impound
/ɪmˈpaʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpaʊnd/ (ame, ipa) · /im-ˈpau̇nd/ (ame, mw)
impound — 動詞
- impoundpresent simple I / you / we / they
- impoundshe / she / it
- impoundedpast simple
- impounding-ing form
1. When an official body such as the police or a government agency legally seizes a
扣押
執法機關依法扣留財產
When an official body such as the police or a government agency legally seizes and holds an item — often a vehicle, passport, documents, or illegal goods — because the owner has broken a law or failed to follow official rules.
The customs officer warned that they would impound any goods brought in without proper documents.
海關人員警告說，他們會扣押任何沒有合法文件攜入的物品。
active: [authority] impound [item] for [reason]
Police impounded the driver's car after they found him driving without insurance.
警方在發現駕駛人無保險行駛後，扣押了他的車輛。
active: police + impound + vehicle
Mei-Lin's passport was impounded by the immigration authorities while they investigated her application.
Mei-Lin 的護照在移民局調查她的申請案件期間遭到扣押。
Counterfeit goods worth over two million dollars were impounded at the port last month.
上個月在港口扣押了價值超過兩百萬美元的仿冒品。
- seize
broader term, can be physical grabbing or legal action; less formal than impound
- confiscate
stronger implication of permanent forfeiture, often as a punishment
- sequester
formal/legal; implies isolating for protection or investigation; used especially of documents or juries
文法句型
impound + noun phrase (vehicle, goods, documents)
be impounded by + authority
be impounded for + reason
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive constructions ('was impounded by...'). The object is typically a vehicle, an official document, or illegal merchandise. In legal contexts, impounding is often a temporary measure pending investigation, though the owner may not always get the item back in practice.
常見錯誤
2. To catch and contain stray or lost animals in a designated shelter or fenced are
收容
將流浪動物關入收容所
To catch and contain stray or lost animals in a designated shelter or fenced area, where they are looked after until their rightful owner collects them or an adopter is found.
Animal control officers impounded three stray dogs that had been roaming the neighbourhood.
動物管制人員收容了三隻在社區裡遊蕩的流浪狗。
active: [authority] impounded [number] [animals]
The cat was impounded after it wandered into the school playground and could not find its owner.
那隻貓在學校操場遊蕩且找不到主人之後被收容了。
passive: [animal] was impounded after [situation]
The local shelter impounds any pet found without a tag and tries to contact the owner.
當地收容所會收容任何未戴名牌的寵物，並設法聯絡飼主。
The city council runs a facility where stray animals are impounded and cared for until adoption.
市議會經營一間設施，用來收容流浪動物並在等待領養期間照料牠們。
文法句型
impound + animal(s)
be impounded at/in + shelter / pound
用法筆記
Typically used of domestic pets — especially dogs and cats — found on public streets. The verb is more formal than everyday alternatives such as 'pick up' or 'take in'. Less commonly applied to wild animals or livestock.