court
/kɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /kɔːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkȯrt/ (ame, mw)
court — 名詞
1. a room or building where a judge and sometimes a jury listen to evidence and dec
法院；法庭
審理案件的法律場所或人員
a room or building where a judge and sometimes a jury listen to evidence and decide whether someone has broken the law, or where civil disputes between people or organizations are resolved
The judge entered the court and everyone stood up.
法官走進法庭，所有人站了起來。
article the + court as the place
Tamar's lawyer asked the court to delay the trial by two weeks.
Tamar 的律師請求法院將審判延後兩週。
The court found the driver guilty of dangerous driving.
法院判決那名司機危險駕駛罪名成立。
The witness felt nervous as she walked into the court.
證人走進法庭時感到緊張。
- courtroom
refers specifically to the room, not the institution or people
- tribunal
a special court for specific types of cases; more formal
- courthouse
the building that contains courtrooms
- bench
the judge or judges collectively; used in a more abstract sense
文法句型
the court
in court
before the court
a court of law
用法筆記
Frequently used with a definite article ('the court') when referring to a specific legal proceeding. When 'court' is uncountable, it refers to the legal process as an institution ('He went to court'). When countable, it refers to a specific building or room ('There are three courts in this building').
常見錯誤
2. the process of starting a legal case against someone in order to get a decision
提起訴訟
對某人採取法律行動
the process of starting a legal case against someone in order to get a decision from a judge — used especially in the phrases 'go to court' and 'take someone to court'
Aarav's neighbour threatened to take him to court over the fence dispute.
Aarav 的鄰居威脅要告上法庭，因為兩人的圍牆糾紛。
take + someone + to court
The company decided not to go to court and instead offered a settlement.
那家公司決定不上法庭，而是提出和解方案。
Felipe said he would sue, but his family urged him not to go to court.
Felipe 說他要提告，但家人勸他不要鬧上法庭。
The musician took his former manager to court over unpaid royalties.
那位音樂人因未支付的版稅將前經紀人告上法庭。
- sue
the verb form of taking legal action
- litigation
the formal legal process; more technical
- lawsuit
the case itself as a countable noun
文法句型
go to court
take someone to court
bring someone to court
settle in court
用法筆記
Always appears in fixed phrases — 'go to court', 'take someone to court', 'bring someone to court'. The phrase 'day in court' also exists ('Everyone deserves their day in court').
常見錯誤
3. a way of ending a legal disagreement by agreement between the two sides, without
庭外和解
不經審判解決法律糾紛
a way of ending a legal disagreement by agreement between the two sides, without the case being heard and decided by a judge — used especially in the phrases 'settle out of court' and 'out-of-court settlement'
The companies agreed to settle out of court rather than pay lawyers for a long trial.
兩家公司同意庭外和解，而不是花大錢請律師打長期官司。
settle out of court
Noor's family reached an out-of-court settlement with the landlord over the damaged roof.
Noor 的家人與房東就屋頂損壞問題達成庭外和解。
out-of-court settlement
Marco wanted a public trial, but his legal team advised settling out of court.
Marco 想公開審判，但他的律師團隊建議庭外和解。
The landlord and tenant settled out of court to avoid further legal fees.
房東和房客庭外和解，以避免更多的法律費用。
- settlement
the agreement itself; more general
- negotiated resolution
more formal and general
- trial
the formal court hearing
文法句型
settle out of court
out-of-court settlement
用法筆記
Primarily used in the compound adjective 'out-of-court' (with hyphens) before a noun, or in the adverbial phrase 'out of court' (no hyphens) after the verb 'settle'. Usually describes a financial agreement where one side pays the other to avoid a formal judgment.
4. a flat, marked outdoor or indoor space where sports like tennis, basketball, or
球場
畫有界線的運動場地
a flat, marked outdoor or indoor space where sports like tennis, basketball, or badminton are played
Hyun and Yuna played tennis on the outdoor court until sunset.
Hyun 和 Yuna 在戶外球場打網球打到日落。
on + the + [type] + court
The school built two new basketball courts behind the gymnasium.
學校在體育館後面建造了兩座新的籃球場。
Players must stay inside the lines on a badminton court during a match.
羽毛球比賽時，選手必須停留在球場線內。
Amihan wiped the sweat from her face and walked off the basketball court.
Amihan 擦去臉上的汗水，走下籃球場。
文法句型
a + type of + court
on + the + court
用法筆記
Always used with the sport name first: 'tennis court', 'basketball court', 'badminton court', 'squash court'. The preposition 'on' is used with court ('on the court'), not 'in'. Some courts have specific surface names: 'clay court', 'grass court', 'hard court' for tennis.
常見錯誤
5. an uncovered flat open space formed by the walls of surrounding buildings, often
庭院；天井
建築物圍繞的露天區域
an uncovered flat open space formed by the walls of surrounding buildings, often found inside a castle, school, or large building complex and used as a quiet outdoor area
The hotel has a beautiful central court with a fountain and flowering plants.
那間飯店有個漂亮的中庭，設有噴泉和盛開的花草。
central court — describing a building's inner open area
Shirin sat in the court outside her apartment and read a book in the sun.
Shirin 坐在公寓大樓外的庭院裡，曬著太陽看書。
The students gathered in the inner court of the college to hear the announcement.
學生們聚集在學院的中庭聆聽公告。
Nicholas left his bicycle in the paved court behind the library.
Nicholas 把自行車停在圖書館後面的鋪磚庭院裡。
- courtyard
the more common word in modern English for the same concept
- plaza
a public open square in a city
- quadrangle
a rectangular open area surrounded by buildings, especially in universities (often 'quad')
文法句型
the + court
a + adjective + court
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with 'courtyard', which is the more common modern word. 'Court' alone in this meaning is slightly more formal or historical (often in descriptions of old buildings, castles, or colleges). In modern architecture, 'courtyard' is preferred.
6. a word that appears as part of the official name of an apartment building, a blo
巷；大廈
用於道路或公寓大樓名稱
a word that appears as part of the official name of an apartment building, a block of flats, or a short street — for example 'Windsor Court' or 'Maple Court'
Nicholas lives at 12 Cedar Court, a quiet apartment building near the park.
Nicholas 住在 Cedar Court 12 號，那是一棟靠近公園的寧靜公寓大樓。
number + name + Court as postal address
The meeting was held at 5 Elm Court, the third building on the right.
會議在 Elm Court 5 號舉行，是右邊的第三棟建築。
Ife moved into a flat at Windsor Court last spring.
Ife 去年春天搬進了 Windsor Court 的一間公寓。
The post office is at 22 Cedar Court, just past the grocery store.
郵局在 Cedar Court 22 號，就在雜貨店旁邊。
文法句型
[number] + [name] + Court
用法筆記
This is a component of proper nouns (street names, building names) and is always capitalized as part of the name. Common in British English addresses for short streets or apartment blocks. It is not used as a general noun in this sense — you cannot say 'I live in a court' to mean an apartment building.
常見錯誤
7. the official home and residence of a king or queen, including the buildings, gar
宮殿；王宮
國王或女王的官方住所
the official home and residence of a king or queen, including the buildings, gardens, and grounds associated with it
The royal court of King Louis XIV was at the Palace of Versailles.
法王路易十四的王宮設在凡爾賽宮。
the + royal court + of + [ruler]
Amihan toured the historic court of the Spanish monarchs in Toledo.
Amihan 在托雷多參觀了西班牙君主的歷史王宮。
Visitors are not allowed inside the private apartments of the court.
遊客不得進入王宮的私人房間。
The queen's court included a grand ballroom and a private chapel.
女王的宮殿裡有一個大宴會廳和一間私人小教堂。
- palace
the building itself; more specific for the residence
- castle
a fortified royal residence
- royal residence
formal term for where a monarch lives
文法句型
the + [monarch] + 's + court
at court
the royal court
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 8 — this sense (7) refers to the physical place (the palace or castle), while sense 8 refers to the group of people associated with the monarch. The phrase 'at court' means present in the royal residence as part of the social/political life there.
常見錯誤
8. a ruler together with their family, close advisors, and attendants who make up t
宮廷；朝臣
國王及其身邊的人員
a ruler together with their family, close advisors, and attendants who make up the circle of people staying at the royal residence and serving the monarch
The entire court attended the coronation ceremony in the great hall.
整個宮廷都出席了在大廳舉行的加冕典禮。
the + entire + court as a collective group
Eve wrote about the intrigues and rivalries within the Tudor court.
Eve 撰寫了都鐸宮廷內陰謀與鬥爭的文章。
The emperor's court included scholars, generals, and artists from across the region.
皇帝的宮廷裡有來自各地的學者、將領和藝術家。
The king's court gathered every morning to discuss matters of state.
國王的宮廷每天早上聚集討論國事。
文法句型
the + court
the + [ruler] + 's + court
用法筆記
A collective noun — when the subject is 'the court', the verb can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is seen as a unit ('The court was divided') or as individuals ('The court were arguing among themselves'). British English allows both; American English prefers singular.
court — 動詞
1. to act in a deliberately friendly or flattering way toward a powerful person or
爭取；拉攏
設法贏得某人支持
to act in a deliberately friendly or flattering way toward a powerful person or group, hoping to win their backing, approval, or partnership
The senator spent months courting union leaders before the election.
那位參議員花了數月時間在選前拉攏工會領袖。
court + person/group for support
Tamar courted the local business owners by promising lower taxes.
Tamar 承諾降低稅收，藉此爭取當地企業主的支持。
The new manager courted the factory workers with flexible hours and better breaks.
新經理以彈性工時和更好的休息時間來拉攏工廠工人。
The charity courted wealthy donors by hosting a private dinner at a gallery.
該慈善機構在藝廊舉辦私人晚宴，藉此爭取富有的捐助者。
- woo
similar meaning but slightly more emotional and less formal
- cultivate
to develop a relationship carefully over time
- solicit
to ask for support or money; more direct and less relational
- curry favor with
idiomatic; implies trying to gain approval through flattery
- alienate
to make someone feel unfriendly or unsupportive
文法句型
court + noun (someone's favor/support/alliance)
用法筆記
More deliberate and strategic than simply 'please' — it implies a planned effort to gain someone's backing. Often used in political, business, or organizational contexts. The object is usually a group or a person with influence.
常見錯誤
2. to try deliberately to get something such as public attention, popularity, or ap
追求；尋求
刻意博取關注或名氣
to try deliberately to get something such as public attention, popularity, or approval, often by behaving in a noticeable way
The singer courted publicity by posting dramatic videos every single day.
那位歌手每天發布誇張影片來博取媒體關注。
court + publicity
Shirin's loud outfit was clearly designed to court attention at the party.
Shirin 那身引人注目的服裝顯然是為了在派對上吸引注意。
court + attention
The politician courted controversy with his comments about immigration policy.
那位政治人物對移民政策的言論刻意招致爭議。
The museum courted more visitors by offering free admission on weekends.
博物館在週末提供免費入場，藉此吸引更多遊客。
文法句型
court + noun (publicity/attention/controversy)
用法筆記
Often carries a slightly disapproving tone — it suggests the person is trying too hard or doing something inappropriate to get noticed. 'Court publicity' and 'court controversy' are especially common collocations in journalism.
常見錯誤
3. to behave in a way that makes something bad or unpleasant more likely to happen
招致；冒險
愚蠢行為導致壞事發生
to behave in a way that makes something bad or unpleasant more likely to happen to you
If you ride a motorcycle without a helmet, you are courting disaster.
如果騎機車不戴安全帽，你就是在自招災難。
court + disaster
The general courted defeat by sending his troops into the valley without backup.
那位將軍把部隊派進沒有後援的山谷，簡直是自取敗亡。
Marco courted criticism by publishing his results before the peer review was complete.
Marco 在同行審查完成前就發表研究結果，招來了批評。
Aarav courted danger by hiking up the mountain alone in a heavy storm.
Aarav 在暴風雨中獨自登山，簡直是自招危險。
- risk
more general and neutral; can be used with any outcome
- invite
similar meaning of causing something to happen
- tempt fate
idiom meaning to take a foolish risk
文法句型
court + noun (disaster/danger/injury/defeat/criticism)
用法筆記
Almost always used with negative outcome nouns: 'disaster', 'danger', 'defeat', 'injury', 'controversy', 'criticism'. The speaker implies the person is being irresponsible or foolish. Not used with neutral or positive outcomes — you cannot say 'court success'.
常見錯誤
4. to show romantic interest in another person with the goal of eventually getting
追求；求婚
以結婚為前提談戀愛（舊式用法）
to show romantic interest in another person with the goal of eventually getting married, especially in a traditional or formal way typical of earlier times
In the 19th century a gentleman courted a woman by visiting her home with flowers.
在十九世紀，紳士會登門拜訪並送上鮮花來追求心儀的女子。
court + someone — dated/formal romantic pursuit
Nicholas courted his wife for two years before proposing to her.
Nicholas 追求他的妻子兩年之後才求婚。
The prince courted the young noblewoman at royal balls and garden parties.
王子在宮廷舞會和花園派對上追求那位年輕貴族女子。
Eve was courted by three young men that summer, but she refused them all.
Eve 在那個夏天被三位年輕男子追求，但她全都拒絕了。
- woo
similar formality level; emphasizes trying to win someone's love
- date
the modern equivalent
- romance
as a verb, similar but slightly less formal
- pay court to
idiomatic phrase; even more formal and dated
文法句型
court + someone
用法筆記
Now considered old-fashioned or very formal. In modern English, 'date', 'go out with', or 'see someone' are more common. This sense survives mainly in historical novels, period films, and formal contexts such as royal or aristocratic settings. The noun form 'courtship' (the period of romantic relationship leading to marriage) is still in moderate use.