leagues
leagues — 名詞
1. a set of teams in a sport that compete against one another over a full season, w
聯賽
運動隊伍的比賽組織
a set of teams in a sport that compete against one another over a full season, with standings and a final champion decided at the end
Eric's son plays baseball for a team in the junior league on weekends.
Eric 的兒子在假日參加少年棒球聯賽，為其中一支球隊效力。
junior league — age-based sports division
The basketball league has twelve teams from different cities across the region.
這個籃球聯賽有來自不同城市的十二支球隊。
Our local football league starts its season every September with a big opening game.
我們當地的足球聯賽每年九月以一場盛大的開幕戰展開球季。
The champion team moved up to a higher league after winning twenty straight matches.
冠軍隊伍連續贏了二十場比賽後，晉升到更高級別的聯賽。
The national hockey league draws millions of fans to stadiums every winter.
國家冰球聯賽每年冬天吸引數百萬球迷湧入體育館。
- division
a subdivision within a league; a league is the whole competition, a division is one tier
- conference
a group of teams within a larger league; e.g. the Eastern Conference
- championship
the final competition rather than the whole group of teams throughout a season
用法筆記
Can be used with the name of a sport (baseball league, football league) or a modifier (junior league, minor league).
2. the level or class of quality, skill, or ability that someone or something belon
等級
品質或能力的級別
the level or class of quality, skill, or ability that someone or something belongs to, especially when comparing them to others
The new smartphone is in a different league from the old one — much faster overall.
這款新手機和舊型號完全不是同一個等級——速度快多了。
in a different league — far superior
When it comes to baking, Noa's cakes are in a league of their own.
論到烘焙，Noa 的蛋糕在等級上獨占鰲頭，無人能比。
Mauricio's guitar playing is not in the same league as the professional musicians.
Mauricio 的吉他彈奏和專業音樂人不在同一個等級。
This restaurant is in a completely different league from the fast-food places nearby.
這家餐廳和附近的速食店完全不是同一個等級。
In terms of customer service, the hotel is leagues ahead of its competitors.
在客戶服務方面，這家飯店在等級上遠遠領先其競爭對手。
文法句型
be in a different league
be in a league of one's own
not be in the same league
用法筆記
Almost always used in fixed phrases such as in a different league, in a league of one's own, or not in the same league.
常見錯誤
3. people who share the same hobbies, interests, or social objectives — a book club
社團
因共同興趣組成的團體
people who share the same hobbies, interests, or social objectives — a book club, a chess circle, or a bird-watching society — and meet regularly to pursue those common aims
Ayana joined the local art league to take painting classes and meet other artists.
Ayana 加入了當地的藝術社團，以便上繪畫課並認識其他藝術家。
art league — hobby/interest group
The garden league meets every Saturday to plant flowers in the community park.
園藝社團每週六聚會，在社區公園裡種花。
A league of concerned parents started an after-school program for neighborhood kids.
一群關心的家長組成了社團，為社區的孩子開辦課後活動。
The city's women's league raised money to build a new children's hospital.
市裡的婦女社團募款興建了一所新的兒童醫院。
The local history league organizes walking tours of old buildings every spring.
本地歷史社團每年春天都會舉辦古建築徒步導覽活動。
- club
more casual and smaller; a league often has a wider membership or more organized activities
- society
can overlap, but society often implies a more formal structure with bylaws
- association
similar in meaning but association can be business-oriented; league is more about shared interests
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (NATIONS ALLIANCE): this sense refers to local civic or hobby groups, not political entities.
4. a formal association of independent countries or political groups that agree to
聯盟
國家之間的正式聯合組織
a formal association of independent countries or political groups that agree to work together for shared goals such as peace, trade, or defense
The League of Nations was created after the First World War to prevent future wars.
國際聯盟是在第一次世界大戰後成立的，目的是防止未來發生戰爭。
League of Nations — proper noun example
Five small countries formed a trade league to negotiate better prices for their exports.
五個小國組成了一個貿易聯盟，以便為出口商品協商更好的價格。
The Arab League meets regularly to discuss issues that affect the member nations.
阿拉伯聯盟定期開會討論影響成員國的相關議題。
A defense league of neighboring states agreed to protect one another from attack.
一個由鄰近國家組成的防禦聯盟同意互相保護，抵禦攻擊。
The Hanseatic League was a powerful alliance of trading cities in medieval Europe.
漢薩同盟是中世紀歐洲一個強大的貿易城市聯盟。
- alliance
more general; a league implies a more structured and formal organization than a simple alliance
- confederation
a looser union of states that keep most of their independence; a league is typically tighter on common goals
- union
can refer to a league, but also to a merged political entity
用法筆記
Often capitalized in proper names of specific organizations, such as the Arab League or the League of Nations.
常見錯誤
5. a loose or unofficial group of people who band together for a temporary shared p
同盟
非正式或臨時的聯合
a loose or unofficial group of people who band together for a temporary shared purpose, without a formal structure or written rules
The three families formed a league to protect their land against outside threats.
三個家族結成同盟，共同保護他們的土地免受外來威脅。
formed a league — informal partnership
A league of local shopkeepers worked together to keep the market clean and safe.
一群當地店家結成同盟，共同努力保持市場整潔安全。
The teachers formed a secret league to push for better classroom supplies.
老師們組成祕密同盟，爭取更好的教室設備。
After the flood, a league of volunteers organized food and shelter for displaced families.
水災過後，一群志工結成同盟，為受災家庭提供食物和住所。
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (NATIONS ALLIANCE) and sense 3 (INTEREST GROUP): this sense describes looser, often temporary partnerships without formal structure.
6. an old unit for measuring distance at sea or on land, equal to roughly three mil
里格
古時長度單位，約三英里
an old unit for measuring distance at sea or on land, equal to roughly three miles or 4.8 kilometers, used on maps and in stories from earlier centuries
The old map showed the treasure buried three leagues from the coast.
舊地圖顯示寶藏埋在距離海岸三里的地方。
based on historical maps or old texts
The ship sailed eighteen leagues before sunrise, according to the captain's log.
根據船長的航海日誌，船在日出前航行了十八里格。
Historians estimate the Roman army marched nearly five leagues each day.
歷史學家估計羅馬軍隊每天行軍將近五里格。
The ancient road stretched for over a hundred leagues across the desert.
那條古道蜿蜒穿過沙漠，全長超過一百里格。
In the old sailor's notes, the island lay seven leagues north of the port.
在老水手的筆記中，那座島位於港口以北七里格處。
7. a historical unit for measuring the area of land, equal to a square that is one
平方里格
古時面積單位，約23平方英里
a historical unit for measuring the area of land, equal to a square that is one league wide on each side, or roughly 23 square miles
The nobleman's estate covered more than ten square leagues of farmland.
那位貴族的莊園涵蓋超過十平方里格的農田。
square league as land-area measure
In colonial times, a single land grant sometimes measured two square leagues.
在殖民時期，一份土地授權有時就達兩平方里格。
The whole valley spread across barely one square league from end to end.
整個山谷從一端到另一端勉強只有一平方里格。
The treaty awarded the kingdom an additional five square leagues of territory.
條約將額外五平方里格的領土劃給了該王國。
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in historical or legal documents about land ownership.
leagues — 動詞
- leaguespresent simple I / you / we / they
- leagueses3rd person singular
- leaguesing-ing form
- leaguesedpast simple
1. to join with other people, groups, or countries to act together as a single orga
結盟
加入或組成聯合組織
to join with other people, groups, or countries to act together as a single organized body for a shared purpose, either by becoming a member of an existing league or by combining to form a new one
The small villages leagued together to build a shared irrigation system for their farms.
小村莊們結盟，共同建造了灌溉系統來灌溉農田。
league together — join as a group
Several environmental groups leagued to protest the new factory's pollution.
幾個環保團體結盟，抗議新工廠造成的汙染。
The two neighboring kingdoms leagued against the invading army from the north.
兩個鄰國結盟，共同對抗來自北方的入侵軍隊。
Independent writers leagued to create a publishing cooperative that shared printing costs.
獨立作家們結盟，創立了一個分攤印刷成本的出版合作社。
The local shopkeepers leagued with the farmers' market to sell their produce together.
當地店家與農夫市集結盟，一起銷售他們的農產品。
- ally
more common; league suggests a more formal joining
- unite
broader meaning; league specifically implies forming an organized body
- band together
informal equivalent with similar meaning
文法句型
league together
league with someone
用法筆記
Now relatively uncommon in everyday speech; more typical in historical or formal writing. The passive form (be leagued with) is more frequent than the active form.
leagues — 慣用語
1. used after an adjective or adverb to emphasize that someone or something is far
好很多
遠優於其他人或事物
used after an adjective or adverb to emphasize that someone or something is far better, more advanced, or at a much higher level than another person or thing
Eri's latest novel is leagues ahead of her previous work — the writing is much richer.
Eri 的最新小說遠勝過她的前作——文筆豐富了許多。
leagues ahead of — far more advanced
The new express train is leagues faster than the old one that took all day.
新的特快列車比那輛要跑一整天的舊火車快多了。
When it comes to programming, Vivek is leagues beyond anyone else in the class.
論到程式設計，Vivek 遠超過班上其他所有人。
Even though both shops sell bread, the quality at the small bakery is leagues better.
雖然兩家店都賣麵包，但小麵包店的品質好多了。
Rania's English speaking is leagues ahead of where it was just six months ago.
Rania 的英語口說比六個月前進步太多了。
文法句型
leagues ahead of
leagues better than
leagues apart
leagues beyond
用法筆記
Always used as a modifier of adjectives or adverbs (leagues better, leagues ahead, leagues apart). Cannot be used alone: ❌ This is leagues. ✅ This is leagues better.