race

/reɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /reɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrās/ (ame, mw)

race — 名詞

  • racesingular
  • racesplural

1. an event in which people, animals, or vehicles compete to see who can move from

1.名詞A2
釋義

比賽；賽跑

比速度的競賽

an event in which people, animals, or vehicles compete to see who can move from one point to another the fastest, or who finishes first.

例句

Paloma won the 100-metre race at the school sports day.

Paloma 在學校運動會的百米賽跑中贏得第一名。

race + distance adjective (100-metre race)

The two cyclists were neck and neck for most of the race.

在比賽大部分時間裡，那兩位自行車選手並駕齊驅。

collocation: neck and neck (very close)

同義詞
  • contest

    broader — any competition, not necessarily about speed

  • sprint

    a short, fast race, usually on foot over a short distance

常見錯誤

❌I joined a race competition.
✅I took part in a race.
💡'race' already means a competition; 'race competition' is redundant.

2. a situation in which a person or group tries hard to achieve something before ot

2.名詞B2
釋義

競爭

搶先達成目標的角逐

a situation in which a person or group tries hard to achieve something before others do, such as winning a leadership position, securing a deal, or reaching a goal first.

例句

Three candidates are in the race to become the next party leader.

三位候選人正在角逐下一任政黨領袖。

collocation: in the race to [do something]

The technology race between the two companies pushed prices down quickly.

兩家公司之間的科技競爭讓產品價格迅速下降。

同義詞
  • competition

    more general; a race feels more urgent and time-bound

  • contest

    suggests a formal event with rules; a race may be informal

用法筆記

Commonly used with 'against' (a race against time/the clock) or 'to' (a race to do something). Often modified by a domain noun: arms race, space race, technology race.

3. a planned afternoon or day at a racecourse where several horse races or greyhoun

3.名詞B1
釋義

賽馬會

同日舉行的多場賽馬

a planned afternoon or day at a racecourse where several horse races or greyhound races are held one after another, often with betting.

例句

The Watanabe family spent Saturday afternoon at the races.

渡邊家週六下午去賽馬場看比賽。

usually plural: the races

A large crowd gathered at the racecourse for the final race of the day.

大批群眾聚集在賽馬場，觀看當天的最後一場比賽。

同義詞
  • meeting

    formal term for a scheduled set of horse races

  • race meeting

    more explicit than just 'meeting'

用法筆記

In British English, 'going to the races' means attending a horse-racing meeting. Less common in American English, where 'the track' is more typical.

4. one of the broad groups that humans are divided into based on shared physical fe

4.名詞B1
釋義

種族

以身體特徵區分的人群類別

one of the broad groups that humans are divided into based on shared physical features such as skin colour, hair type, or facial shape, which people often treat as significant in society.

例句

The school welcomes students from every race and background.

這所學校歡迎來自各種族與背景的學生。

collocation: every race and background

Laws against discrimination protect people regardless of their race or religion.

反歧視法保護所有人，不論其種族或宗教。

collocation: regardless of race

同義詞
  • ethnicity

    overlaps but focuses more on shared culture, language, and ancestry than physical traits

  • ethnic group

    more precise and less loaded term in modern usage

用法筆記

Often discussed alongside 'ethnicity' (which refers more to shared culture, language, and ancestry) and 'equality'. Increasingly viewed by scholars as a social construct rather than a biological fact.

常見錯誤

❌The human race needs to act on climate change.
✅Humans need to act on climate change.
💡'the human race' means all people; it's different from the social sense of 'race' as an ethnic group.

5. the notion that physical traits such as skin colour or hair type can separate hu

5.名詞B2
釋義

種族概念

以膚色等特徵分類人群的觀念

the notion that physical traits such as skin colour or hair type can separate humans into distinct categories — a concept studied in sociology and often tied to issues of prejudice and inequality.

例句

The sociology course examines how race has been constructed differently across societies.

這門社會學課程探討種族在不同社會中如何被建構。

collocation: race as a social construction

The professor argued that race is not a biological reality but a social category.

教授主張種族不是生物現實，而是社會分類。

用法筆記

This abstract sense — 'race' as a concept or system — is used mainly in academic, political, and activist contexts. It is uncountable: 'Race is a factor in hiring decisions', not 'a race is a factor'.

6. a community whose members have in common a particular language, set of customs,

6.名詞B2
釋義

族群

有共同語言歷史的群體

a community whose members have in common a particular language, set of customs, historical background, or line of descent.

例句

The island is home to several distinct races that have lived there for centuries.

這座島上有數個在那裡生活了數百年的獨特族群。

Aylin's research focuses on the traditions of the Kurdish race across the region.

Aylin 的研究聚焦於該地區庫爾德族的傳統。

collocation: the [name] race

同義詞
  • ethnic group

    more common in modern usage; less ambiguous

  • people

    as in 'the Kurdish people'; broader and less specific

用法筆記

This older sense overlaps with 'ethnic group' or 'people'. In modern English, 'ethnicity' or 'ethnic group' is more common; 'race' in this sense can sound dated or poetic.

race — 動詞