navigation
navigation — noun
1. The skill or process of planning where a vehicle (such as a ship, plane, or car)
The skill or process of planning where a vehicle (such as a ship, plane, or car) will go and then guiding it safely to that place.
Ayana studied navigation for three years before she became a ship captain.
studied + noun for [duration] to show learning
The plane's navigation system guided it safely through the storm.
navigation system (common collocation)
GPS has made navigation much easier for drivers in unfamiliar cities.
Before setting sail, the crew checked all navigation equipment carefully.
Christopher learned basic navigation by reading maps and using a compass.
- piloting
more specialized; implies hands-on control of a ship or aircraft, whereas navigation can include planning a route
- wayfinding
broader and less technical; used for finding a path on foot or by car without instruments
- guidance
a more general term that can refer to advice or direction given by a person or system
- steering
simpler and more basic; refers only to the physical act of turning the wheel, not route planning
文法句型
navigation + of + vehicle
navigation + system/equipment
常見錯誤
2. The design and structure that allow a person to explore a site, application, or
The design and structure that allow a person to explore a site, application, or other digital space and reach the content or area they need.
The website's navigation bar was easy to find at the top of the page.
navigation bar (common computing collocation)
Gita found the app navigation confusing because the menu kept changing.
Good website navigation helps users find the information they need in seconds.
The latest update improved navigation by adding clearer category labels.
Ezra showed his grandmother how to use the tablet's simple navigation system.
- browsing
focuses on looking through content casually, whereas navigation implies a goal-oriented search
- wayfinding
borrowed from physical contexts; used in UX design for how users orient themselves in a digital space
文法句型
navigation + bar/menu/link
site/website + navigation
easy/difficult + navigation
用法筆記
In computing contexts, 'navigation' frequently combines with 'bar', 'menu', 'link', or 'system' to describe the interface elements that allow users to explore a site or application.
常見錯誤
3. The movement of ships along a particular water route, considered as a flow of wa
The movement of ships along a particular water route, considered as a flow of water traffic.
Heavy navigation through the Suez Canal slowed down cargo delivery.
heavy navigation (collocation for busy sea traffic)
The port authority monitors all navigation in the shipping channel.
Navigation on the river stopped after the bridge collapsed into the water.
International navigation requires ships to follow strict safety rules.
In winter, navigation along the northern sea route becomes dangerous.
- shipping
broader; refers to the transport of goods by ship, while navigation focuses on the movement and flow of vessels
- maritime traffic
more formal and explicit; used in official statistics and port reports
文法句型
heavy/dangerous/international + navigation
navigation + on/along + waterway
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used in maritime, legal, or news contexts. It is less common in everyday conversation than the other two senses.