province
/ˈprɒvɪns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈprɑːvɪns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈprä-vən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
province — 名詞
- provincesingular
- provincesplural
1. A territorial division inside a country, set up by the central government and us
省；行省
國家或帝國的行政劃分區域
A territorial division inside a country, set up by the central government and usually given some local decision-making authority over matters such as education, health care, or transportation.
Quinn moved from Toronto to Vancouver after taking a job in the province of British Columbia.
Quinn 從多倫多搬到溫哥華，因為她在卑詩省找到了一份工作。
the province of [proper name]
Each province in Canada runs its own health care system and sets its own education policies.
加拿大各省都有各自的醫療體系與教育政策。
province + possessive: runs its own
The Roman Empire was split into many provinces, each ruled by a governor appointed from Rome.
羅馬帝國劃分為許多行省，每個行省由羅馬派任的總督治理。
Liang grew up in a rural part of the province, far from the capital city.
Liang 在該省的鄉下地區長大，離首都很遠。
After the election the new government promised to give more power to the provinces.
選舉過後，新政府承諾賦予各省更多權力。
- state
Used for federal units in countries like the US, Mexico, or India; 'province' is preferred in Canada, China, and some European countries.
- region
A broader term that does not always imply formal administrative or political boundaries.
- territory
Often refers to an area that does not have the same self-governing rights as a province, e.g. Canada's northern territories.
文法句型
the province of [name]
常見錯誤
2. The four large historical divisions of the island of Ireland — Ulster, Munster,
愛爾蘭省區
愛爾蘭的四大傳統地理區
The four large historical divisions of the island of Ireland — Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht — each of which contains several counties and has its own cultural and sporting traditions.
Luca's family comes from County Cork, which is in the province of Munster in the south of Ireland.
Luca 的家人來自科克郡，位於愛爾蘭南部的蒙斯特省。
in the province of [name] — Irish context
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, and part of it now forms Northern Ireland.
阿爾斯特省是愛爾蘭四大省之一，其中一部分現在屬於北愛爾蘭。
one of the four provinces of Ireland
The rugby team from Leinster has won more all-Ireland championships than any other province.
倫斯特省的欖球隊贏過的全愛爾蘭冠軍比其他省都要多。
All four provinces of Ireland — Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht — appear on the traditional coat of arms.
愛爾蘭的四個省——阿爾斯特、蒙斯特、倫斯特和康諾特——都出現在傳統的盾形紋章上。
文法句型
the province of [name]
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively used when speaking about Irish geography, sports, or history. It does NOT refer to a modern governmental unit — the Republic of Ireland is divided into counties, not provinces for administrative purposes.
3. A large church district under the authority of an archbishop, comprising a group
教省
大主教管轄的教會區域，含數個教區
A large church district under the authority of an archbishop, comprising a group of smaller districts called dioceses that together form a single regional unit within a Christian denomination.
The archbishop of Canterbury oversees the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury, which includes thirty dioceses.
坎特伯雷大主教管轄的教省涵蓋三十個教區。
ecclesiastical province + number of dioceses
Each ecclesiastical province in the Anglican Communion elects its own bishops and meets in synod.
聖公宗內的每個教省都選出自己的主教並召開教省會議。
Soraya studied church history and learned about the boundaries of medieval ecclesiastical provinces across Europe.
Soraya 研讀教會歷史時，學到了中世紀歐洲教省的邊界劃分。
The cathedral in the main city of a province usually serves as the seat of the archbishop.
教省主要城市的主教座堂通常是大主教的駐地。
- diocese
A smaller unit within a province; a province contains multiple dioceses.
- archdiocese
A very large diocese usually headed by an archbishop; may be synonymous with a province in some contexts.
文法句型
ecclesiastical province
province of [church name]
用法筆記
In Catholicism and Anglicanism, an ecclesiastical province is led by an archbishop or metropolitan. Do not confuse this sense with sense 1 — a church province and a political province may have completely different boundaries.
4. A name used for Northern Ireland when considered as a distinct political region
北愛爾蘭
英國的北愛爾蘭地區（帶定冠詞）
A name used for Northern Ireland when considered as a distinct political region of the United Kingdom, especially in news reports, government documents, and historical writing.
The Province has its own devolved government in Belfast that handles health, education, and transport.
北愛爾蘭有自己的權力下放政府，設在貝爾法斯特，負責衛生、教育與交通。
the Province + has + devolved government
Justin visited the Province last summer to study how schools there teach history.
Justin 去年夏天造訪北愛爾蘭，研究當地學校如何教授歷史。
The economy of the Province depends heavily on agriculture, shipbuilding, and tourism.
北愛爾蘭的經濟高度依賴農業、造船業與觀光業。
New laws passed by the Parliament in London must still be approved by the Province's assembly.
倫敦國會通過的新法律仍須經過北愛爾蘭議會批准。
- Northern Ireland
The official name; 'the Province' is a journalistic and colloquial shorthand.
- Ulster
Sometimes used loosely but historically covers nine counties, six of which are in Northern Ireland (three in the Republic). Imprecise and can be politically loaded.
文法句型
the Province
用法筆記
Always written with a capital P when referring specifically to Northern Ireland. In news headlines and formal writing, 'the Province' is a common shorthand. Outside the UK and Ireland, this usage may be unfamiliar to readers.
常見錯誤
5. Every region of a country situated away from its main capital city, commonly reg
外省；地方
首都以外的地區（常帶貶義）
Every region of a country situated away from its main capital city, commonly regarded as more traditional, less fashionable, or more relaxed in lifestyle than the capital.
Talia grew up in the provinces and moved to London when she turned eighteen for university.
Talia 在外省長大，十八歲時搬到倫敦上大學。
grew up in the provinces + moved to capital
The newspaper employs reporters in the provinces as well as in the capital to cover national stories.
這家報社在首都與外省都派駐記者，以報導全國新聞。
Life in the provinces is usually quieter and more affordable than life in the big city.
外省的生活通常比大城市更安靜，生活費也比較低。
Many young people leave the provinces each year to find better jobs in the capital.
每年有許多年輕人離開外省，到首都尋找更好的工作機會。
The film humour often makes fun of people from the provinces, which can feel unfair to local audiences.
那部電影的笑話常拿外省人開玩笑，當地觀眾覺得不太公平。
- the countryside
Emphasises rural scenery and agriculture; 'the provinces' can include smaller cities and towns too.
- the regions
A more neutral term common in business and politics, without the slightly dismissive tone of 'the provinces'.
- rural areas
More literal and geographic, without the cultural implication of being secondary to the capital.
- the capital
The central city that 'the provinces' are contrasted with.
- the metropolis
A formal or literary word for a large, important city, especially the capital.
文法句型
the provinces
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the plural form 'the provinces'. Often carries a slight implication that the capital city is culturally central and the rest of the country is peripheral. This sense is more common in British English than American English.
常見錯誤
6. A specific subject, type of work, or set of decisions that a person or group is
本行；職掌
某人擅長或負責的領域
A specific subject, type of work, or set of decisions that a person or group is responsible for or best equipped to handle.
Deciding the annual budget falls within the province of the finance committee.
決定年度預算是財務委員會的職責範圍。
falls within the province of [group]
Iker admitted that medical questions are not his province and suggested asking a doctor.
Iker 坦言醫學問題不是他的本行，建議去問醫生。
[possessive] province — not someone's province
Quantum physics is not really my province; I specialise in English literature and poetry.
量子物理不是我的專長；我主修英國文學與詩歌。
Choosing the textbook is the province of the head of the department, not the individual teacher.
選教科書是系主任的職責，不是個別老師的工作。
Paloma believes that family decisions should remain the province of the parents, not the state.
Paloma 認為家庭決策應該屬於父母的範圍，而不是國家的。
- domain
More common in everyday language; 'province' is more formal and slightly literary.
- field
Focuses on a subject area; less emphasis on authority or ownership.
- area of expertise
More transparent and widely used in business and academic writing.
- remit
Common in British English for official responsibilities; more formal than 'province'.
文法句型
[possessive] province
within someone's province
be the province of [someone]
用法筆記
Often used in negative constructions ('not my province', 'not within my province') to politely indicate something falls outside one's expertise or authority. This sense is typically non-count and appears with a possessive determiner or in the pattern 'the province of + noun phrase'.