tandem
tandem — 名詞
- tandemsingular
- tandemsplural
1. a bicycle designed for two riders, seated in a front-and-back arrangement
雙人車
兩人前後同騎的腳踏車
a bicycle designed for two riders, seated in a front-and-back arrangement
Liam rented a tandem for the beach path on Green Island.
Liam 在綠島的海邊步道租了一輛雙人車。
collocation: rent a tandem
Obi rode the tandem in front while his daughter rang the bell.
Obi 騎在雙人車前座，他的女兒一邊按著鈴鐺。
We borrowed a tandem so Grandma could join the park ride.
我們借了一輛雙人車，好讓奶奶也能參加公園騎行。
The shop keeps one tandem outside for couples testing the route.
這家店把一輛雙人車放在外面，讓情侶試騎路線。
- tandem bike
A more explicit everyday phrase for the same bicycle.
- double bike
Informal and less standard, but often understood in casual speech.
- single bike
A bicycle made for one rider rather than two.
文法句型
ride a tandem
rent a tandem
a tandem for two riders
用法筆記
Usually a countable noun for the bicycle itself. In everyday speech, many speakers also say 'tandem bike' when they want the meaning to be explicit.
常見錯誤
2. a set of animals, vehicles, or machines linked in a front-and-back line or used
串列
前後成列或配套並用的一組事物
a set of animals, vehicles, or machines linked in a front-and-back line or used as one unit
A tandem of horses pulled the heavy cart through the muddy lane.
一組串列馬匹把沉重的車拉過泥濘的小路。
pattern: a tandem of + plural noun
A tandem of snowplows cleared the mountain road before dawn.
一組串列除雪車在天亮前清出了山路。
The factory tested a tandem of pumps along the water line.
工廠沿著輸水管測試了一組串列泵浦。
A tandem of rescue boats waited outside the flooded tunnel.
一組串列救援艇在淹水的隧道外等候。
- single unit
A lone animal, vehicle, or machine working by itself.
文法句型
a tandem of horses
a tandem of pumps
a tandem of vehicles
用法筆記
This noun is more formal and far less common than noun sense 1. It often appears in descriptive or technical writing about horses, vehicles, and machines that operate as a linked set.
常見錯誤
tandem — 副詞
1. in a front-and-back line, with each person or thing following the next
前後相隨
前後接續地排成一列
in a front-and-back line, with each person or thing following the next
Ryo and Indra pedaled tandem along the river path at sunset.
Ryo 和 Indra 在日落時前後相隨地沿著河邊小路踩車。
pattern: pedal tandem
Three horses trotted tandem toward the farm gate before breakfast.
三匹馬在早餐前前後相隨地朝農場大門小跑過去。
The dancers stepped tandem across the narrow stage during rehearsal.
舞者在排練時前後相隨地走過狹窄的舞台。
Two rescue kayaks drifted tandem through the flooded street.
兩艘救援獨木舟前後相隨地漂過淹水的街道。
- single-file
Focuses on lining up one after another, often on foot.
- in line
Broader and more neutral, without the specific tandem nuance.
- side by side
Describes things next to each other rather than front to back.
文法句型
pedal tandem
ride tandem
move tandem
用法筆記
This adverb is much rarer than the phrase 'in tandem'. It is mostly used after verbs such as ride, pedal, move, sit, or place when the image is a front-and-back line.
常見錯誤
tandem — 形容詞
- tandempositive
- more tandemcomparative
- most tandemsuperlative
1. describing parts or items set in a front-and-back line rather than side by side
串列的
各部分前後依序排成一列的
describing parts or items set in a front-and-back line rather than side by side
The small canoe has tandem seats, so Lucía sits behind her coach.
這艘小獨木舟有串列座位，所以 Lucía 坐在教練後面。
collocation: tandem seats
The truck has tandem axles under the cargo bed for extra weight.
這輛卡車在貨床下方有串列車軸來承受額外重量。
collocation: tandem axles
The rescue helicopter uses tandem rotors, one in front, one behind.
這架救援直升機使用串列旋翼，一個在前、一個在後。
The theater installed tandem lights along the narrow backstage stairs.
劇院沿著狹窄的後台樓梯裝了串列燈具。
- in-line
A close technical synonym that also emphasizes front-to-back arrangement.
- back-to-front
More descriptive and less standard as a fixed label.
- side-by-side
Describes items placed next to each other instead of front to back.
文法句型
tandem seats
tandem axles
tandem rotors
用法筆記
Common with technical nouns such as seats, axles, rotors, and wheels. It describes physical arrangement, not teamwork; compare adjective sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. describing people, systems, or processes designed to operate together in a coord
聯動的
彼此配合、一起運作的
describing people, systems, or processes designed to operate together in a coordinated way
The lab uses tandem pumps to keep the fish tanks clean overnight.
這間實驗室使用聯動泵浦，讓魚缸整夜保持乾淨。
collocation: tandem pumps
The hospital relies on tandem generators during summer power cuts.
這家醫院在夏天停電時仰賴聯動發電機。
collocation: tandem generators
The museum launched tandem tours online and inside the building.
這家博物館推出了館內與線上同步進行的聯動導覽。
The rescue team ran tandem drills before the storm reached shore.
救援隊在暴風雨抵岸前進行了聯動演練。
- coordinated
Highlights planning and timing, but can involve more than two parts.
- paired
Broader and less specific; it only says there are two linked items.
- joint
Often stresses shared responsibility rather than matched operation.
- independent
Describes systems or actions working separately.
文法句型
tandem pumps
tandem generators
tandem program
用法筆記
This sense focuses on coordinated function or timing. If the meaning is simply that things stand one behind another, use adjective sense 1 or the adverb sense instead.