town
town — 名詞
- townsingular
- townsplural
1. A populated area with homes, businesses, schools, and public buildings that serv
城鎮
比鄉村大但比城市小的居民聚居地
A populated area with homes, businesses, schools, and public buildings that serves as a local centre for the surrounding region.
Minh grew up in a small farming town in the central valley.
Minh 在中央谷地的一個小型農業城鎮長大。
countable: a + [adjective] + town
The nearest town is about ten kilometres down the highway.
最近的一個城鎮距離這條公路大約十公里。
Omar moved to a larger town when he got a job at the factory.
Omar 在工廠找到工作後，就搬到了一個較大的城鎮。
preposition: to + a town
There are three schools and two supermarkets in our town.
我們鎮上有三所學校和兩間超市。
Sana's hometown is a busy port town on the southern coast.
Sana 的家鄉是南部海岸一個繁忙的港口城鎮。
compound: hometown / port town
- small town
- large town
- coastal town
- market town
- home town
- town centre
- town hall
- village
smaller than a town, often with fewer services; in British English, a village usually does not have a market.
- city
larger and more important than a town; often the seat of a regional government.
- settlement
a general, more formal term for any place where people live; can apply to a camp or a hamlet as well.
- countryside
rural land outside towns and villages, where few people live.
文法句型
a + town
常見錯誤
2. The zone within a settlement that contains its main concentration of shops and o
市區；商圈
城鎮裡商店、餐廳、辦公樓集中的區域
The zone within a settlement that contains its main concentration of shops and office buildings.
Jisoo went into town to buy groceries and pick up a parcel.
Jisoo 進城去買菜，順便領了一個包裹。
phrase: go into town
The new cinema in town is showing four films this weekend.
城裡新開的那間電影院這週末要播四部電影。
phrase: in town
Felipe works at a bookstore in the middle of town.
Felipe 在城中心的一家書店工作。
Imani left the office early and headed straight to town for a haircut.
Imani 提早離開辦公室，直接進城去剪頭髮。
phrase: to town
The shops in town stay open until nine o'clock on Fridays.
城裡的商店週五營業到晚上九點。
- in town
- out of town
- go to town
- town centre
- downtown area
- downtown
the same meaning, but standard in American English and usually written as one word.
- city centre
used for larger urban areas; the equivalent zone in a city.
- suburbs
the residential areas on the edge of a town or city, away from the commercial core.
文法句型
in town
to town
down town
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable and usually used without an article (e.g., 'in town', 'to town', 'out of town'). In American English, the equivalent phrase is 'downtown'.
常見錯誤
3. A town that functions as the political, economic, or cultural hub of a particula
中心城市
某國家或地區最重要的城鎮
A town that functions as the political, economic, or cultural hub of a particular area or nation.
Christopher spent the weekend in the main town of the region, visiting museums and galleries.
Christopher 在該地區的主要城鎮度過了週末，參觀博物館和畫廊。
pattern: the main town of [region]
The capital is not always the largest town in a country, but it is the political centre.
首都不一定是一個國家最大的城鎮，但它是政治中心。
Ilan took the train to the principal town of the island for the conference.
Ilan 搭火車前往該島的主要城鎮參加會議。
synonym: principal town
Every province has a chief town where the government offices are located.
每個省份都有一個政府機關所在地的主要城鎮。
- main town
- chief town
- principal town
- town of + [region]
- capital
specifically the seat of government of a country or state; narrower than 'main town'.
- metropolis
a very large, important city, usually with strong cultural or economic influence; more formal.
- principal town
a more formal synonym for the most important town in a region.
文法句型
the + [adjective] + town of + [place]
用法筆記
Often used with 'the' and a following 'of' phrase, e.g., 'the main town of the region'. In some contexts 'chief town' or 'principal town' may be used more formally.
4. The town in which someone currently resides, carries out their daily activities,
居住的城鎮
某人居住或工作的地方
The town in which someone currently resides, carries out their daily activities, or is staying.
Kasia has been out of town all week for a training course in Taipei.
Kasia 整週都不在城裡，去台北參加培訓課程了。
phrase: out of town
Tariro called to say she would be in town for just two days.
Tariro 打電話來說她只會在城裡待兩天。
phrase: be in town
The manager left town early on Friday to visit her family.
經理週五一早就出城去看她的家人。
When the salesman is in town, he always stays at the same hotel near the station.
那位業務員進城時，總是住在火車站附近同一間旅館。
phrase: when + someone + is in town
My brother is new in town and still finding his way around the neighbourhood.
我哥哥剛來這個城鎮，還在熟悉附近的環境。
phrase: new in town
- in town
- out of town
- leave town
- new in town
- be in town
文法句型
out of town
leave town
be in town
用法筆記
In this sense 'town' is usually used without 'the' — 'in town', 'out of town', 'leave town'. Adding 'the' (e.g., 'in the town') shifts the meaning toward the physical settlement (Sense 1).
常見錯誤
5. The residents of a town considered as a collective body that shares reactions, o
全鎮居民
同住在一個城鎮裡的所有人
The residents of a town considered as a collective body that shares reactions, opinions, or decisions.
The whole town turned out to watch the New Year fireworks display.
全鎮的人都出來觀賞跨年煙火秀。
collective: the whole town [verb]
The town was shocked to learn that the old library would be closing down.
鎮民得知老圖書館要關閉時，都感到十分震驚。
passive: the town was [emotion]
Everyone in town helped raise money for the new playground.
鎮上每個人都幫忙募款建造新的遊樂場。
The town voted overwhelmingly to protect the park from development.
全鎮投票壓倒性贊成保護公園，不准開發。
collective verb: the town voted
- the whole town
- the entire town
- the town + [singular verb]
- everyone in town
- community
a broader term that can refer to a group living in any area, not just a town; emphasises shared bonds.
- residents
literal plural; less collective in feel than 'the town'.
- townspeople
slightly old-fashioned but clear; specifically refers to the inhabitants of a town.
文法句型
the whole town
the town + [singular verb]
用法筆記
Used as a collective singular: 'the town has decided', 'the town is celebrating'. The verb is singular even though the referent is many people.
常見錯誤
6. The experience of living in a built-up urban area, seen as a lifestyle that cont
城鎮生活
相對於鄉村而言的城市生活方式
The experience of living in a built-up urban area, seen as a lifestyle that contrasts with rural life.
Samir prefers town life because everything is close and convenient.
Samir 比較喜歡城鎮生活，因為什麼都很近很方便。
modifier: town life
After twenty years on the farm, Aunt Rosa found town living too noisy.
在農場住了二十年後，Rosa 阿姨覺得城鎮生活太吵了。
Many young people leave the countryside and move to town for better jobs.
許多年輕人離開鄉下搬到城鎮去尋找更好的工作機會。
phrase: move to town (no article)
Town dwellers often miss the peace and quiet of the countryside.
住在城鎮的人常常懷念鄉村的寧靜。
compound: town dwellers
Mei-Lin's rent in town costs twice what her cousin pays for a flat in the countryside.
Mei-Lin 在城裡的房租是她在鄉下的表妹所付房租的兩倍。
contrast: town vs countryside cost
- town life
- town living
- town dweller
- town and country
- move to town
- city life
essentially the same meaning but often implies a larger, busier urban environment.
- urban life
more formal; used in sociological or planning contexts.
- country life
rural living, usually with farms and more open space.
- rural life
formal equivalent of 'country life'.
文法句型
town + noun (as modifier)
用法筆記
Typically used without the definite article ('town life', 'town living'). Adding 'the' shifts the meaning to a specific settlement (Sense 1). Often contrasted with 'country' or 'countryside' in set phrases like 'town and country'.
常見錯誤
go to town
idiomTo do something with a lot of energy, enthusiasm, or effort, often spending a lot of money or time on it.
全力以赴；大費周章地做
Iris really went to town decorating the hall for the wedding reception — there were flowers everywhere.
The kids went to town with the glitter and glue, covering every piece of paper in sight.
paint the town red
idiomTo go out and enjoy yourself in a lively, sociable way, especially by visiting bars, clubs, or restaurants at night.
狂歡作樂；盡情玩樂
After passing their final exams, Minh and his friends went out to paint the town red.
The team won the championship, so the whole group went out to paint the town red.
out of town
idiomAway from the town or city where you normally live or work, usually for a short period.
不在城裡；外出
Dr. Patel is out of town this week, so her appointments have been rescheduled.
The Garcia family bought a small weekend cottage a few hours out of town.
(out) on the town
idiomVisiting restaurants, clubs, theatres, and other entertainment venues for a fun night out.
外出玩樂；夜生活
Tariro and her colleagues went out on the town to celebrate the company's tenth anniversary.
The visitors wanted a night on the town, so we booked a table at a popular restaurant.
The only option, choice, or opportunity available in a particular situation.
唯一的選擇；獨門生意
That bus company is the only game in town for getting to the airport.
When the factory closed, the supermarket became the only game in town for jobs.
town and gown
idiomThe relationship between a university town's permanent residents and its students or academic staff, sometimes involving tension or cooperation.
大學城居民與師生的關係
Town-and-gown relations improved after the university started offering free classes to local residents.
The annual festival is a chance to bridge the gap between town and gown.
To put a lot of effort, energy, or money into doing something.
全力以赴
Mia went to town on her birthday cake with colorful icing.
Did Brian really go to town on that new gaming setup?
a/the man about town
idiomA man who often attends fashionable social events in a city.
時尚社交男
Diego is a man about town, always at the best parties.
In his tailored suit, he looked every inch the man about town.
同根字
- township名詞B2
- townspeople名詞B2
- townsfolk名詞C1
- downtown副詞A2
- hometown名詞A2
- townie名詞C1
常見搭配
名詞搭配
- town centre
- town hall
- town square
- town council
- town planning
- town life
常用片語
- town and country
- town and gown
- go to town
- paint the town red
- out on the town
- the talk of the town
介系詞搭配
- in town
- out of town
- to town
- into town
- around town