merchant
merchant — 形容詞
- merchantpositive
- more merchantcomparative
- most merchantsuperlative
1. relating to the activity of buying and selling goods, especially in large quanti
商業的
與商品大量買賣有關的
relating to the activity of buying and selling goods, especially in large quantities between different countries.
The port handled over two million tons of merchant cargo last year.
該港口去年處理了超過兩百萬噸的商業貨物。
collocation: merchant cargo / merchant fleet
Gabriel found work on a merchant ship that sailed between Singapore and Cape Town.
Gabriel 在一艘往來新加坡和開普敦的商船上找到了工作。
The old merchant district still has narrow streets lined with warehouses.
古老的商業區仍然有狹窄的街道，兩旁林立著倉庫。
A merchant bank in Singapore lent Wei's toy company enough money to open a second factory.
新加坡的一家商業銀行貸款給 Wei 的玩具公司，讓他有足夠的資金開設第二間工廠。
- commercial
broader in meaning; covers all business activity, not just large-scale trading
- trading
focuses on the act of exchange rather than the business structure
文法句型
merchant + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used before a noun (merchant ship, merchant bank, merchant fleet) and rarely appears as a predicate adjective.
常見錯誤
2. relating to the ships and crews that carry goods for trade as a business, as opp
航運的
與商船或商船隊有關的
relating to the ships and crews that carry goods for trade as a business, as opposed to military vessels.
After the ceasefire, many merchant vessels were converted into passenger ferries.
停火協議後，許多商船被改裝成客運渡輪。
collocation: merchant vessel
Haruto joined the merchant navy to see the world and earn a living.
Haruto 加入了商船隊，想藉此環遊世界並謀生。
collocation: merchant navy / merchant marine
The Egyptian navy provided protection for merchant ships traveling through the Suez Canal.
埃及海軍為行經蘇伊士運河的商船提供護航。
Merchant seamen on cargo ships from Shanghai to Hamburg spend three months away from their families.
往返上海和漢堡的貨船上的商船船員，常常得離家三個月。
- commercial
broader term covering all business shipping, not just the maritime fleet
- civilian
distinguishes non-military ships without specifying their cargo role
- naval
naval vessels are warships; merchant vessels are for trade
文法句型
merchant + noun
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in set phrases: merchant marine, merchant navy, merchant vessel. Not used to describe individual shipping companies or cargo operations.
常見錯誤
merchant — 名詞
- merchantsingular
- merchantsplural
1. a person or company that buys goods in one place and sells them in another, ofte
商人
從事國際大宗貿易的商人或公司
a person or company that buys goods in one place and sells them in another, often across national borders, to make a profit.
Venetian merchants brought silk and spices from Asia to Europe during the Middle Ages.
中世紀時，威尼斯商人將絲綢和香料從亞洲帶到歐洲。
Cyrus's family has been in the wine merchant business for three generations.
Cyrus 家族經營葡萄酒貿易生意已經三代了。
collocation: wine merchant / grain merchant / timber merchant
Mayumi worked as a timber merchant, buying wood from suppliers in Southeast Asia.
Mayumi 是一名木材商，向東南亞的供應商購買木材。
The merchant lost an entire cargo of tea when the ship sank off the coast of India.
當船在印度海岸附近沉沒時，那位商人損失了整批茶葉。
Small spice merchants in Mumbai struggled to compete with the large international trading companies.
孟買的小型香料商很難與大型國際貿易公司競爭。
- trader
broader term; can be small or large scale, local or international
- dealer
often implies a smaller scale or specific commodity (art dealer, car dealer)
- wholesaler
specifically large-scale, selling to retailers rather than end customers
文法句型
[type of goods] + merchant
用法筆記
This sense refers to wholesale or international trading, not to retail shopkeepers (see noun sense 3 'SHOPKEEPER'). The type of goods often appears before the word: wine merchant, coal merchant, silk merchant.
常見錯誤
2. a person who is known for being heavily involved in a particular type of activit
迷；王
熱衷某種活動的人，常含貶義
a person who is known for being heavily involved in a particular type of activity, especially one that other people find annoying or unpleasant.
The neighbours called her a gossip merchant because she was always spreading rumours.
鄰居都叫她八卦王，因為她總是在散播謠言。
collocation: gossip merchant
The press labeled the politician a panic merchant after his alarming speeches about the economy.
媒體稱那位政治人物是恐慌王，因為他發表的經濟演說讓民眾感到不安。
collocation: panic merchant / doom merchant
Nikos is a speed merchant who loves taking his sports car out on empty highways.
Nikos 是個飆速狂，最愛在空曠的高速公路上開跑車。
A gloom merchant at the office, Sade predicts failure for every new project the team proposes.
Sade 是辦公室裡的悲觀王，團隊每個新提案她都預測會失敗。
- enthusiast
neutral or positive; lacks the critical tone of 'merchant' in this sense
- fanatic
stronger and more negative; implies excessive devotion
- addict
suggests a compulsive habit rather than a chosen interest
文法句型
[descriptive noun] + merchant
用法筆記
Always used with a preceding descriptive noun (speed merchant, gossip merchant, panic merchant). Informal and often critical in tone. Does not imply actual trading or commerce.
常見錯誤
3. a person who owns or manages a shop where things are sold directly to anyone who
店主；零售商
開店直接零售商品的經營者
a person who owns or manages a shop where things are sold directly to anyone who walks in to buy them.
The local merchant offered to donate food to the school's fundraising event.
當地商店老闆主動捐贈食物給學校的募款活動。
collocation: local merchant
Zuri bought fresh vegetables from the merchant at the corner market each morning.
Zuri 每天早上都到街角市場的攤販那裡買新鮮蔬菜。
Small merchants in the town centre are struggling against competition from the new shopping mall.
市中心的零售商正在努力應對新購物中心帶來的競爭。
The furniture merchant allowed Christopher to pay for the sofa in monthly instalments.
家具店老闆同意 Christopher 用分期付款的方式支付沙發的費用。
- shopkeeper
the most common modern term; sounds more natural in everyday speech
- retailer
broader term that includes both small shops and large chain stores
- storekeeper
mainly used in American English
- customer
buys from the merchant rather than selling
用法筆記
In modern English, 'shopkeeper' or 'retailer' is more common than 'merchant' for this sense. 'Merchant' may sound slightly old-fashioned in everyday conversation for small retail outlets.
常見錯誤
merchant — 動詞
- merchantpresent simple I / you / we / they
- merchants3rd person singular
- merchanting-ing form
- merchantedpast simple
1. to buy and sell a particular type of goods as a business activity, especially ac
買賣；販售
以買賣特定商品為業
to buy and sell a particular type of goods as a business activity, especially across national borders.
The family merchanted fine Italian leather in shops across Europe for over a century.
這個家族一個多世紀以來一直在歐洲各地的店鋪買賣高級義大利皮革。
grammar pattern: merchant + [goods] (transitive)
Small trading firms in Ghana merchant locally made crafts to buyers in Europe and America.
迦納的小型貿易公司將當地手工藝品販售給歐洲和美國的買家。
Our company merchants handwoven carpets from Afghanistan to customers around the world.
我們公司將阿富汗手工編織地毯販售給世界各地的客戶。
For centuries the port merchanted spices, silks, and precious stones from the Far East.
數百年來，這座港口一直買賣來自遠東的香料、絲綢和寶石。
- buy
purchasing goods rather than selling them
文法句型
merchant + [goods]
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. The simple present forms (merchants) may sound archaic. The verbs 'trade in', 'deal in', or 'sell' are preferred in everyday use.
常見錯誤
2. to act as a merchant by buying and selling goods as one's regular work.
經商
從事商業貿易活動
to act as a merchant by buying and selling goods as one's regular work.
Eve merchants in handmade pottery at weekend markets across the region.
Eve 在區域各處的週末市集販售手工陶器。
grammar pattern: merchant in + [goods] (intransitive)
Vikram used to merchant in rare books before his shop closed.
Vikram 以前在他的書店關門前曾從事珍本書籍的買賣。
During the pandemic a few small firms merchanted in medical supplies.
疫情期間，有幾家小公司做起醫療用品的生意。
Nicholas merchants in antique furniture but prefers mid-century modern designs.
Nicholas 從事古董家具買賣，但他個人偏愛 mid-century modern（世紀中期現代風格）的設計。
文法句型
merchant in + [goods]
用法筆記
Even rarer than the transitive verb sense. Almost always followed by 'in' and a type of goods. Considered archaic in most modern contexts; 'deal in' or 'trade' are more natural alternatives.