berth

/bɜːθ/ (bre, ipa) · /bɜːrθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbərth/ (ame, mw) · /bɝːθ/ (ame, ipa)

berth — noun

  • berthsingular
  • berthsplural

1. a narrow bed built into the side of a wall or compartment on a ship, train, or o

1.名詞B1
釋義

a narrow bed built into the side of a wall or compartment on a ship, train, or other long-distance vehicle where passengers sleep during the journey; also, the fixed spot where a ship ties up at a wharf or jetty in a port.

例句

Hiroshi climbed into his upper berth on the overnight train and fell asleep as the wheels began to turn.

upper berth, overnight train

The cruise ship was assigned a berth near the main terminal on the north side of the harbour.

同義詞
  • bunk

    a simple bed that is often stacked; more common for shared spaces than the formal 'berth'

  • cot

    a narrow, portable bed; used on ships but also common in military settings

文法句型

berth in/on [vehicle]

book/ reserve a berth

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'upper' or 'lower' to describe the position of the bed on a train or ship.

常見錯誤

❌I slept on a berth in the hotel.
✅I slept in a berth on the overnight train.
💡'berth' is only used for vehicles (ships, trains, caravans), not ordinary hotel rooms.

2. the right for a person, team, or player to compete in a sporting event or tourna

2.名詞B2
釋義

the right for a person, team, or player to compete in a sporting event or tournament, usually earned through previous performance or qualification.

例句

The university team earned a berth in the national championship after winning twelve matches in a row.

earned a berth in

Sanjay's final victory in the regional tournament secured him a berth at the world judo championships in Tokyo.

同義詞
  • slot

    a more general term for a position in a schedule or lineup; less formal than 'berth'

  • place

    a neutral term for being admitted to a competition; used in everyday language

反義詞
  • elimination

    the opposite of earning a berth—being removed from contention

文法句型

berth in [competition]

secure/ earn a berth

用法筆記

Common with verbs like 'earn', 'secure', 'win', 'receive', and 'claim'. Typically used for team sports or multi-stage competitions.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a berth to the tennis match.
✅Our team earned a berth in the tennis tournament.
💡a berth in competition is earned through performance, not purchased as a ticket.

3. a paid job or role within an organization, especially on a ship or in the transp

3.名詞B2
釋義

a paid job or role within an organization, especially on a ship or in the transportation industry.

例句

After three years at sea, Luis was offered a berth as first officer on a container ship crossing the Pacific.

a berth as first officer

Deepa turned down a comfortable berth at a trading firm because she wanted to start her own business instead.

同義詞
  • post

    a more formal term for a job assignment, often in the military or government

  • position

    a general word for a job; much broader and more common than 'berth'

文法句型

berth as [role]

berth on [team/vessel]

用法筆記

Often found in nautical or transport-industry contexts. Less common in everyday office conversation; 'position' or 'post' are more general alternatives.

常見錯誤

❌She found a berth as a teacher at the local school.
✅She found a berth as a deckhand on a cargo ship.
💡in everyday English, 'berth' meaning a job is mostly used for nautical or transport roles.

4. enough space between you and something else to stay safe; the expression 'give s

4.名詞B2
釋義

enough space between you and something else to stay safe; the expression 'give someone or something a wide berth' means to stay deliberately far away from them in order to avoid danger, trouble, or an unpleasant encounter.

例句

Noor noticed the stray dog growling at the gate and decided to give it a very wide berth.

give it a very wide berth

The sailors kept a good berth between their boat and the rocky cliffs on the eastern shore.

good berth

同義詞
  • distance

    a more general, everyday word for the space between two things

  • space

    emphasises the room between objects; less idiomatic but perfectly clear

  • margin

    used for safety gaps; slightly more formal

反義詞
  • closeness

    the opposite of keeping a safe distance

  • proximity

    the state of being near someone or something

文法句型

give [someone/something] a wide berth

用法筆記

The 'wide berth' sense is almost always used in the fixed phrase 'give [someone/something] a wide berth'. The plain noun 'berth' meaning distance is very rare outside nautical contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I gave a wide berth to the cinema.' (when meaning you simply didn't go)
✅I gave a wide berth to the street with the broken pavement.
💡'give a wide berth' implies active avoidance for a concrete reason like danger or unpleasantness, not just a casual choice not to go somewhere.

berth — verb