porter

/ˈpɔːtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [pˈɔrtɚ] /ˈpɔːrtər/ (ame, ipa) · [pˈɔrtɚ] /ˈpȯr-tər/ (ame, mw)

porter — 名詞

  • portersingular
  • portersplural

1. a worker who carries bags and other heavy things for travelers in places such as

1.名詞B2
釋義

行李員

替旅客搬行李的人

a worker who carries bags and other heavy things for travelers in places such as hotels, airports, and stations

例句

A porter lifted our suitcases onto the airport bus.

一名行李員把我們的行李箱搬上機場接駁巴士。

typical object: porter + suitcases

Outside the hotel, two porters unloaded boxes from the taxi.

在飯店外面，兩名行李員把箱子從計程車上卸下來。

plural form: porters

同義詞
  • bellhop

    Mainly American and usually limited to hotel service.

  • baggage handler

    Often used for airport or station workers moving luggage.

  • carrier

    Much broader; it does not specifically suggest a job in a travel setting.

用法筆記

Mostly used in travel settings such as hotels, stations, and airports. In American English, bellhop is more usual for a hotel worker, while baggage handler is more common for airport staff working with luggage.

常見錯誤

❌The porter in our apartment carried the suitcases upstairs.
✅The porter at the hotel carried the suitcases upstairs.
💡This sense is for a travel-service worker, not the person who watches a building entrance.

2. a worker who stays by the main door of a big shared building and helps residents

2.名詞C1
釋義

門房；管理員

在大樓入口值勤並協助訪客

a worker who stays by the main door of a big shared building and helps residents, staff, and visitors

例句

The school porter opened the side gate for late students.

學校門房替遲到的學生打開側門。

compound noun: school porter

Visitors asked the porter which floor Dr. Lin was on.

訪客問那名管理員 Dr. Lin 在哪一層樓。

同義詞
  • caretaker

    Broader word for someone who looks after a building or place.

  • doorman

    Focuses more on the entrance and greeting people.

  • concierge

    Usually in hotels or apartment buildings, often with more guest-service duties.

用法筆記

Usually attached to a school, hospital, college, hotel, or apartment building. Distinguish from sense 1: this person mainly watches the entrance and helps visitors, rather than carrying travelers' luggage.

常見錯誤

❌The building porter carried our luggage to the train.
✅The building porter showed us to the lift.
💡This sense is about managing a building entrance, not travel baggage service.

3. a worker on a sleeping train who makes up beds, handles bags, and looks after pa

3.名詞C2
釋義

臥鋪員

夜車上照料乘客的人

a worker on a sleeping train who makes up beds, handles bags, and looks after passengers during the night

例句

The porter turned our seats into beds after dinner.

晚餐後，臥鋪員把我們的座位鋪成床。

typical duty: turn seats into beds

Before dawn, the porter brought clean towels to each cabin.

天亮前，臥鋪員把乾淨毛巾送到每個包廂。

同義詞
  • attendant

    General service word; it does not specifically suggest a train sleeper car.

  • sleeping-car attendant

    More exact term, especially in American English.

  • steward

    Broader travel-service word, often used on ships or planes instead.

用法筆記

Usually refers to staff on older or long-distance trains with sleeping cars. Distinguish from sense 2: this porter serves train passengers during an overnight journey, not a building entrance.

常見錯誤

❌The porter on the bus made up our beds.
✅The porter on the night train made up our beds.
💡This sense belongs to sleeping trains.

4. a dark, strong beer with a rich roasted taste

4.名詞C1
釋義

波特啤酒

一種深色、烘烤味重的啤酒

a dark, strong beer with a rich roasted taste

例句

Marcus ordered a porter with his beef pie.

Marcus 點了一杯波特啤酒配牛肉派。

ordering a drink: order a porter

The pub served a cold porter in a tall glass.

那家酒館把冰涼的波特啤酒裝在高杯裡供應。

同義詞
  • stout

    A very close dark beer style, often heavier or creamier than porter.

  • dark ale

    Broader term for dark-colored ales, not a precise style name.

用法筆記

Used for the drink, not the worker. On menus and labels, porter usually names a beer style rather than a single brand.

常見錯誤

❌I ordered a porter beer.
✅I ordered a porter.
💡The word porter already names the beer style.

porter — 動詞