ice-breaker

ice-breaker — 名詞

1. a question, remark, or activity that helps people who have just met feel less aw

1.名詞B2
釋義

破冰活動

幫助初次見面的人放鬆交談的話語或活動

a question, remark, or activity that helps people who have just met feel less awkward and more willing to talk to one another

例句

At the training session, Rin asked everyone to share a funny travel story as an ice-breaker.

在培訓課上，Rin 請大家分享一個有趣的旅遊故事作為破冰活動。

collocation: use/share [something] as an ice-breaker

A simple question about someone's weekend can be an effective ice-breaker at a party.

簡單問一句對方週末過得如何，在派對上可以是個很有效的破冰話題。

同義詞
  • conversation starter

    more neutral and focuses specifically on beginning a discussion; may be less playful than ice-breaker

  • opener

    more informal; common in dating and social contexts

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently used in contexts such as team-building events, classrooms, social gatherings, and first dates. The activity or remark is intentional — an ice-breaker is planned, not accidental.

常見錯誤

❌I told an ice-breaker at the party.
✅I used an ice-breaker at the party.
💡You use or play an ice-breaker; you do not 'tell' one, because an ice-breaker can be an activity, not just a remark.

2. a strong ship designed to sail through frozen water, pushing ice aside to open a

2.名詞B1
釋義

破冰船

專門在冰層中開闢航道的船

a strong ship designed to sail through frozen water, pushing ice aside to open a route that other vessels can then follow

例句

The ice-breaker cleared a path through the frozen harbour so supply ships could reach the town.

那艘破冰船在冰封的港口中清出一條通道，讓補給船能抵達小鎮。

collocation: clear a path

Vikram worked long shifts on an ice-breaker that kept the Arctic research station supplied all winter.

Vikram 在一艘破冰船上長期輪班工作，那艘船讓北極研究站整個冬天都有補給。

collocation: work on / keep...supplied

同義詞

用法筆記

This sense is almost always found in contexts involving polar shipping, Arctic research, or cold-climate ports. It does not have a figurative use.