whitebait
/ˈwaɪtbeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwaɪtbeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈ(h)wīt-ˌbāt How to pronounce whitebait (audio)/ (ame, mw)
whitebait — 名詞
1. tiny, underdeveloped fish of various species, covered in flour or batter and dee
炸銀魚
裹粉油炸後整條食用的小魚
tiny, underdeveloped fish of various species, covered in flour or batter and deep-fried until crisp, then eaten whole together with the head, bones, and tail
Minh ordered a plate of whitebait at the restaurant and squeezed lemon on top.
Minh 在餐廳點了一盤炸銀魚，並把檸檬汁擠在上面。
collocation: a plate of whitebait
The market stall sold fresh whitebait, so Charlotte bought some to fry at home.
市場攤位賣的是新鮮銀魚，Charlotte 便買了一些回家油炸。
Whitebait is often served with bread and butter and a pinch of salt on top.
炸銀魚通常會搭配奶油麵包一起上桌，並在頂端撒少許鹽。
Ignacio had never tried whitebait before, but the crunchy texture surprised him.
Ignacio 從未吃過炸銀魚，但酥脆的口感讓他驚喜不已。
Caleb dusted the whitebait with seasoned flour before lowering them gently into the hot oil.
Caleb 在銀魚上撒上調味麵粉，再輕輕放入熱油中。
- fry
a more general biological term for newly-hatched fish of any species; less common on restaurant menus
文法句型
a serving / plate of whitebait
whitebait + verb (singular)
用法筆記
Whitebait is almost always referred to as a mass noun (no plural form). You say 'a portion of whitebait', not 'two whitebaits'. In British English it is closely associated with pub and seaside-town menus.
常見錯誤
2. the underdeveloped, small-sized young of herrings, sprats, and similar marine fi
幼鯡魚
鯡科魚類的幼魚階段
the underdeveloped, small-sized young of herrings, sprats, and similar marine fish species, caught before they reach adult size and often used as food or bait
Biologists studying the sprat population noted that whitebait numbers dropped sharply that spring.
研究鯡魚種群的生物學家注意到，那年春天幼鯡魚的數量急遽下降。
scientific register: whitebait numbers
The whitebait season on the south coast runs from late winter to early spring.
南岸地區的幼鯡魚漁季從冬末一直持續到早春。
collocation: whitebait season
At that stage the fish are still whitebait, transparent and only a few weeks old.
那個階段的魚仍屬於幼鯡魚，身體透明且僅有數週大。
Salma read a report on how climate change affects whitebait migration in the North Sea.
Salma 閱讀了一份關於氣候變遷如何影響北海幼鯡魚遷徙的報告。
Whitebait from the Thames estuary was once a prized catch sold at London fish markets.
泰晤士河口的幼鯡魚曾是備受珍視的漁獲，在倫敦魚市上出售。
文法句型
the whitebait of [fish species]
用法筆記
This sense is more technical than sense 1. It refers specifically to the early life stage of herring and sprat species, not to the prepared dish. In fisheries biology, whitebait of different species are sometimes distinguished by size and season.
常見錯誤
3. any of various tiny fish from fresh or salt water that are prepared and eaten wh
小魚；幼魚
整條食用的小型魚類
any of various tiny fish from fresh or salt water that are prepared and eaten whole, often cooked in the same way as traditional European whitebait
In coastal parts of Asia, tiny fish like whitebait are dried and added to soups.
在亞洲沿海地區，像銀魚這類的小魚會曬乾後加入湯中。
collocation: dried whitebait
Kemi tried whitebait at the Lagos market, where river fish fry in spicy oil.
Kemi 在拉哥斯市場品嚐了銀魚，那裡的小河魚用辣油煎炸。
The shop sells several kinds of whitebait, both from the sea and from lakes.
這家店販售好幾種銀魚，有來自海洋的，也有來自湖裡的。
Tara sprinkled dried whitebait over her rice bowl and said it tasted like her grandmother's.
Tara 在飯碗上撒了些乾燥銀魚，說吃起來就像祖母做的一樣。
Whitebait from the Mekong region is sun-dried and sold in bundles at village markets.
湄公河地區的銀魚經過日曬乾燥後，成捆地在鄉村市集上出售。
文法句型
(as) whitebait
a type of whitebait
用法筆記
This is a broader sense than sense 1, covering any small fish — not just European herring or sprat — that are eaten whole. The fish may be from freshwater or saltwater and may be prepared by drying, frying, or salting depending on local cuisine.