custom
/ˈkʌs.təm/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈʌstəm] /ˈkʌs.təm/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈʌstəm] /ˈkə-stəm/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkʌstəm/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈʌstəm] /ˈkʌstəm/ (ame, ipa)
custom — 形容詞
- custompositive
- more customcomparative
- most customsuperlative
1. created to meet one specific buyer's requirements — such as a suit cut to your e
訂製的
按個人要求特別製作的
created to meet one specific buyer's requirements — such as a suit cut to your exact body measurements, or a program written only for one company's operations.
Vinícius ordered a custom suit with a velvet collar for his wedding day.
Vinícius 訂製了一套領口採用天鵝絨的西裝，準備在婚禮當天穿。
custom + noun for bespoke products
The restaurant uses a custom coffee blend that is roasted just for them.
那家餐廳使用專為他們烘焙的特調咖啡豆。
Mei asked a carpenter to build a custom bookshelf that fits the corner of her room.
Mei 請木匠替她訂製了一個書架，剛好可以放在房間的角落。
A custom wedding invitation set costs more than a standard printed one.
訂製的婚禮邀請卡套組比普通的印刷版貴很多。
The team developed custom software to track deliveries across the city.
團隊開發了一套訂製軟體，用來追蹤全市的貨運情況。
- bespoke
British English; implies high-quality tailoring or craftsmanship
- tailor-made
common for both clothing and abstract solutions (e.g., a tailor-made plan)
- made-to-order
focuses on the ordering process rather than the design aspect
- ready-made
available in standard sizes or designs, not made for an individual
- off-the-shelf
standardized products that are not personalized
文法句型
custom + noun
用法筆記
Always used before a noun. This sense is typical of product descriptions (clothing, furniture, software, machinery). Not used for services or experiences.
常見錯誤
custom — 副詞
1. placed before a past participle to indicate that something was made to fit one c
訂製的
以量身打造的方式
placed before a past participle to indicate that something was made to fit one client's needs — for instance, a custom-built house with rooms arranged exactly as the owners requested.
The kitchen cabinets were custom-built to match the farmhouse style.
廚房的櫥櫃是為了配合農舍風格而訂製的。
custom + built (past participle)
Each piece of furniture in the hotel lobby is custom-made by local artists.
飯店大廳的每一件家具都是由當地藝術家訂製的。
Hannah's engagement ring was custom-designed with a sapphire at the centre.
Hannah 的訂婚戒指是特別設計的，中央鑲了一顆藍寶石。
The software was custom-written for the hospital's patient records system.
這套軟體是為了醫院的病歷系統而特別編寫的。
- bespoke
adjective, not adverbial; cannot form compounds like 'bespoke-built'
文法句型
custom + past participle (custom-built / custom-made / custom-designed)
用法筆記
Attaches only to past participles to form compound adjectives. The resulting compound is usually hyphenated (custom-built, custom-made). Do not use before an -ing form: 'custom-building' is non-standard.
常見錯誤
custom — 名詞
- customsingular
- customsplural
1. a pattern of conduct or an idea that a community has followed for generations —
習俗
社會群體長期遵循的行為方式
a pattern of conduct or an idea that a community has followed for generations — for example, removing your shoes before stepping into a home in Japan.
In Ayana's village, it is the custom to invite all the neighbours to wedding celebrations.
在 Ayana 的村子裡，邀請所有鄰居參加婚禮是一種習俗。
it is the custom to + infinitive
The custom of giving red envelopes during the New Year is centuries old.
過年送紅包的習俗已經有幾百年的歷史了。
the custom of + gerund
Local customs require visitors to remove their shoes before entering a home.
當地的習俗要求訪客進門前先脫鞋。
The custom of afternoon tea started in Britain over two hundred years ago.
喝下午茶的習俗是兩百多年前在英國開始的。
Learning about another country's customs helps travelers avoid embarrassing mistakes.
了解其他國家的習俗有助於旅行者避免尷尬的失誤。
- tradition
stronger implication of long history and cultural importance; more formal
- practice
broader, can refer to any regular activity, not necessarily traditional
- convention
implies an unwritten rule based on general agreement rather than deep tradition
- innovation
a new idea or method that breaks from established patterns
文法句型
it is the custom (for someone) to do something
the custom of doing something
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 2 (HABIT): this sense describes group or societal practices, not individual routines. A 'custom' is shared by many people; a 'habit' is personal.
常見錯誤
2. something that a person regularly does, especially as part of their daily life —
習慣
個人經常做的事
something that a person regularly does, especially as part of their daily life — for instance, making it your custom to read for half an hour before falling asleep.
It was Andrei's custom to take a short walk along the river after dinner.
Andrei 的習慣是每天晚飯後沿著河邊走一小段路。
it is someone's custom to + infinitive (personal routine)
Hugo has a custom of writing down three good things each night before sleep.
Hugo 有個習慣，每晚睡覺前寫下三件開心的事。
Shirin's morning custom includes a cup of green tea and fifteen minutes of quiet reading.
Shirin 早晨的習慣包括一杯綠茶和十五分鐘的安靜閱讀。
The old man's custom of feeding the park birds began after he retired from work.
那位老先生餵公園鳥兒的習慣是他退休後開始的。
Following the same custom each morning helped Tara feel calm before a busy school day.
每天早上遵循同樣的習慣，讓 Tara 在忙碌的學校日之前感到平靜。
- exception
something that breaks a regular pattern
文法句型
it is someone's custom to do something
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (TRADITION): this sense describes an individual's routine, not a social convention. Common in the pattern 'it is/was someone's custom to + infinitive'.
常見錯誤
3. the regular buying of goods or services from a particular business, especially a
光顧
顧客對商家的持續支持
the regular buying of goods or services from a particular business, especially a small, local one — for example, a bakery that depends on the custom of people living nearby.
The bakery relies on the custom of local families who buy bread every morning.
這家麵包店依賴附近居民每天早上來買麵包的光顧。
rely on someone's custom
"We appreciate your custom," said the shop owner as Amihan paid for her groceries.
「感謝您的光顧，」店主在 Amihan 付完雜貨錢後說道。
The café lost custom after the new coffee shop opened across the street.
那間咖啡館在對面開了新的咖啡店之後，流失了客源。
Small stores on the high street need steady custom from local people to stay in business.
大街上的小商店需要社區持續的光顧才能維持經營。
文法句型
someone's custom
用法筆記
Primarily British English. 'Patronage' is the closest American equivalent. The phrase 'thank you for your custom' is a polite formula used by shopkeepers and service providers.
常見錯誤
4. the checkpoint at an airport, harbour, or national boundary where officials insp
海關
機場或邊境檢查行李的關口
the checkpoint at an airport, harbour, or national boundary where officials inspect luggage and travel papers to catch items that are not allowed into the country.
When their flight landed in Tokyo, the family waited forty minutes in line at customs.
他們的航班抵達東京後，全家人排隊在海關等了四十分鐘。
at customs (place)
The officer at customs asked Roya to open her suitcase for a routine inspection.
海關人員請 Roya 打開行李箱進行例行檢查。
Travelers must declare expensive electronics when they pass through customs.
旅客必須在通過海關時申報貴重電子產品。
The airport expanded the customs area last year to handle more passengers each day.
機場去年擴大了海關區域，以便每天處理更多旅客。
- border control
broader, includes passport and immigration checks
- customs checkpoint
more specific, names the physical location
文法句型
through customs
at customs
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form 'customs' with a singular verb (e.g., 'Customs is at the arrivals hall'). 'Customs' in this sense refers to the physical location and the agency, not the tax. Distinguish from sense 5 (TAX).
常見錯誤
5. taxes that must be paid to the government on goods brought into a country from a
關稅
對進口商品徵收的稅
taxes that must be paid to the government on goods brought into a country from abroad — for example, paying customs on a shipment of electronics from another country.
The company paid high customs duties on the electronic parts imported from Japan.
該公司從日本進口的電子零件支付了高額關稅。
customs duties (tax on imports)
New customs regulations require all imported food products to be inspected before sale.
新的關稅法規要求所有進口食品在銷售前必須接受檢驗。
The government raised customs on foreign cars to encourage people to buy local brands.
政府調高了外國汽車的關稅，以鼓勵民眾購買本土品牌。
Shipping goods across the border involves paying both value-added tax and customs.
跨國運送貨物需要同時繳納增值稅和關稅。
- import duty
more formal, specific to international trade law
- tariff
a schedule or system of such taxes, often used in trade policy discussions
文法句型
customs duty/duties
pay customs on something
用法筆記
Always plural, taking a plural verb (e.g., 'Customs on luxury goods have increased'). 'Customs duty' or 'customs duties' are the specific terms for individual import taxes. Distinguish from sense 4: this sense refers to the tax itself, not the physical checkpoint.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Customs are the place where they check your bags.' — This is sense 4, not sense 5. Sense 5 is about the tax, not the location.