minivan

/ˈmɪnivæn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪnivæn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmi-nē-ˌvan/ (ame, mw)

minivan — noun

  • minivansingular
  • minivansplural

1. a tall passenger vehicle with two or three rows of seats, often used by families

1.名詞B1
釋義

a tall passenger vehicle with two or three rows of seats, often used by families or small groups who need extra space for people and bags

例句

The Watanabe family piled into their silver minivan for the long drive to the coast.

collocation: family + minivan; typical road-trip scenario

Amihan parked the minivan beside the supermarket and helped her kids climb out.

verb collocation: park + minivan

同義詞
  • people carrier

    British English equivalent; same vehicle category

  • MPV

    short for 'multi-purpose vehicle'; the technical industry term, especially in the UK and Europe

  • passenger van

    broader category; usually larger than a minivan and seats up to 15

反義詞
  • sports car

    small two-seater designed for speed, the opposite use case

文法句型

a/the minivan

minivans (plural)

用法筆記

Mainly American English; British speakers more often say 'people carrier' or 'MPV'. Distinguish from 'van' (usually a goods or work vehicle without rear seats).

常見錯誤

❌I drive a minivan truck to work.
✅I drive a minivan to work.
💡'minivan' already names the vehicle type; don't pair it with 'truck' or 'car'.
❌The delivery driver loaded boxes into the minivan.
✅The delivery driver loaded boxes into the van.
💡a minivan is for passengers; a goods vehicle of similar size is a 'van' or 'cargo van'.