chain
/tʃeɪn/ (bre, ipa) · [tʃˈen] /tʃeɪn/ (ame, ipa) · [tʃˈen] /ˈchān/ (ame, mw)
chain — 名詞
- chainsingular
- chainsplural
1. a connected row or sequence of similar things or people, with each part followin
連串
連在一起的一串事物
a connected row or sequence of similar things or people, with each part following or joining the next
Volunteers formed a chain to pass water bottles down the crowded street.
志工們排成一條人鏈，把瓶裝水沿著擁擠的街道往下傳。
form a chain
A chain of small islands stretches across the blue water south of Okinawa.
一連串小島橫跨沖繩南方的藍色海面。
The child made a paper chain for the classroom winter party.
那個孩子為教室的冬季派對做了一串紙鏈。
One weak link broke, and the chain of lanterns fell from the wall.
其中一個薄弱環節斷掉了，那串燈籠鏈就從牆上掉了下來。
文法句型
a chain of + plural noun
form a chain
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' to name the linked items. Distinguish from sense 3, where the links are events or causes rather than physical items or people.
2. a row of mountains joined to each other to make one range
山脈
彼此相連的一列山峰
a row of mountains joined to each other to make one range
The train crossed a mountain chain before reaching the coastal city.
火車穿越一條山脈後，才抵達那座海邊城市。
collocation: mountain chain
Snow stayed on that chain of peaks long after spring arrived.
春天來了很久之後，那串山峰上仍然留著積雪。
From the plane, Mei saw a dark chain of hills below.
從飛機上，Mei 看見下方一列深色的丘陵山鏈。
Maps in the museum showed the volcanic chain running through the islands.
博物館裡的地圖顯示那條火山山鏈穿過群島。
- range
the more common general word for a connected group of mountains
文法句型
a mountain chain
a chain of mountains
用法筆記
Usually appears in geography or travel writing with words such as 'mountain' or 'volcanic'.
3. a run of related events in which one step leads to the next
連鎖
前後相接的一連串事件
a run of related events in which one step leads to the next
One missed email started a chain of problems for the travel team.
一封漏掉的電子郵件，引發了旅遊團隊一連串的問題。
a chain of problems
The falling tree set off a chain of accidents on the wet road.
倒下的樹在濕滑的道路上引起連鎖事故。
set off a chain of ...
A short power cut triggered a chain of delays across the airport.
一次短暫停電在整座機場造成了連鎖延誤。
The book explains the chain of events that led to the strike.
那本書解釋了導致罷工的一連串事件。
- sequence
focuses on order, sometimes with less emphasis on cause
- progression
suggests development from one stage to another
文法句型
a chain of events
set off a chain of + plural noun
用法筆記
Usually abstract. Unlike sense 1, this sense is about causes and results rather than objects or people in a line.
4. a company network of stores, hotels, restaurants, or similar businesses under th
連鎖店
同公司經營的多家店
a company network of stores, hotels, restaurants, or similar businesses under the same ownership
The coffee chain opened its first branch in Kaohsiung this spring.
那家咖啡連鎖店今年春天在高雄開了第一家分店。
collocation: coffee chain
Small bakeries worried when the supermarket chain moved into the town.
當那家超市連鎖進入鎮上時，小麵包店都很擔心。
collocation: supermarket chain
Heloísa manages three stores for an international hotel chain.
Heloísa 為一家國際旅館連鎖管理三間門市。
That clothing chain closed thirty shops after sales fell again.
那家服飾連鎖店在銷售再次下滑後關掉了三十家店。
- franchise
close in business use, but often stresses licensing arrangements
- brand network
broader business phrase for related outlets
文法句型
a hotel chain
a supermarket chain
part of a chain
用法筆記
Focuses on shared ownership and management. A single shop can be part of a chain, but the word usually names the whole business group.
常見錯誤
5. a flexible line of linked metal rings used to lock, pull, hang, or decorate some
鏈條
由金屬環相扣成的鏈子
a flexible line of linked metal rings used to lock, pull, hang, or decorate something
Jude locked the gate with a thick chain and a brass padlock.
Jude 用一條粗鏈條和一把黃銅掛鎖把大門鎖上了。
lock something with a chain
A silver chain hung from the old watch in the wooden drawer.
一條銀鏈從木抽屜裡那只舊懷錶上垂了下來。
The dog pulled against the chain until the post shook.
那隻狗一直拉扯鏈條，直到柱子都晃動了。
Workers lowered the motor by chain from the ceiling beam.
工人們用鏈條把馬達從天花板樑上吊了下來。
文法句型
a chain
a chain around + noun
put the chain on the door
用法筆記
This sense can refer to one piece of chain, the material itself, or a jewellery chain. In 'put the chain on the door', it means the short safety chain inside a door.
常見錯誤
6. linked metal loops fitted around a car tire to help it grip snowy or icy roads
雪鏈
裝在輪胎上的防滑鏈
linked metal loops fitted around a car tire to help it grip snowy or icy roads
Before the storm, Eli put chains on the truck's front tires.
暴風雪來臨前，Eli 把雪鏈裝到卡車前輪上。
put chains on the tires
Road signs warned drivers to carry chains beyond the mountain tunnel.
路標警告駕駛人，過了山區隧道後要隨車攜帶雪鏈。
The rental car slid once, so Salma stopped to fit the chains.
租來的車滑了一下，所以 Salma 停車去裝雪鏈。
- snow chains
full form, especially common outside specialist contexts
文法句型
put chains on the tires
carry chains
用法筆記
Usually plural in everyday use. American English often says 'snow chains' for extra clarity.
常見錯誤
7. the field-measuring equipment in American football, made of two posts joined by
測距鏈
美式足球測碼的鏈具
the field-measuring equipment in American football, made of two posts joined by a chain and used to check a first down
The chains showed the runner was inches short of a first down.
測距鏈顯示那名跑鋒還差幾英寸才達成第一次進攻。
the chains — football measuring equipment
Television viewers waited while the referee called for the chains.
裁判要求把測距鏈抬上場時，電視觀眾都在等結果。
Mud on the field made it hard for the crew to place the chains.
場地上的泥巴讓工作人員很難把測距鏈放好。
- chain crew markers
descriptive phrase for the same equipment
文法句型
bring out the chains
measure with the chains
用法筆記
Usually called 'the chains' because the measuring device is used as a set on the field.
8. the state of being fastened or held with metal chains
鐐銬
被鐵鏈拴住的狀態
the state of being fastened or held with metal chains
The prisoners were kept in chains during the long march north.
那些囚犯在長途北行時一路都戴著鐐銬。
be in chains
In the film, the giant breaks his chains and runs for the gate.
在那部電影裡，巨人掙斷鐐銬後朝大門跑去。
break your chains
Old drawings showed workers in chains beside the stone wall.
舊畫裡畫著戴著鐐銬、站在石牆旁的工人。
文法句型
be in chains
keep someone in chains
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase 'in chains'. Distinguish from sense 9, which is figurative rather than literal.
9. anything that keeps a person or group from acting freely
束縛
限制行動或選擇的事物
anything that keeps a person or group from acting freely
Debt can become a chain that keeps a family from moving forward.
債務可能變成一種束縛，讓一家人無法往前走。
figurative use: a chain that keeps someone from ...
Many writers saw censorship as a chain on free thought.
許多作家把審查制度看成壓在自由思想上的束縛。
After leaving the gang, Niran spoke about breaking every old chain.
離開幫派後，Niran 談到自己如何打破每一道舊束縛。
Fear of failure is often the hardest chain to cut.
害怕失敗往往是最難斬斷的一種束縛。
- restraint
formal and general
- constraint
often used for limits on action or choice
- bond
can suggest a tie that restricts freedom
文法句型
the chains of + abstract noun
break a chain
用法筆記
Often figurative and emotional, used with words such as debt, fear, or oppression. Distinguish from sense 8, which is literal.
10. a connected set of house sales where each buyer must sell before the next purcha
售屋鏈
房屋買賣互相卡住的交易鏈
a connected set of house sales where each buyer must sell before the next purchase can finish
Their offer fell apart because the buyers were stuck in a chain.
他們的出價談不成，因為買方卡在售屋鏈裡。
be in a chain
The lawyer asked whether the flat sale depended on a long chain.
那位律師問這筆公寓交易是否依賴一條很長的售屋鏈。
One late survey delayed the whole chain of house purchases.
一次延遲的勘驗拖慢了整條房屋購買鏈。
- property chain
full form used for clarity in housing discussions
文法句型
be in a chain
a long chain
用法筆記
Mainly British property language. It describes several dependent sales, not a physical chain.
11. an old surveying measure worth 66 feet, or a little over 20 metres
鏈單位
等於66英尺的長度單位
an old surveying measure worth 66 feet, or a little over 20 metres
The old map marked the farm as ten chains from the river.
那張舊地圖標示農場距離河邊十鏈。
ten chains
Survey notes said the fence ran three chains along the road.
測量筆記寫著，那道圍籬沿著道路延伸了三鏈。
Students learned that one chain equals sixty-six feet in old measurements.
學生學到，舊制長度的一鏈等於六十六英尺。
文法句型
ten chains
three chains long
用法筆記
Mostly found in older maps, surveying, and historical writing.
12. a connected row of atoms or attached groups within a molecule
分子鏈
分子裡相連的一串原子
a connected row of atoms or attached groups within a molecule
The teacher drew a carbon chain across the board during chemistry class.
老師在化學課上於黑板畫出一條碳原子鏈。
collocation: carbon chain
Heating changed the side chain attached to the main molecule.
加熱後，附著在主分子上的側鏈發生了變化。
collocation: side chain
This plastic is strong because its polymer chains pack closely together.
這種塑膠很堅固，因為它的聚合物分子鏈緊密排列。
- chemical chain
descriptive phrase for the same structure
文法句型
a carbon chain
a side chain
polymer chains
用法筆記
Used in chemistry, especially when describing carbon atoms in organic compounds.
chain — 動詞
- chainpresent simple I / you / we / they
- chains3rd person singular
- chaining-ing form
- chainedpast simple
1. to lock, tie, or hold someone or something with a chain
用鏈拴
用鏈子把人或物拴住
to lock, tie, or hold someone or something with a chain
Farm workers chained the gate before the cattle truck arrived.
牧場工人在運牛卡車抵達前，把大門用鏈子拴好了。
chain + object
Protesters chained themselves to the fence outside the factory.
抗議者把自己用鏈子拴在工廠外的圍欄上。
chain yourself to + object
The museum chained the bicycle to a post for the outdoor display.
博物館把那輛腳踏車用鏈子鎖在柱子上做戶外展示。
Kemi chained the boat to the dock before the tide turned.
在潮水轉向前，Kemi 先把船用鏈子拴在碼頭上。
文法句型
chain + object + to + place
chain yourself to + object
用法筆記
Often describes restraint or protest scenes. The object after 'to' is the place or thing used as the anchor.
常見錯誤
2. to link separate objects so they become one long connected line
串成鏈
把零散物件連成長串
to link separate objects so they become one long connected line
Marco chained the paper clips together to make a classroom toy.
Marco 把迴紋針一個個串成鏈，做成教室玩具。
chain + objects + together
Workers chained short metal bars into a long barrier for the parade.
工人把短金屬桿串成一長排，當作遊行的欄障。
chain + objects + into + noun
The jeweller chained tiny silver rings into a delicate bracelet.
珠寶匠把細小銀環串成一條精緻手鍊。
An art class chained coloured bottle caps into a hanging curtain.
美術課把彩色瓶蓋串成一幅懸掛簾幕。
文法句型
chain + objects + together
chain + objects + into + noun
用法筆記
Usually about physically linking small objects. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about ordering actions or steps.
3. to connect actions, commands, or events so they happen in order as one sequence
串聯
把步驟或事件接成一序列
to connect actions, commands, or events so they happen in order as one sequence
The app lets users chain commands together with one simple click.
這個應用程式讓使用者只要按一下，就能把指令串聯起來。
chain commands together
Editors chained several short scenes to create a faster opening sequence.
剪接師把幾個短場景串聯起來，做出更快節奏的開場。
The factory chained three checks together before shipping each box.
工廠在每個箱子出貨前，把三道檢查程序串聯在一起。
- sequence
stresses arranging steps in the right order
- string together
phrasal verb with a similar idea of joining steps or events
文法句型
chain + commands + together
chain + events + together
用法筆記
Common in computing, film editing, and process descriptions. The linked things happen as a sequence rather than forming a physical line.