pens

IPA/pen/
KK[pˈɛnz]IPA/pen/

pens — 名詞

  • penssingular
  • pensesplural

1. a long thin tool that holds ink and is used to put words or pictures on paper

1.名詞A1
釋義

筆；鋼筆

書寫或繪畫的墨水工具

a long thin tool that holds ink and is used to put words or pictures on paper

例句

Mathieu borrowed a blue pen from the receptionist to fill out the form.

Mathieu 向櫃檯人員借了一支藍筆來填表格。

The teacher asked everyone to write the answers in pen so nothing could be erased.

老師要求大家用鋼筆作答，以免寫錯後擦掉。

in pen — using a pen, not a pencil

同義詞
  • ballpoint

    a specific type of pen with a small ball at the tip; less formal than 'pen'

  • fountain pen

    a pen that uses liquid ink from a refillable reservoir; more formal and expensive

  • marker

    a pen with a thick tip for writing on boards or paper; different look and purpose

反義詞
  • pencil

    a writing tool that uses graphite and can be erased, whereas pen ink cannot

文法句型

pen + noun (compound)

in pen

用法筆記

Pen is a countable noun. The phrase 'in pen' (without an article) means using a pen as the writing tool.

常見錯誤

❌I wrote the letter with pen.
✅I wrote the letter in pen.
💡Use 'in pen' (no article) as the standard fixed phrase for the medium.
❌I need a pen to write.
✅I need a pen to write with.
💡In everyday speech, 'write with a pen' is clearer than 'write a pen'.

2. a fenced area where animals such as sheep, pigs, or chickens are kept, or where

2.名詞B1
釋義

圍欄；圈

圈養動物或幼兒的圍籬區

a fenced area where animals such as sheep, pigs, or chickens are kept, or where a child can play safely

例句

The farmer built a new pen for the pigs behind the red barn.

農夫在紅色穀倉後面為豬群蓋了一個新圍欄。

Daniel led the sheep into the wooden pen before the storm arrived.

Daniel 在暴風雨來臨前把羊群趕進木頭圍欄裡。

compound: sheep pen / pig pen / cattle pen

同義詞
  • enclosure

    a more general term for any fenced area; pen is a specific type of enclosure

  • corral

    a pen for horses or cattle on a ranch; more common in American English

  • fold

    a pen for sheep; more common in British English and older usage

文法句型

[animal] + pen (compound)

用法筆記

Compound nouns like 'sheep pen', 'pig pen', and 'playpen' are very common. The word 'pen' alone often needs context to clarify what kind of enclosure.

3. a prison or place where criminals are kept as punishment — used in informal US s

3.名詞B2
釋義

監獄

監獄的俚語說法

a prison or place where criminals are kept as punishment — used in informal US speech

例句

Shanti's uncle spent five years in the state pen for robbery.

Shanti 的叔叔因搶劫在州立監獄服刑了五年。

the pen — informal for 'the penitentiary'

After the trial the judge sent him straight to the pen.

審判結束後，法官直接將他送進了監獄。

同義詞
  • prison

    the standard, formal word; pen is the informal shorthand

  • jail

    usually a smaller local facility for short stays; pen suggests a larger state or federal prison

  • penitentiary

    the formal term that 'pen' abbreviates

文法句型

the pen

用法筆記

Almost always used with the definite article: 'the pen'. This sense is informal and more common in American English than British English.

常見錯誤

❌He was sent to pen for five years.
✅He was sent to the pen for five years.
💡The definite article 'the' is required.

4. the area in a baseball field where relief pitchers warm up before going into the

4.名詞C1
釋義

牛棚

棒球後援投手練習區

the area in a baseball field where relief pitchers warm up before going into the game; also used to mean the group of relief pitchers on a team

例句

The manager walked to the pen and told the right-handed pitcher to start warming up.

總教練走到牛棚，叫那位右投手開始熱身。

Our team's pen has the best earned-run average in the league this season.

我們球隊的牛棚本季防禦率是全聯盟最好的。

the pen — short for 'bullpen' in baseball context

同義詞
  • bullpen

    the full form of the term; 'pen' is just a shortening

文法句型

the pen

用法筆記

Used only in baseball contexts. The full word 'bullpen' is more common in writing; 'pen' is an informal shortening used by fans and sportswriters.

5. an adult female swan

5.名詞C1
釋義

雌天鵝

成年雌性天鵝

an adult female swan

例句

The pen laid five eggs in the nest by the lake this spring.

今年春天，那隻雌天鵝在湖邊的巢裡下了五顆蛋。

A male swan, called a cob, guards the pen while she sits on the eggs.

雄天鵝（cob）會在雌天鵝孵蛋時守護在一旁。

pen (female swan) vs. cob (male swan)

反義詞
  • cob

    the male swan, as opposed to the female (pen)

用法筆記

Used mostly in ornithology and nature writing. The male swan is called a 'cob', and a baby swan is a 'cygnet'.

6. a penalty kick in football (soccer) — a free kick at the goal given when a defen

6.名詞B2
釋義

罰球；點球

足球比賽的十二碼罰球

a penalty kick in football (soccer) — a free kick at the goal given when a defending player commits a serious foul inside their own penalty area

例句

The referee pointed to the spot and called a pen for the visiting team.

裁判指向罰球點，判給客隊一個點球。

pen — short for 'penalty kick' in football

Imani took the pen and scored with a low shot to the left corner.

Imani 上前主罰點球，以一記低平球射向左下角得分。

同義詞
  • penalty kick

    the full formal term; 'pen' is the informal short form

  • spot kick

    another term for penalty kick in British football commentary

用法筆記

Always short for 'penalty kick'. Used in spoken commentary and informal football writing, not in official rulebooks where 'penalty kick' is used.

pens — 動詞