payments

IPA/ˈpeɪ.mənt/
KK[pˈemənts]IPA/ˈpeɪ.mənt/

payments — 名詞

  • paymentssingular
  • paymentsesplural

1. Money that someone gives to another person or business, usually for something bo

1.名詞A2
釋義

付款

支付的金額或分期款項

Money that someone gives to another person or business, usually for something bought or as part of a regular plan such as a loan or a bill.

例句

Asher makes monthly payments of three hundred dollars on his student loan.

Asher 每個月須支付三百美元的學生貸款。

monthly payments + of + amount

The company accepted the first payment but refused to take any more money after that.

公司收了第一筆款項，但之後便拒絕再收任何錢。

first payment / accept a payment

同義詞
  • instalment

    one of several regular payments that together make up the total amount

  • remittance

    a formal term for a sum of money sent, especially to a person in another place

  • premium

    a regular payment made for an insurance policy

文法句型

make + payment

payment + of + amount

payment + for + item

用法筆記

This sense is countable. It is very common in the plural form payments when referring to regular sums paid over time (e.g. loan payments, mortgage payments).

常見錯誤

❌I need to make payment for this book.
✅I need to make a payment for this book.
💡When referring to a single sum, you need the article 'a'.
❌I have many pays to make this month.
✅I have many payments to make this month.
💡'Pay' is a verb, not a countable noun. Use 'payment' for individual sums.

2. Something good that someone receives as a result of their efforts, hard work, go

2.名詞B2
釋義

報酬

努力或行為的回報

Something good that someone receives as a result of their efforts, hard work, good behaviour, or a particular action — used in a figurative way, not about actual money.

例句

For Devika, the biggest payment for years of training was the chance to help others.

對 Devika 而言，多年訓練最大的回報就是有機會幫助他人。

payment + for + effort/action (figurative)

The team saw the championship trophy as the only payment they needed for all their hard work.

這支球隊認為，冠軍獎盃就是他們付出一切努力後所需的唯一回報。

同義詞
  • reward

    more common and neutral; can be concrete or abstract

  • recompense

    formal; something given to make up for effort or loss

文法句型

payment + for + noun/gerund

用法筆記

This is a figurative, literary sense. It is not used for actual money transactions. Distinguish from sense 1 (AMOUNT PAID), which refers to real sums of money.

常見錯誤

❌The payment for his hard work was a bonus of $500.
✅The reward for his hard work was a bonus of $500.' or 'The payment for his hard work was $500.
💡If real money is involved, use sense 1. This sense is reserved for figurative, non-monetary rewards.

3. Money that a person finally receives after it was owed to them from an earlier t

3.名詞B2
釋義

欠款

逾期才收到的應得款項

Money that a person finally receives after it was owed to them from an earlier time, for example when a pay rise is applied from a past date or when a debt is settled late.

例句

After the new contract was signed, workers received back payments covering the previous six months.

新合約簽訂後，所有工人都領到了涵蓋前六個月的積欠薪資。

back payments + covering + period

The landlord agreed to accept the overdue rent in two separate back payments by the end of the month.

房東同意讓租戶以分兩次補繳的方式，在月底前付清逾期的租金。

同義詞
  • arrears

    money that is overdue and unpaid; stronger negative tone

  • back pay

    uncountable; more common in American English for the same idea

文法句型

receive + payments

back payments

用法筆記

This sense is common in employment and tenancy contexts. The phrase back payments is almost always used in the plural. In American English, back pay (uncountable) is more common for this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌I received my payment for last month.
✅I received my back payments for the months before the raise was approved.
💡A regular monthly salary is a sense 1 payment. 'Back payments' specifically refers to money owed from an earlier period.

4. The process or action of giving money to someone for something you have bought o

4.名詞A2
釋義

支付

付款的動作或過程

The process or action of giving money to someone for something you have bought or for a service they have provided.

例句

You can choose between cash payment and credit card payment at the checkout counter.

在結帳櫃檯，你可以選擇用現金支付或刷卡。

cash payment / credit card payment — common collocations for methods

Stefan paid the plumber's invoice online as soon as he saw the payment was due that Friday.

Stefan 看到水管工的發票那個星期五就到期，便立刻上網支付了。

payment due + specific invoice (concrete transaction)

同義詞
  • settlement

    formal; the act of paying a debt or bill in full

  • remittance

    formal; the sending of money, especially to a distant person or business

文法句型

in payment for

upon payment of

make payment

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable — you cannot say 'a payment' or 'payments' for the general process of paying. For a specific sum of money, use sense 1. Frequently used in fixed phrases such as 'payment in advance', 'payment on delivery', and 'terms of payment'.

常見錯誤

❌The payments of the bill was easy.
✅The payment of the bill was easy.
💡When referring to the general act, use the uncountable form (no 's'). Use 'payments' only for individual sums (sense 1).