target

/ˈtɑːɡɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɑːrɡɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtär-gət/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtɑː.ɡɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɑːr.ɡɪt/ (ame, ipa)

target — 名詞

  • targetsingular
  • targetsplural

1. a flat surface marked with coloured circles that people shoot at during practice

1.名詞B1
釋義

靶子

射擊練習用的標的物

a flat surface marked with coloured circles that people shoot at during practice, or any physical object or location used as a mark for weapons such as guns or bows

例句

Amihan aimed her bow carefully and hit the centre of the target.

Amihan 小心地拉弓,射中了靶心。

hit the centre of the target — archery context

The sound of targets being hit echoed from the shooting range behind the hospital.

被擊中的靶子發出的聲響,從醫院後方的靶場傳了過來。

passive: targets being hit

同義詞
  • bullseye

    specifically the centre of a target, not the whole object

  • mark

    more general; can mean any visible object used as a target, often in informal settings

  • butt

    a mound or wall used as a target for archery or shooting practice — much narrower and less common

常見錯誤

The soldier aimed at the target and shooted.
The soldier aimed at the target and shot.
💡'shoot' is an irregular verb; its past form is 'shot', not 'shooted'.

2. the particular person, group, or audience that a product, advertisement, service

2.名詞B1
釋義

目標對象

產品或活動所鎖定的人群

the particular person, group, or audience that a product, advertisement, service, or message is designed to reach

例句

The new magazine's target is women who enjoy cooking and gardening at home.

這本新雜誌的目標對象是喜歡在家做菜和園藝的女性。

noun: target + is + [group]

Advertisements for baby products clearly identify their target as new parents.

嬰兒用品的廣告很清楚地把目標對象設定為新手父母。

identify their target as [group]

同義詞
  • audience

    broader — anyone who reads, watches, or listens, not necessarily the intended receiver

  • demographic

    a statistical group of people defined by age, income, location, etc.; more technical and data-driven

  • market

    focuses on commercial potential and buying behaviour rather than the communication target

用法筆記

Often placed before another noun to form a compound: 'target audience', 'target market', 'target customer', 'target demographic'. In this compound pattern the word functions as an attributive noun (modifier).

3. a person or group that others criticize, make fun of, or treat badly

3.名詞B2
釋義

批評對象

遭受批評或嘲弄的人

a person or group that others criticize, make fun of, or treat badly

例句

After the product recall, the company became the target of angry customers and journalists.

產品召回之後,那家公司成了憤怒的顧客與記者的批評對象。

became the target of [group]

Tamar was an easy target for jokes because of her bright purple jacket.

Tamar 因為她那件亮紫色外套,很容易成為大家開玩笑的對象。

an easy target for [something]

同義詞
  • victim

    stronger implication of harm or injustice; the person has been hurt, not just criticised

  • scapegoat

    someone unfairly blamed for the mistakes of others; narrower than 'target'

  • butt

    mainly used in the fixed phrase 'butt of a joke'; less common outside that pattern

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the fixed expression 'easy target' (someone who is vulnerable to criticism or attack). Common collocating verbs: 'become a target', 'make someone a target', 'be a target for/of'.

常見錯誤

He was target of their jokes.
He was the target of their jokes.
💡The definite article 'the' is required in this expression.

4. a specific result, level, or number that you plan to achieve within a certain pe

4.名詞A2
釋義

目標

想要達成的結果或水準

a specific result, level, or number that you plan to achieve within a certain period, especially in business, finance, education, or personal development

例句

Élise set a target of reading one book every week for the whole year.

Élise 設下一個目標:一整年每週讀一本書。

set a target of + [gerund phrase]

The sales team reached their annual target three months before the deadline.

業務團隊在截止日期前三個月就達成了年度目標。

reached / missed / exceeded target

同義詞
  • goal

    more general and personal; can be abstract ('my goal is happiness'), while 'target' is specific and measurable

  • objective

    more formal; common in business and military planning

  • aim

    suggests general direction of effort rather than a precise figure

用法筆記

Common verbs paired with this sense: 'set a target', 'reach a target', 'meet a target', 'miss a target', 'achieve a target', 'exceed a target'. A 'target' in this sense is always measurable and concrete, unlike 'goal' which can be more abstract.

常見錯誤

I made a target to lose weight.
I set a target of losing five kilograms in two months.
💡'Set' is the correct verb, and measurable details are needed.

target — 動詞