sitting
/ˈsɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsi-tiŋ/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsɪt.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪt̬.ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)
sitting — 名詞
1. one of several scheduled times at which a hotel, restaurant, or ship serves a me
用餐時段
餐廳或旅館分批供餐的時間
one of several scheduled times at which a hotel, restaurant, or ship serves a meal to a group of guests, usually because the dining space cannot hold everyone at once.
The hotel serves dinner in two sittings, one at six and one at eight.
這家飯店的晚餐分兩個時段供應，一個是六點，一個是八點。
countable: two sittings for dinner
Ayesha booked the first sitting so the children could eat early.
Ayesha 預訂了第一批用餐時段，這樣孩子們就可以早點吃飯。
Guests at the resort can choose between the early or late sitting for breakfast.
度假村的住客可以選擇早餐的早或晚用餐時段。
The cruise ship's dining room was so full that they added a third sitting.
這艘遊輪的餐廳座位完全不夠，因此增加了第三個用餐時段。
- service
focuses on the act of being served rather than the group of diners
文法句型
sitting + noun (first sitting, second sitting)
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'first', 'second', 'early', or 'late' to indicate which of multiple meal times a person attends.
常見錯誤
2. the time during which a person keeps a particular pose so that an artist can pai
擺姿勢；拍攝
模特兒或受訪者固定姿勢的一段時間
the time during which a person keeps a particular pose so that an artist can paint them or a photographer can capture their image.
The portrait required three long sittings before the painter was satisfied.
這幅肖像畫需要三次長時間的擺姿勢，畫家才滿意。
countable: three sittings for a portrait
Nadia agreed to do a sitting for the university's graduation photo project.
Nadia 同意為大學的畢業攝影專案坐下來當模特兒。
During the sitting, the photographer asked Tamar to turn her head slightly toward the window.
在拍攝過程中，攝影師請 Tamar 將頭稍微轉向窗戶。
The artist charged extra when a model needed a second sitting.
模特兒需要再來一次時，畫家會加收費用。
- session
broader term that can apply to any activity, not just art or photography
文法句型
have/do a sitting
give someone a sitting
用法筆記
Often used with 'give', 'do', or 'have' (e.g. 'give someone a sitting'). The word implies a formal arrangement, not a casual photo.
常見錯誤
3. an official meeting of a court, parliament, council, or committee during which m
開會；開庭
法院、議會或委員會的正式會議
an official meeting of a court, parliament, council, or committee during which members discuss, debate, and vote on matters.
The judge adjourned the sitting until the following Monday.
法官將庭期延後到下週一。
collocation: adjourn a sitting
Ramón attended the city council's morning sitting to argue against the new zoning law.
Ramón 參加了市議會的上午會議，反對新的分區法。
During the parliamentary sitting, members voted on the education budget.
在議會開會期間，議員們投票表決了教育預算。
The court's afternoon sitting was interrupted by a fire alarm.
法院的下午庭期因火災警報而中斷。
Liang read the committee's report before the next sitting began.
Liang 在下次開會前讀完了委員會的報告。
文法句型
in sitting
during the sitting
用法筆記
Frequently used with formal verbs such as 'adjourn', 'convene', 'open', and 'suspend'. Common in news reports about government or legal proceedings.
常見錯誤
4. a continuous stretch during which someone stays seated while focusing on a task
坐著活動
不間斷坐著做某事的時間
a continuous stretch during which someone stays seated while focusing on a task such as reading, studying, watching, or working.
Greta read the whole novel in one sitting because she could not put it down.
Greta 一口氣讀完整本小說，因為她實在放不下。
collocation: in one sitting
Doctors recommend standing up and stretching after a long sitting at a computer.
醫生建議長時間坐在電腦前後要站起來伸展身體。
Cole finished the report in a single sitting before the deadline.
Cole 在截止前一口氣寫完了報告。
My grandmother can only manage a short sitting in the garden before her back starts to hurt.
我的祖母只能在花園裡坐一小段時間，否則她的背就會開始痛。
文法句型
in one sitting
at a single sitting
用法筆記
Almost always appears in phrases like 'in one sitting', 'at a single sitting', or 'after hours of sitting'. Unlike sense 3, this is used in everyday contexts, not formal ones.
常見錯誤
sitting — 形容詞
1. currently holding a particular official position or political office, especially
現任的
目前擔任某職位的
currently holding a particular official position or political office, especially in a legislative or executive body.
The sitting president will give a speech to the nation tonight.
現任總統今晚將向全國發表演說。
collocation: sitting president
Voters are expected to re-elect the sitting member of parliament for a third term.
選民預計將讓現任國會議員連任第三屆。
Ife challenged the sitting governor in the primary election but lost by a narrow margin.
Ife 在初選中挑戰了現任州長，但以些微差距落敗。
The sitting mayor has faced criticism over the city's rising housing costs.
現任市長因城市住房成本上漲而受到批評。
Journalists questioned the sitting judge about the controversial ruling.
記者就那項具爭議的判決質詢了現任法官。
文法句型
sitting + noun (president, member, governor)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Cannot be used predicatively: 'The president is sitting' means something entirely different.
常見錯誤
2. in a fixed position that makes it easy for an opponent to hit, attack, or take a
易受攻擊
因靜止不動而易被擊中
in a fixed position that makes it easy for an opponent to hit, attack, or take advantage of you.
The goalkeeper was a sitting duck when the striker shot into the empty net.
那位守門員像個活靶子，前鋒直接把球射入空門。
idiomatic: sitting duck
Without any mobile reception, the hikers were sitting targets for the storm approaching.
由於收不到手機訊號，這些登山客在暴風雨來臨時完全無處可躲。
idiomatic: sitting target
Piotr knew his argument was a sitting target after the latest study came out.
Piotr 知道最新研究出爐後，他的論點就成了活靶子。
The old wooden fence left the garden a sitting target for the strong winds.
那道舊木圍籬讓花園在強風中毫無防護。
- vulnerable
broader term; 'sitting' in this sense emphasises the stillness that causes vulnerability
- defenceless
focuses on inability to protect oneself
文法句型
sitting + noun (target, duck)
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrases 'sitting duck' or 'sitting target'. Used metaphorically for anyone or anything that is defenceless or easy to criticise.