers do not need to earn a living for their family. As a result, they hardly
have any opportunities to accumulate working experience.

13. responsibility (責任)

1. shoulder / take (承擔)
1. great / heavy (巨大的)
2. share (分享)
2. collective (集體的)
3. have (有) responsibility
3. civic (公民)
4. develop (發展)
4. a sense of (..感)
5. evade / shirk (逃避)

Example: The government should shoulder great responsibility in helping the poor.

Example: Schools and parents share collective responsibility in nurturing the next generation.

Example: People have civic responsibility to keep public venues clean.

Example: Through organizing extra-curricular activities, we can develop our sense of responsibility.
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14. obligation (責任)
1. moral (道德)
1. have (有)
2. social (社會) obligation
2. meet (履行)
3. family (家庭)

Example: The youth have moral obligation to care for the elderly.

Example: In order to meet their family obligation, many people work very hard.

15. Right (權利)

1. have / enjoy (享有) 1. legal (法律的) right(s)
2. protect / safeguard (保護) 2. human (人)
3. abuse (濫用) 3. consumers’ (消費者)/ women’s (女性)

Example: Hong Kong people can enjoy a lot of legal rights, like freedom of expression and freedom
of press under the Basic Law.

Example: The government has passed new laws to safeguard the consumers’ rights.

Example: Although Hong Kong is a free society, people should not abuse their rights and disrupt
social order.

16. interest (興趣)

1. arouse (引起) 1. deep / strong / keen (大)
2. have (有) 2. public (公眾的) interest
3. lose (失去)
Example: The gossips about celebrities have aroused public interest.

Example: Teenagers in Hong Kong have strong interest in Korean pop stars.

Example: Hong Kong people have lost interest in local movies.

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17. attention (留心/注意)
1. draw / capture / attract(吸引)
1. public (公眾的)
2. deserve (值得)
2. close (密切的) attention
3. distract (分散)
3. full (完全的)
4. pay (留心)

Example: The corruption scandals of former government officials have drawn public attention.

Example: The private life of celebrities often attracts public attention.

Example: The problem of global warming deserves our close attention.

Example: Although smartphones are useful, they distract our attention.

Example: Students pay full attention in tutorial classes.

18. concentration (集中)

1. disrupt / disturb (干擾) concentration
2. lose (失去)
3. lack (缺乏)
Example: Smartphones often disrupt the concentration of students.

Example: After studying for a while, she lost her concentration and started scrolling Instagram.

Example: Many students cannot get good results because they lack concentration on their studies.

19. awareness (意識)

1. raise (提升) 1. public (公眾) awareness
2. civic (公民)
Example: The government aims to raise public awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Example: In the 1970s, the Hong Kong government organized the Clean Hong Kong Campaign to
raise civic awareness.

20. enthusiasm (熱誠)

1. arouse (引起)
1. great (大)
2. have (有) enthusiasm
2. growing (越來愈大)
3. show / demonstrate (顯示)

Example: Sarah Lee’s achievement in the international arena has aroused great enthusiasm about
cycling.

Example: The secondary school students in Hong Kong have growing enthusiasm about taking part
in voluntary work.

Example: Bill Gates and Warren Buffet demonstrate great enthusiasm about philanthropy.
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21. opposition (反對)
1. arouse (引起)
1. strong / fierce (強烈的)
2. face (面對) opposition
3. express (表達)

Example: The proposal to expand the landfill in Tseung Kwan O aroused strong opposition.

Example: A few years ago, our school intended to ban junk food but it faced fierce opposition.

Example: The public have expressed their opposition to the government by throwing the Lufsig
dolls.

22. argument (爭論)

1. have (有) 1. heated / bitter (激烈的) argument (s)
2. settle (解決)
Example: Before the murder, the couple had a heated argument.

Example: We can settle our bitter argument with our family through genuine communication.

23. conflict (紛爭)

1. cause (引起)
2. have (有) 1. heated / bitter (激烈的) conflict(s)
3. resolve (解決)

Example: Financial difficulties often cause heated conflicts in families.

Example: It is common to see children have bitter conflicts with their parents owing to their huge
generation gap.

Example: Through diplomatic dialogue, different countries can resolve their conflicts.

24. feeling (感覺)

1. have (有)
1. deep / strong (強烈的)
2. express (表達) feeling(s)
2. negative (負面的)
3. hide (隱藏)

Example: Nowadays, many Chinese people still have strong feelings about the Japanese occupation
in the 1930s and the 1940s.

Example: As their parents do not understand their psychological needs, many teenagers express
their negative feelings on social media

Example: Hong Kong people enjoy freedom of expression. They do not have to hide their negative
feelings about society. Instead, they can freely criticize anyone, including the government.
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25. dream (夢想)
1. have (有) a dream
2. achieve / realize (實現) his/ her
Example: Many people have a dream that they will become millionaires.

Example: Through strenuous efforts, Sarah Lee has finally realized her dream.

26. concern (關注)

1. arouse / raise (引起) 1. deep (深切) concern
2. express (表達) 2. serious (嚴重)
3. There has been (一直有) 3. growing (越來越多)
4. public (公眾)
5. international (國際)

Example: The recent suicides of primary and secondary school students have aroused deep concern
about the mental health of our next generation.

Example: There has been growing concern about the supply of milk powder during the Christmas
and Lunar New Year holidays.

Example: Frequent mechanical failures in MTR trains have raised public concern about the
reliability of the system.

Example: The fire disaster in Bangladesh raised international concern about the safety of the
factories in developing countries.

27. sympathy (同情)

1. arouse (引起) 1. deep / great (大)
2. express (表達) 2. heartfelt (由衷) sympathy
3. have (有) 3. little (少)

Example: The plight of protestors in Hong Kong has aroused deep sympathy around the world.

Example: I am writing to express my heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the super typhoon
disaster in the Philippines.

Example: The moral standard of China has degenerated. Many Chinese people have little sympathy
for the strangers who are in dire situation.
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28. rapport (和睦關係)
1. establish (建立)
1. good (好)
2. have (有) rapport
2. close (緊密)
3. develop (發展)

Example: Through socializing with our neighbours, we can establish good rapport with them.

Example: In bygone days, people living in rural villages could develop close rapport. Sad to say,
despite the rising the living standard nowadays, many people are isolated from their neighbours.

29. aim / goal / target / purpose / objective / (目標)

1. set (訂立) 1. short-term (短期) 1. aim
2. pursue (追求) 2. long-term (長期) 2. goal
3. achieve / reach / realize 3. personal / individual (個人) 3. target
(達成) 4. ultimate (終極) 4. purpose
5. lifelong (終生) 5. objective

Example: The government should set short-term objectives on the reduction of waste disposal.

Example: In order to get a promotion in his company and pursue his long-term goal of buying a
spacious apartment, he is working industriously.

Example: At the age of 80, he finally achieved his lifelong goal and travelled around the world.

30. ambition (抱負)

1. achieve / realize (達成) 1. personal (個人) ambition

Example: In order to realize his personal ambition of becoming a great basketball player, Kobe
Bryant was determined and persistent in his whole career.

31. desire (欲望)

1. have (有)
1. keen / strong (強烈)
2. express / voice (表達) desire (慾望)
3. satisfy (滿足)

Example: Many youngsters have strong desire to buy luxury products.

Example: Mr. Chan expressed his desire to retire at the age of 60.

Example: To satisfy their desire for brand-name products, some teenagers may resort to crimes.
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32. plan (計劃)
1. make / propose (作出) 1. feasible / realistic (現實可行) plan
2. carry out / implement 2. short-term (短期)
(實行) 3. long-term (長期)
3. accept (接受) 4. contingency (應變)

Example: The government should make a realistic plan to alleviate the housing shortage problem.

Example: When we open a shop, we need to propose a short-term plan and a long term plan.

Example: When an outdoor concert is organized, the organizer needs to make a contingency plan
in case it rains heavily.

Example: According to the government, it will take three years before it implements the plan of
waste charging.

Example: We believe that our plan will appeal to all the students in the school and hope that you
will accept it.