vampires
vampires — 名詞
- vampiressingular
- vampiresesplural
1. In folklore and horror fiction, a dead body that leaves its grave after dark and
吸血鬼
傳說中夜間吸血的死者
In folklore and horror fiction, a dead body that leaves its grave after dark and drinks the blood of living people to survive.
Caleb watched an old horror film about vampires that attack a small village in Transylvania.
Caleb 看了一部關於吸血鬼攻擊羅馬尼亞小村莊的舊恐怖電影。
collocation: vampire + attack a village
Kemi's little brother wore a vampire costume for Halloween, with plastic fangs and a black cape.
Kemi 的弟弟在萬聖節打扮成吸血鬼，戴著塑膠尖牙和黑色披風。
In the old legend, a vampire could not enter a home unless someone inside invited it in.
根據傳說，除非屋內有人邀請，否則吸血鬼無法進入任何人家。
Many old European towns tell stories of vampires that rose from local cemeteries at midnight.
許多歐洲古城都有關於吸血鬼在午夜從當地墓穴中爬出來的故事。
In the novel, the vampire sleeps in a wooden coffin by day and hunts only after sunset.
小說中的吸血鬼白天睡在木棺裡，日落之後才出來獵食。
- bloodsucker
less formal; often used as an insult rather than to describe the mythical creature
- undead
broader category that includes vampires, zombies, and ghosts
文法句型
vampire + verb (attack, bite, rise)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the plural (vampires) when referring to the creatures as a type or species.
常見錯誤
2. Someone who takes advantage of other people by using up their money, time, or en
剝削者
佔他人便宜的人或組織
Someone who takes advantage of other people by using up their money, time, or energy without giving anything useful back.
Bao called his landlord a vampire because she raised the rent but never fixed the broken heater.
Bao 稱他的房東是吸血鬼，因為她每年加房租卻從不修理壞掉的暖爐。
metaphorical use: like a vampire draining resources
The online streaming service was called a corporate vampire for charging customers hidden fees on every transaction.
這家線上串流服務因為每次交易都向客戶收取隱藏費用而被稱為企業吸血鬼。
After months of unpaid overtime, Anthony realised his boss was an energy vampire who fed on his time.
經過數月無償加班後，Anthony 意識到他的老闆是個消耗他時間的能量吸血鬼。
Those payday loan companies are vampires that prey on people who are already struggling to pay their bills.
那些發薪日貸款公司就像吸血鬼，專門剝削已經在繳費邊緣掙扎的人們。
Paloma stopped volunteering when she saw the chairperson was a vampire who stole other people's ideas.
Paloma 發現委員會主席是個竊取他人點子的吸血鬼之後，便不再去開會了。
- parasite
more general; describes anyone who lives off others without contributing
- bloodsucker
informal; stronger negative emotional tone
- predator
focuses on the harm done to victims, not the benefit taken
- benefactor
someone who gives help or money generously
文法句型
vampire + of + noun
用法筆記
Used as a critical metaphor; the subject is commonly a manager, employer, landlord, or large company.
常見錯誤
vampires — 形容詞
- vampirespositive
- more vampirescomparative
- most vampiressuperlative
1. Relating to or featuring vampires, as found in stories, films, television shows,
吸血鬼的
與吸血鬼傳說有關的
Relating to or featuring vampires, as found in stories, films, television shows, or other works of fiction.
Erik lent me a vampire novel set in Tokyo, where the creatures hide among ordinary office workers.
Erik 借給我一本以現代東京為背景的吸血鬼小說，故事中的吸血鬼隱藏在普通上班族之中。
vampire + noun (novel, film, series)
The vampire movie won an award for its amazing makeup and the dark, foggy castle set.
那部吸血鬼電影因為出色的化妝技術和陰暗霧氣瀰漫的城堡場景而獲獎。
Hoa's favourite vampire series is about a family trying to live peacefully among humans.
Hoa 最喜歡的吸血鬼影集講述一個試圖與人類和平共處的家族故事。
Tourists visit that Romanian castle every year because of its connection to vampire folklore from the region.
每年都有遊客前往那座羅馬尼亞城堡，因為它與當地的吸血鬼傳說有關。
文法句型
vampire + noun
用法筆記
This adjective form is always used before a noun (attributive) and cannot follow a linking verb like 'is' or 'seems'.
2. Describing an electrical device or appliance that uses a small amount of electri
待機耗電的
關機後仍消耗電力的
Describing an electrical device or appliance that uses a small amount of electricity even when turned off, or describing the energy wasted in this way.
Devika unplugs her laptop charger every morning to reduce vampire power that wastes electricity overnight.
Devika 每天早上拔掉筆記型電腦充電器，以減少夜間浪費電力的待機耗電。
compound: vampire power / vampire energy
The guest room television is a vampire device that wastes about fifty dollars per year on standby power.
客房裡的電視機是典型的待機耗電裝置，每年待機電費大約要五十美元。
Felipe bought a power strip with a switch to cut off vampire energy from all his devices.
Felipe 買了一個有開關的延長線，這樣就能一次切斷所有裝置的待機耗電。
Older phone chargers are vampire appliances that keep drawing power even when nothing is plugged in.
舊款手機充電器是典型的吸血鬼設備，即使沒有連接任何裝置也會持續耗電。
- energy-efficient
describes devices that minimise power use
文法句型
vampire + noun (device, energy, power)
用法筆記
A relatively new meaning that has become more common with growing awareness of energy waste. The noun it modifies is usually related to electricity: power, energy, device, appliance, load.