latchkey
latchkey — 名詞
- latchkeysingular
- latchkeysplural
1. a child who spends time alone in the house after school while both parents are a
鑰匙兒童
放學獨自在家的小孩
a child who spends time alone in the house after school while both parents are away at work
Both of Sayaka's parents worked late, so she became a latchkey child at age ten.
Sayaka 的父母都要工作到很晚，所以她在十歲時就成了鑰匙兒童。
latchkey + child — attributive use
The community centre started an evening club for latchkey kids in the neighbourhood.
社區中心為附近的鑰匙兒童開設了晚間社團。
Many latchkey children learn to prepare their own meals and finish homework alone.
許多鑰匙兒童學會自己做飯，並且獨自完成作業。
The school counselor set up a programme to support latchkey students after class.
學校輔導老師為放學後沒人照顧的鑰匙學生設立了輔導方案。
Tuan looked after his younger sister even though he was just a latchkey kid himself.
Tuan 雖然自己也只是個鑰匙兒童，卻還要照顧妹妹。
- home-alone child
descriptive equivalent, less established as a fixed term
- self-care child
formal term used in educational and policy contexts
文法句型
latchkey + child / kid
用法筆記
The full phrase 'latchkey child' or 'latchkey kid' is much more common than the shortened form 'latchkey' used alone. This term appears mainly in news reports and social discussions about working parents and after-school supervision.
常見錯誤
2. a metal key that opens the main door people use to enter a home from outside
大門鑰匙
打開房子外門的鑰匙
a metal key that opens the main door people use to enter a home from outside
Felix always kept a spare latchkey under the mat by the front door.
Felix 總是在前門的腳踏墊下放一把備用的大門鑰匙。
spare + latchkey — common modifier collocation
Théo turned the old iron latchkey carefully until the lock clicked open.
Théo 小心地轉動那把舊鐵鑰匙，直到鎖發出咔噠一聲打開。
Zuri tied a ribbon to her latchkey so she could find it in her bag.
Zuri 在鑰匙上綁了一條緞帶，這樣在包包裡比較好找。
The landlord handed Joaquín a new latchkey when he moved into the flat.
Joaquín 搬進公寓時，房東給了他一把新的大門鑰匙。
Lan tried the latchkey in the lock, but it would not turn.
Lan 把鑰匙插進鎖裡試著轉動，但就是轉不動。
- front door key
everyday term, more common in modern speech
- house key
general term for any key to a home's outer door
文法句型
spare / front door / old + latchkey
用法筆記
This literal sense is less common in everyday conversation than sense 1. Most English speakers today say 'house key' or 'front door key' instead of 'latchkey' when referring to the object. The word 'latchkey' for a key can sound slightly old-fashioned.