chains
chains — 名詞
1. metal rings joined together in a length that is used to hold, pull, lock, or mov
鎖鏈；鏈條
由一節節金屬環連成的長條
metal rings joined together in a length that is used to hold, pull, lock, or move something
Roya hung the bicycle chain on a hook beside the garage door.
Roya 把腳踏車鏈掛在車庫門旁的掛鉤上。
bicycle chain
Workers lowered the heavy chains to lift the stone into place.
工人放下沉重的鎖鏈，把石塊吊到定位。
lift with chains
The dog pulled against its chains when the gate swung open.
大門一打開，那隻狗就扯著身上的鐵鏈往前衝。
Brian oiled the chains on the factory machine before the morning shift.
Brian 在早班前替工廠機器上的鏈條上油。
文法句型
a chain of metal links
bicycle chain
lift with chains
用法筆記
Often used for practical objects such as bicycle chains, anchor chains, or lifting chains. Distinguish from sense 4, which focuses on restraint rather than the physical linked object itself.
2. chains fixed around a vehicle's tyres so it can grip the road better in snow
雪鏈
套在輪胎上增加抓地力的鏈子
chains fixed around a vehicle's tyres so it can grip the road better in snow
Emily stopped by the roadside to fit chains before the mountain pass.
Emily 在進入山口前把車停到路邊裝上雪鏈。
fit chains before driving in snow
The bus driver carried chains all winter in case the road iced over.
那位公車司機整個冬天都帶著雪鏈，以防路面結冰。
Police turned cars back if they reached the checkpoint without chains.
如果車子開到檢查站時沒有裝雪鏈，警方就會叫它們折返。
Ada removed the chains once the highway was clear of snow.
高速公路上的雪清乾淨後，Ada 就把雪鏈拆了下來。
文法句型
fit chains
carry chains
remove chains
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural. In everyday driving talk, people often say chains when the snowy-road context is already clear.
3. a chain worn as jewellery or as an official sign of rank
鏈飾
戴在身上的鏈狀飾品或徽飾
a chain worn as jewellery or as an official sign of rank
Valentina wore a thin gold chain above the collar of her black dress.
Valentina 在黑色洋裝領口上方戴著一條細細的金鏈飾。
gold chain
The mayor placed the ceremonial chain over his jacket before the parade.
市長在遊行開始前，把那條儀式用鏈飾套到外套上。
ceremonial chain
Ilan bought silver chains for the dancers in the music video.
Ilan 為音樂錄影帶裡的舞者買了幾條銀色鏈飾。
A small chain with her grandmother's locket rested against Ada's sweater.
一條掛著她祖母小墜飾的細鏈飾貼在 Ada 的毛衣前。
- necklace
a broader word for jewellery around the neck; it does not have to be a linked metal chain
文法句型
gold chain
silver chain
ceremonial chain
用法筆記
Often named by material or role, such as gold chain, silver chain, or ceremonial chain. This sense is about something worn, not a device for fastening or restraint.
4. something that keeps a person or thing under control and limits freedom
枷鎖
束縛人或限制自由的東西
something that keeps a person or thing under control and limits freedom
After years in debt, monthly loan payments still felt like chains.
背債多年後，每月的貸款還款額仍像枷鎖一樣壓著人。
figurative chains
Rachid spoke of old family rules as chains on his younger sister.
Rachid 說老舊的家規像枷鎖一樣套在妹妹身上。
The prisoners dragged their chains across the yard at sunrise.
那些囚犯在日出時拖著身上的枷鎖穿過院子。
Shame can become chains that keep talented people from speaking up.
羞愧感可能變成枷鎖，讓有才華的人不敢發聲。
- shackles
emphasises devices that hold a person physically
- restraints
a broader word for anything that limits action or freedom
- fetters
more literary and formal than chains
- freedom
the state of being able to act without restraint
文法句型
in chains
feel like chains
break your chains
用法筆記
Can be literal shackles or a figurative burden. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the metal object itself without the idea of restraint.
5. a connected line of events, people, or things in which each part leads to the ne
一連串
前後相連的一組事物
a connected line of events, people, or things in which each part leads to the next
Samir traced the chain of emails that caused the booking mistake.
Samir 追查出造成訂位錯誤的那一連串電子郵件。
chain of emails
One weak link broke the chain of supply from the port to the village.
一個薄弱環節就打斷了從港口到村子的供應鏈。
break the chain
The documentary follows a chain of decisions that led to the fire.
那部紀錄片追著一連串決定，說明火災是怎麼發生的。
Teachers noticed a chain of absences after the flu spread through town.
流感在鎮上擴散後，老師們注意到一連串缺課情況。
文法句型
a chain of events
a chain of emails
break the chain
用法筆記
Usually followed by of plus a plural noun, such as events, messages, or causes. Distinguish from sense 6, which is about businesses run under one system.
6. a group of similar shops, hotels, or other businesses that are owned or managed
連鎖業
由同一體系經營的同類商家
a group of similar shops, hotels, or other businesses that are owned or managed together
Christopher manages three bakeries in a fast-growing cafe chain.
Christopher 在一家成長很快的咖啡連鎖企業裡管理三間麵包店。
cafe chain
The hotel chain opened its first branch in Tainan this spring.
那家飯店連鎖企業今年春天在台南開了第一個分館。
hotel chain
Smaller bookstores struggled after a national retail chain moved into town.
一家全國性的零售連鎖店進駐鎮上後，較小的書店就吃力了。
Hyun left the family restaurant to work for an international restaurant chain.
Hyun 離開家裡的餐館，去一家國際餐廳連鎖店工作。
文法句型
hotel chain
restaurant chain
retail chain
用法筆記
Usually follows the kind of business, such as hotel chain or supermarket chain. It can also be used for non-shop organisations with many branches under one management system.
chains — 動詞
1. to close, guard, or block something by putting a chain across it
以鏈攔住
用鐵鏈把入口或通道攔起來
to close, guard, or block something by putting a chain across it
Guards chained the museum gate before the final visitors left.
最後一批訪客離開前，警衛先用鏈條把博物館大門封住。
chain + object
City workers chained off the broken bridge after the flood.
洪水過後，市府工人用鏈條把壞掉的橋封了起來。
chain off + place
Farmers chained the side path to keep motorbikes out of the field.
農夫用鏈條把旁邊的小路攔住，不讓機車進田裡。
Staff chained the storage yard before the fireworks arrived.
煙火送到前，工作人員先用鏈條把倉儲場封住。
- open
to allow entry again
文法句型
chain + object
chain off + place
用法筆記
Often used when access is blocked for safety or security. Distinguish from sense 2, which means fastening a person or object to something with a chain.
2. to fasten, tie, or connect someone or something with a chain
用鏈拴住
用鐵鏈把人或物固定住或連起來
to fasten, tie, or connect someone or something with a chain
The crew chained the bikes together outside the stadium overnight.
工作人員把腳踏車用鏈條鎖在一起，停在體育場外過夜。
chain together
Ilan chained the gate to the fence after the latch snapped.
門扣斷掉後，Ilan 就用鏈條把大門拴在圍欄上。
chain + object + to + noun
Protesters chained themselves to the railings in front of the council hall.
抗議者把自己用鏈條拴在議會大樓前的欄杆上。
Workers chained the gas cylinder to the workshop wall.
工人把瓦斯鋼瓶用鏈條固定在工作間的牆上。
- release
to free a person or thing from a chain
文法句型
chain + object + to + noun
chain yourself to + noun
chain together
用法筆記
The object is the person or thing being fixed in place. The pattern chain something to something is especially common for security or protest contexts.