billet

/ˈbɪlɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɪlɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbi-lət/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbɪl.ɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɪl.ət/ (ame, ipa)

billet — 名詞

  • billetsingular
  • billetsplural

1. a place where soldiers live or sleep for a short period, often in a private home

1.名詞B2
釋義

臨時住所

提供軍人短期住宿的地方

a place where soldiers live or sleep for a short period, often in a private home or public building rather than in a camp or barracks

例句

The new soldiers were given billets in the homes of local families near the training ground.

新兵被安排在訓練場附近當地居民家中住宿。

were given billets in

When the regiment arrived, the village provided clean billets in the school gymnasium.

部隊抵達時，村民在學校體育館裡提供了乾淨的臨時住所。

同義詞
  • lodging

    more general term for any temporary place to stay

  • quarters

    often implies official or staff housing, not necessarily temporary

  • accommodation

    broadest term; not limited to military contexts

用法筆記

Frequently used in plural form (billets) when referring to the lodgings of a group. Usually implies accommodation arranged officially rather than chosen freely.

常見錯誤

❌We booked a billet at a hotel for our holiday.
✅We booked a room at a hotel for our holiday.
💡'billet' refers specifically to temporary military lodging, not general tourist accommodation.
❌The soldiers slept in billets at the army base.
✅The soldiers slept in barracks at the army base.
💡'barracks' is the correct term for permanent military housing on a base; 'billets' are temporary lodgings, often in civilian buildings.

2. a particular job or official role that someone has within a company, government

2.名詞B2
釋義

職位

組織中的正式職務或角色

a particular job or official role that someone has within a company, government department, or other organization

例句

Mandla was offered a billet as the head of the research division after years of hard work.

Mandla 在努力多年後，獲得了研究部門主管的職位。

offered a billet as

Many young diplomats hope for a billet in the embassy in a major European capital.

許多年輕外交官希望能派駐到某個歐洲主要國家的使館工作。

同義詞
  • position

    more commonly used in both formal and informal contexts

  • appointment

    often implies a formal selection process

  • post

    common in diplomatic and military contexts, similar register

用法筆記

Strongly formal in register; more common in British English than American. Often used in diplomatic, military, and academic contexts rather than general business.

常見錯誤

❌She applied for a billet at the local supermarket.
✅She applied for a job at the local supermarket.
💡'billet' sounds overly formal and is rarely used for routine or entry-level positions.
❌His billet as manager includes customer service duties.
✅His role as manager includes customer service duties.
💡'billet' is used more for official appointments than everyday job descriptions.

3. a short written message, such as a letter or note, that is personal and often in

3.名詞C1
釋義

短箋

簡短的非正式信函或便條

a short written message, such as a letter or note, that is personal and often informal in nature

例句

Emma found a faded billet from her grandfather tucked inside an old poetry book.

Emma 在一本舊詩集裡發現了一封祖父留下的泛黃短箋。

During the war, families kept every billet that arrived from the soldiers at the front lines.

戰爭期間，家家戶戶都保留著前線士兵寄來的每一封短箋。

billet that arrived

同義詞
  • note

    the common modern term for a short written message

  • memo

    used mostly in office or formal settings

  • missive

    also formal/literary; similar register to 'billet'

用法筆記

Now considered dated or literary; rarely used in modern everyday conversation. Distinguish from sense 1 (SOLDIERS' LODGING), which is the more common contemporary meaning.

常見錯誤

❌I sent my boss a billet about the meeting.
✅I sent my boss a note about the meeting.
💡'billet' sounds old-fashioned for routine workplace communication.
❌She wrote him a billet saying she missed him.
✅She wrote him a letter saying she missed him.
💡while historically correct, 'billet' is now very uncommon for love letters or personal correspondence.

billet — 動詞