merchant
merchant — adjective
1. relating to the activity of buying and selling goods, especially in large quanti
relating to the activity of buying and selling goods, especially in large quantities between different countries.
The port handled over two million tons of merchant cargo last year.
collocation: merchant cargo / merchant fleet
Gabriel found work on a merchant ship that sailed between Singapore and Cape Town.
The old merchant district still has narrow streets lined with warehouses.
A merchant bank in Singapore lent Wei's toy company enough money to open a second factory.
- commercial
broader in meaning; covers all business activity, not just large-scale trading
- trading
focuses on the act of exchange rather than the business structure
文法句型
merchant + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used before a noun (merchant ship, merchant bank, merchant fleet) and rarely appears as a predicate adjective.
常見錯誤
2. relating to the ships and crews that carry goods for trade as a business, as opp
relating to the ships and crews that carry goods for trade as a business, as opposed to military vessels.
After the ceasefire, many merchant vessels were converted into passenger ferries.
collocation: merchant vessel
Haruto joined the merchant navy to see the world and earn a living.
collocation: merchant navy / merchant marine
The Egyptian navy provided protection for merchant ships traveling through the Suez Canal.
Merchant seamen on cargo ships from Shanghai to Hamburg spend three months away from their families.
- commercial
broader term covering all business shipping, not just the maritime fleet
- civilian
distinguishes non-military ships without specifying their cargo role
- naval
naval vessels are warships; merchant vessels are for trade
文法句型
merchant + noun
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in set phrases: merchant marine, merchant navy, merchant vessel. Not used to describe individual shipping companies or cargo operations.
常見錯誤
merchant — noun
1. a person or company that buys goods in one place and sells them in another, ofte
a person or company that buys goods in one place and sells them in another, often across national borders, to make a profit.
Venetian merchants brought silk and spices from Asia to Europe during the Middle Ages.
Cyrus's family has been in the wine merchant business for three generations.
collocation: wine merchant / grain merchant / timber merchant
Mayumi worked as a timber merchant, buying wood from suppliers in Southeast Asia.
The merchant lost an entire cargo of tea when the ship sank off the coast of India.
Small spice merchants in Mumbai struggled to compete with the large international trading companies.
- trader
broader term; can be small or large scale, local or international
- dealer
often implies a smaller scale or specific commodity (art dealer, car dealer)
- wholesaler
specifically large-scale, selling to retailers rather than end customers
文法句型
[type of goods] + merchant
用法筆記
This sense refers to wholesale or international trading, not to retail shopkeepers (see noun sense 3 'SHOPKEEPER'). The type of goods often appears before the word: wine merchant, coal merchant, silk merchant.
常見錯誤
2. a person who is known for being heavily involved in a particular type of activit
a person who is known for being heavily involved in a particular type of activity, especially one that other people find annoying or unpleasant.
The neighbours called her a gossip merchant because she was always spreading rumours.
collocation: gossip merchant
The press labeled the politician a panic merchant after his alarming speeches about the economy.
collocation: panic merchant / doom merchant
Nikos is a speed merchant who loves taking his sports car out on empty highways.
A gloom merchant at the office, Sade predicts failure for every new project the team proposes.
- enthusiast
neutral or positive; lacks the critical tone of 'merchant' in this sense
- fanatic
stronger and more negative; implies excessive devotion
- addict
suggests a compulsive habit rather than a chosen interest
文法句型
[descriptive noun] + merchant
用法筆記
Always used with a preceding descriptive noun (speed merchant, gossip merchant, panic merchant). Informal and often critical in tone. Does not imply actual trading or commerce.
常見錯誤
3. a person who owns or manages a shop where things are sold directly to anyone who
a person who owns or manages a shop where things are sold directly to anyone who walks in to buy them.
The local merchant offered to donate food to the school's fundraising event.
collocation: local merchant
Zuri bought fresh vegetables from the merchant at the corner market each morning.
Small merchants in the town centre are struggling against competition from the new shopping mall.
The furniture merchant allowed Christopher to pay for the sofa in monthly instalments.
- shopkeeper
the most common modern term; sounds more natural in everyday speech
- retailer
broader term that includes both small shops and large chain stores
- storekeeper
mainly used in American English
- customer
buys from the merchant rather than selling
用法筆記
In modern English, 'shopkeeper' or 'retailer' is more common than 'merchant' for this sense. 'Merchant' may sound slightly old-fashioned in everyday conversation for small retail outlets.
常見錯誤
merchant — verb
1. to buy and sell a particular type of goods as a business activity, especially ac
to buy and sell a particular type of goods as a business activity, especially across national borders.
The family merchanted fine Italian leather in shops across Europe for over a century.
grammar pattern: merchant + [goods] (transitive)
Small trading firms in Ghana merchant locally made crafts to buyers in Europe and America.
Our company merchants handwoven carpets from Afghanistan to customers around the world.
For centuries the port merchanted spices, silks, and precious stones from the Far East.
- buy
purchasing goods rather than selling them
文法句型
merchant + [goods]
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. The simple present forms (merchants) may sound archaic. The verbs 'trade in', 'deal in', or 'sell' are preferred in everyday use.
常見錯誤
2. to act as a merchant by buying and selling goods as one's regular work.
to act as a merchant by buying and selling goods as one's regular work.
Eve merchants in handmade pottery at weekend markets across the region.
grammar pattern: merchant in + [goods] (intransitive)
Vikram used to merchant in rare books before his shop closed.
During the pandemic a few small firms merchanted in medical supplies.
Nicholas merchants in antique furniture but prefers mid-century modern designs.
文法句型
merchant in + [goods]
用法筆記
Even rarer than the transitive verb sense. Almost always followed by 'in' and a type of goods. Considered archaic in most modern contexts; 'deal in' or 'trade' are more natural alternatives.