transportation

/ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌtrænspərˈteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌtran(t)s-pər-ˈtā-shən/ (ame, mw)

transportation — noun

1. the activity of moving people or things between different places, especially as

1.名詞B1
釋義

the activity of moving people or things between different places, especially as a business or public service

例句

The cost of transportation for the raw materials has increased by 15 percent this year.

transportation of + goods / materials

Public transportation in rural areas is often limited to just a few buses each day.

public transportation + limited [in rural areas]

同義詞
  • shipping

    more specific — usually refers to moving goods by ship, container, or freight; 'shipping' is a subset of transportation

  • transit

    focuses on the period while goods or people are being moved, not the organized activity itself

  • carriage

    more formal and legal; commonly used in contracts and shipping documents for goods

文法句型

transportation of + noun

public transportation

means of transportation

用法筆記

In this sense, 'transportation' is typically uncountable — you cannot say 'a transportation' to mean a single act of moving. 'Transport' is more common in British English for this meaning, while 'transportation' is standard in North American English.

常見錯誤

❌We arranged a transportation of the equipment to the factory.
✅We arranged the transportation of the equipment to the factory.
💡'transportation' is uncountable in this sense and does not take the article 'a'.

2. the vehicles, systems, and methods that people use to travel from place to place

2.名詞B1
釋義

the vehicles, systems, and methods that people use to travel from place to place or to carry goods

例句

Amira uses her bicycle as her main form of transportation around the city.

form of transportation

The city is investing in new public transportation, including electric buses and light rail.

public transportation + electric buses / light rail

同義詞
  • transport

    more common in British English; in US English, 'transport' as a noun usually means the act of carrying, not the vehicles

  • transit

    typically refers to public bus and train systems within cities, not all vehicles in general

  • vehicle

    refers to a single machine (car, bus, bike) rather than the whole system of travel

文法句型

form of transportation

means of transportation

mode of transportation

public transportation

常見錯誤

❌I need to find a transportation to the airport.
✅I need to find transportation to the airport.
💡'transportation' is usually uncountable even in this sense; use 'a form of transportation' or 'a means of transportation' for countable use.