center
/ˈsentə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsentər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsen-tər ˈse-nər/ (ame, mw)
center — 名詞
1. the exact middle part of a space, object, or area, equally far from all sides or
中心點
物體或區域的正中間
the exact middle part of a space, object, or area, equally far from all sides or edges.
A small wooden table stood at the center of the room.
房間中央擺著一張小木桌。
Draw a dot in the center of the circle on your paper.
在紙上圓圈的中心點畫一個點。
preposition: in the center of [noun phrase]
The old oak tree marks the center of the village square.
那棵老橡樹位在村莊廣場的正中央。
Place the cake in the center of the table so everyone can reach it.
把蛋糕放在桌子中間，這樣每個人都拿得到。
The town hall sits at the center of the public garden.
市政廳坐落在公園的正中央。
2. the busiest section in a town, containing most of its shops, restaurants, office
市中心
城鎮商業活動集中的區域
the busiest section in a town, containing most of its shops, restaurants, offices, and entertainment venues.
The new bookstore opened in the center of town last week.
這家新書店上週在市中心開幕了。
preposition: in the center of town
Leila took the bus to the city center to meet her friends for lunch.
Leila 搭公車到市中心和朋友們吃午餐。
The shopping center has over fifty stores and a large food court.
這個購物中心有超過五十家商店和一個大型美食廣場。
Many young people move to the city center for jobs and nightlife.
許多年輕人為了工作和夜生活搬到市中心。
- downtown
more common in American English; can be used as a noun or adjective
- city center
specifically the central business district of a larger city
用法筆記
In British English the spelling 'centre' is used. 'City center' and 'town center' are common compound nouns.
常見錯誤
3. a building or set of rooms designed for a specific purpose, service, or type of
中心；場所
提供特定服務或活動的建築
a building or set of rooms designed for a specific purpose, service, or type of activity.
The community center offers free yoga classes on Tuesday evenings.
社區中心每週二晚上提供免費的瑜伽課程。
noun + noun: community center, shopping center, etc.
Priya works at a daycare center near the train station.
Priya 在火車站附近的一家日間照護中心工作。
The new sports center has an indoor pool and three basketball courts.
新的體育中心有室內游泳池和三個籃球場。
Aiko took her laptop to the business center to print the documents.
Aiko 帶著筆電到商務中心列印文件。
The science center had an exhibition about robots and space travel.
科學中心辦了一場關於機器人和太空旅行的展覽。
用法筆記
Often combined with another noun that describes the purpose: community center, shopping center, medical center, data center.
4. the person, thing, or issue that draws the most interest, discussion, or activit
焦點
受關注的核心人物或事物
the person, thing, or issue that draws the most interest, discussion, or activity in a situation.
The debate about school funding became the center of public attention.
關於學校經費的辯論成為了公眾關注的焦點。
collocation: center of attention / center of debate
A young singer was the center of the festival's opening ceremony.
一位年輕歌手是這場慶典開幕式的焦點人物。
The Watanabe family farm was the center of a land dispute for years.
Watanabe 家的農場多年來一直是土地糾紛的核心。
Climate change is at the center of this year's political discussion.
氣候變遷是今年政治討論的核心議題。
- sideline
a position of less importance or attention
用法筆記
Commonly used in phrases like 'center of attention,' 'center of debate,' and 'at the center of [something].' Does not refer to a physical location.
常見錯誤
5. a moderate political viewpoint that falls between left-wing and right-wing opini
中間派
介於左派與右派之間的政治立場
a moderate political viewpoint that falls between left-wing and right-wing opinions, or the group of people who hold such views.
The candidate moved toward the center to attract undecided voters.
這位候選人為了爭取未表態的選民而向中間派靠攏。
political domain: move toward the center
In this election, both parties are competing for voters in the center.
這次選舉中，兩黨都在爭取中間選民的支持。
A centrist party usually occupies the center of the political spectrum.
中間派政黨通常位居政治光譜的中央位置。
Yusuf described himself as being on the center, not the left or the right.
Yusuf 說他屬於中間派，不是左派也不是右派。
- centrism
the abstract noun for the ideology itself
- moderate position
a more general term that can also apply outside politics
- left wing
liberal or socialist political views
- right wing
conservative political views
用法筆記
Typically used with the definite article: 'the center.' The adjective form is 'centrist' and the noun for a person is 'centrist.'
6. the middle-position player on a sports team — for instance, the basketball playe
中鋒；中間
球隊陣容的中間位置或球員
the middle-position player on a sports team — for instance, the basketball player positioned nearest the hoop, the hockey player who starts at center-ice face-offs, or the football lineman who initiates the down by hiking the ball.
The team's center scored twenty points in last night's game.
這支球隊的中鋒在昨晚的比賽中得了二十分。
Ravi plays center on the basketball team because he is the tallest.
Ravi 因為個子最高，在籃球隊擔任中鋒。
sports role: play(s) center
The center passed the puck to the winger and the play began.
中鋒將球傳給邊鋒，比賽便開始了。
In the draft, the team chose a powerful center from a university team.
在選秀中，球隊選擇了一名來自大學球隊的強力中鋒。
- middle player
a non-technical description
用法筆記
The specific responsibilities of the center vary greatly by sport. In basketball the center plays near the basket; in hockey the center takes face-offs; in American football the center snaps the ball.
7. the area of a baseball outfield straight ahead of home plate, between left field
中外野
棒球外野正中間的區域或守備員
the area of a baseball outfield straight ahead of home plate, between left field and right field, or the player who defends that area.
The batter hit a high fly ball to deep center field.
打者擊出一支飛向中外野深遠位置的高飛球。
compound: center field
Diego plays center field for his college baseball team.
Diego 在大學棒球隊擔任中外野手。
A good center fielder needs to run fast and throw accurately.
好的中外野手需要跑得快、傳得準。
The ball landed in center field, and the runner scored from second base.
球落在中外野，跑者從二壘跑回本壘得分。
- center field
the specific term for the area of the baseball field
- center fielder
the player who occupies center field
用法筆記
Often used in the compound noun 'center field' (the area) or 'center fielder' (the player). Distinct from the basketball/hockey 'center' position.
center — 動詞
1. to put something in the middle of a space, area, or object, or to arrange it so
置中
將物體放在中央位置
to put something in the middle of a space, area, or object, or to arrange it so that it is evenly positioned.
The photographer centered the model's face in the frame.
攝影師將模特兒的臉置於畫面中央。
transitive: center + object + preposition phrase
Rohan centered the table under the hanging light fixture.
Rohan 把桌子放在吊燈的正下方。
Make sure you center the text on the page before printing it.
列印之前請確認文字在頁面上是置中的。
Hana centered the rug in the middle of the living room floor.
Hana 把地毯鋪在客廳地板的正中間。
- offset
to place away from the center
文法句型
center + object + on/around + noun phrase
center + object
用法筆記
Common in design and layout contexts (document formatting, photography, interior arrangement). Often used with 'on' or 'in' to indicate the reference point.
2. to have something as the main subject, cause, or area of interest; to direct you
集中
以某事為主要關注焦點
to have something as the main subject, cause, or area of interest; to direct your attention toward something.
The discussion centered on ways to reduce pollution in the city.
這場討論集中在如何減少城市的汙染。
intransitive pattern: center on/around [topic]
Her research centers around the effects of music on memory.
她的研究圍繞音樂對記憶的影響。
The festival centers on traditional music and local food from the region.
這個節慶以傳統音樂和在地美食為核心。
Yara centered her entire presentation on the history of the railway.
Yara 把整場簡報集中在這條鐵路的歷史上。
Much of the town's economy is centered around the fishing industry.
這個鎮的經濟有很大一部分以漁業為中心。
- focus
more direct; 'focus on' is very common in everyday speech
- revolve around
more informal; suggests everything relates to the central topic
- concentrate on
emphasizes mental effort rather than thematic centrality
文法句型
center on/around/upon + noun phrase
be centered on/around + noun phrase
用法筆記
The most common structure is 'center on/around/upon [something].' The passive form 'be centered on/around' is very frequent. 'Center around' is widely used despite some style guides preferring 'center on.'