place
place — 動詞
1. to set someone or something carefully in a chosen spot, often with attention to
放置；擺放
小心地把人或物擺到指定的位置
to set someone or something carefully in a chosen spot, often with attention to where exactly it goes.
Mei placed the warm cake on the kitchen counter to cool.
Mei 把熱蛋糕放到廚房流理台上放涼。
place + object + on/in + location
The nurse placed a small pillow under Mr. Lin's left knee.
護士在 Lin 先生的左膝下方擺了一個小枕頭。
place + object + under + location
Diego placed his hand gently on his daughter's shoulder.
Diego 輕輕地把手放在女兒的肩膀上。
Please place your phones in the basket before the meeting begins.
請在會議開始前把手機放進籃子裡。
The waiter placed two glasses of water in front of Sara and her mother.
服務生把兩杯水放在 Sara 和她媽媽面前。
文法句型
place + object + prepositional phrase of location
用法筆記
More careful and deliberate than 'put'. Subject is usually a person; object is almost always followed by a prepositional phrase saying where.
常見錯誤
2. to end a race, contest, or election at a particular ranking, such as second, fif
名列；排名
在比賽、選舉中以特定名次完成
to end a race, contest, or election at a particular ranking, such as second, fifth, last, or among the top ten.
Anya placed second in the citywide swimming finals last weekend.
Anya 上週末在全市游泳決賽中得到第二名。
place + ordinal + in + event
The Brazilian team placed third at the youth swimming championship in Tokyo.
巴西隊在東京舉辦的青少年游泳錦標賽中名列第三。
place + ordinal + in + named event
Felix placed first in the science fair and won a small trophy.
Felix 在科展中拿到第一名，還贏得了一座小獎盃。
Carlos placed last in his first marathon but felt proud of finishing.
Carlos 第一次跑馬拉松名列最後一名，但完賽讓他覺得很驕傲。
The mayor placed fourth in the election and lost her seat on the council.
市長在選舉中名列第四，因此失去了議會席次。
- withdraw
to drop out before finishing
文法句型
place + ordinal (first / second / third / last)
place + in + competition or 'in the top X'
用法筆記
Intransitive: no direct object. The ordinal (first, second, third, fourth, last) goes directly after 'placed', not after 'in'. Also pairs with 'in the top X'. Without an ordinal or rank phrase, the meaning is unclear in everyday English — bare 'She placed in the contest' belongs only to the horse-racing senses (7 and 8).
常見錯誤
3. to formally request or set up a transaction such as an order, a bet, or an adver
下訂單；下注
正式提出訂單、下注或刊登廣告
to formally request or set up a transaction such as an order, a bet, or an advertisement, usually by contacting the right person or company.
The bakery placed a large order for flour with a local farm.
這家麵包店向當地一家農場下了大筆麵粉訂單。
place an order with + supplier
Hiroshi placed a small bet on the grey horse to win.
Hiroshi 在那匹灰馬身上小小下了一注，賭牠會贏。
place a bet on + something
The shop placed an advertisement in the Sunday newspaper.
這家店在週日的報紙上刊登了一則廣告。
Customers can place an order online or call the store directly.
客人可以線上下訂單，或直接打電話到店裡。
Marta placed a bid of two hundred dollars on the old painting.
Marta 在那幅舊畫上出價兩百美元。
文法句型
place + an order/bet/advertisement (+ with/on/in)
用法筆記
Very limited set of objects: order, bet, bid, advertisement, call. Frequently followed by 'with' (a supplier), 'on' (an event), or 'in' (a publication).
常見錯誤
4. to arrange a job, home, or position for someone, usually through an agency, scho
安插；安置
由機構為某人安排工作、住所或職位
to arrange a job, home, or position for someone, usually through an agency, school, or official body.
The agency placed Sofia in a kindergarten near her new flat.
仲介幫 Sofia 在她新公寓附近的幼兒園安排了工作。
place + person + in + workplace
Social workers placed the two children with a foster family.
社工把那兩個孩子安置到一個寄養家庭。
place + person + with + family
The university placed half of last year's graduates in major hospitals.
這所大學去年有半數畢業生被分發到大型醫院。
Mr. Patel was placed as head of the design team last month.
Patel 先生上個月被任命為設計團隊的負責人。
The charity helps place older workers in part-time jobs.
這個慈善機構幫助年長者找到兼職工作。
文法句型
place + person + in/with + organisation or family
用法筆記
Subject is usually an organisation (agency, school, charity), not the person being placed. Often used in the passive: 'be placed in/with'.
常見錯誤
5. to treat something as having a certain level of value, trust, blame, or attentio
重視；歸咎
賦予某事物價值、信任或責任
to treat something as having a certain level of value, trust, blame, or attention, by giving it that quality through your actions or words.
Director Saito places great importance on punctuality, locking the rehearsal room doors at 9 AM sharp.
Director Saito 非常重視守時，早上九點一到就把排練室的門鎖上。
place + importance/emphasis + on + topic
The new manager places a lot of trust in his junior staff.
新主管非常信任手下的年輕員工。
place trust in + people
The judge placed the blame for the accident on the driver.
法官把這場意外的責任歸咎於那位駕駛。
Critics have placed too much emphasis on the singer's age.
評論者過度強調這位歌手的年齡。
The school places a high value on reading aloud at home.
這所學校非常重視在家朗讀的習慣。
- withdraw
to take back trust or support given earlier
文法句型
place + abstract noun + on + thing
用法筆記
The object is always an abstract noun (importance, emphasis, trust, blame, value, faith), and 'on/in' + the topic almost always follows. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about treating something as important, not about physical placement.
常見錯誤
6. to work out who a person is or where you have met them before, by linking their
想起來；認出
把臉孔或聲音與記憶連結，想起這個人是誰
to work out who a person is or where you have met them before, by linking their face or voice to a memory.
I know that woman from somewhere, but I just can't place her.
我覺得那個女人很面熟，但就是想不起她是誰。
common pattern: can't place + person
Tom recognised the song instantly but couldn't place the singer.
Tom 一聽就認得這首歌，卻想不起來是哪位歌手唱的。
couldn't place + person
Marisa's face looked familiar, yet Dr. Yu struggled to place her.
Marisa 的臉看起來很熟，但 Yu 醫師想了半天還是想不起她是誰。
It took me a moment to place him as the boy from my old class.
我想了一下才認出他就是我以前班上的那個男生。
I finally placed the accent — she was from the same village as my grandmother.
我終於聽出那個口音了——她和我祖母來自同一個村子。
- forget
to lose the memory of who someone is
文法句型
often used in negative or 'can't' forms
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'can/could' in the negative ('can't place', 'couldn't place'), or with effort verbs ('struggle to place', 'try to place'). Subject is the person trying to remember.
常見錯誤
7. in horse racing, to come second in a race, with first being called 'win' and thi
跑第二名
美式賽馬中跑第二名
in horse racing, to come second in a race, with first being called 'win' and third being called 'show'.
Silver Arrow placed at Churchill Downs, beaten only by the favorite from Kentucky.
Silver Arrow 在邱吉爾園馬場跑了第二名，只輸給來自肯塔基州的大熱門。
intransitive: subject is the horse, no object
My uncle bet on Lucky Penny to place, so he won money when she came second.
我叔叔押 Lucky Penny 跑第二，所以她真的跑第二時他就贏錢了。
betting collocation: bet to place
The grey mare placed in three races last season but never crossed the line first.
那匹灰色母馬上一季有三場比賽跑第二名，但從來沒有第一個衝過終點。
If your horse places, the bookmaker pays a smaller amount than for a win.
如果你的馬跑第二名，組頭給的錢會比跑第一名少。
- finish second
plain everyday equivalent
- come second
British everyday equivalent
- win
to finish first
文法句型
place + (in race)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively American horse racing terminology. Distinguish from sense 8: in this narrow American sense, 'place' specifically means second, while in British usage and sense 8 it can mean any of the top three.
常見錯誤
8. in British horse and dog racing, to cross the line in one of the top spots that
跑進前三
英式賽馬中跑進有彩金的前幾名
in British horse and dog racing, to cross the line in one of the top spots that pay out for a place bet — usually the first three.
Northern Star placed at Ascot, finishing third behind two Irish runners.
Northern Star 在 Ascot 馬場跑進前三，最後排名第三，輸給兩匹愛爾蘭來的馬。
intransitive in racing context
Granddad backed three greyhounds to place, and two of them did.
爺爺押了三隻灰狗跑進前三，其中兩隻真的辦到了。
betting collocation: back to place
The trainer was happy that his young colt placed in such a strong field.
馴馬師很高興他的小公馬在這麼強的對手中也能跑進前三。
If a horse places in a six-runner race, you usually get half your odds back.
如果一匹馬在六匹競賽中跑進前三，你通常可以拿回一半的賠率。
- be placed
British: the passive form is also common — 'the horse was placed'
- finish in the frame
British racing slang for the same idea
- be unplaced
to finish outside the paying positions
文法句型
place + (in race)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 7: this British racing use covers any of the top three (the exact range depends on the field size and the bookmaker), whereas the American sense 7 means second specifically. Distinguish from sense 2 in that sense 2 needs an ordinal after the verb ('placed third'), while this racing sense stands alone.
常見錯誤
place — 名詞
1. a city, town, building, or area that you can visit, live in, or point to on a ma
地方；地點
可造訪或居住的城市、建築或區域
a city, town, building, or area that you can visit, live in, or point to on a map.
Kyoto is a beautiful place to visit in autumn.
京都是秋天非常值得造訪的地方。
a place to + verb (infinitive of purpose)
The old library on Maple Street is my favourite place in town.
楓樹街上的舊圖書館是我在城裡最喜歡的地方。
Marcus marked three places on the map where the concerts would be held.
Marcus 在地圖上標出了三個將舉辦演唱會的地點。
The beach near Lina's grandmother's house is a quiet place for reading.
Lina 外婆家附近的海灘是個適合閱讀的安靜地方。
Tokyo is one of the most exciting places on Earth.
東京是地球上最令人興奮的地方之一。
文法句型
a place to + verb
a place for + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Most general sense: any spot you can name or point to. Often takes a defining to-infinitive ('a place to eat') or 'for' phrase ('a place for kids').
常見錯誤
2. the house or apartment where someone lives — usually said in a casual way to mea
家；住處
口語中指某人居住的房子或公寓
the house or apartment where someone lives — usually said in a casual way to mean 'my home' or 'your home'.
Do you want to come over to my place after dinner?
晚餐後要不要來我家坐坐？
informal: my place = my home
Sarah's place is just two stops away on the metro.
Sarah 家搭捷運只要兩站就到了。
We had the meeting at Daniel's place because his living room is bigger.
因為 Daniel 家的客廳比較大，我們就在他家開會。
The Watanabe family is looking for a new place near the park.
Watanabe 一家正在公園附近找新的住處。
I left my keys at your place last weekend.
上週末我把鑰匙忘在你家了。
文法句型
my/your/his/her/their place
用法筆記
Distinct from sense 1 because it always refers to a residence and is mostly informal. Almost always used with a possessive (my, your, Sarah's) — bare 'a place' here would shift the meaning back to sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. in the phrase 'take place', when an event such as a meeting, ceremony, or exam a
舉行；發生
take place：安排好的事發生
in the phrase 'take place', when an event such as a meeting, ceremony, or exam actually occurs at a chosen time, usually as scheduled.
The wedding will take place next Saturday at the old church in Tainan.
婚禮將於下週六在台南那座老教堂舉行。
take place + time/location
Final exams take place every June at the university.
大學的期末考每年六月舉行。
take place + time
The meeting between the two presidents took place behind closed doors.
兩位總統的會晤是在閉門狀態下進行的。
Carnival takes place in February and lasts for five noisy days.
嘉年華每年二月舉行，熱鬧地持續五天。
Sarah was nervous about the interview that would take place the following morning.
Sarah 對於隔天早上要進行的面試感到緊張。
文法句型
[event] + take place
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'take place'. The subject is typically a planned event (meeting, ceremony, exam, performance) rather than an accident or a feeling.
常見錯誤
4. used in 'in place of' to introduce a substitute — the person or thing that is ch
代替
in place of：以某物代替原物
used in 'in place of' to introduce a substitute — the person or thing that is chosen as a replacement for another in a particular situation.
Lina drank green tea in place of coffee during her pregnancy.
Lina 懷孕期間用綠茶代替咖啡。
in place of + noun (substitution)
The chef used olive oil in place of butter to make the cake lighter.
主廚用橄欖油代替奶油，讓蛋糕口感更清爽。
In place of the usual Friday lecture, Professor Tanaka showed a short film.
代替平常的週五講課，Tanaka 教授放了一部短片。
The school sent Mr. Chen to the meeting in place of the principal.
學校派 Chen 老師代替校長出席會議。
Carlos signed the form in place of his elderly father.
Carlos 代替他年邁的父親簽了那份表格。
- instead of
more common in everyday speech; same meaning
- in lieu of
formal; common in legal and business writing
文法句型
in place of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Functions as a two-part preposition: must be followed by a noun phrase (the substitute), with the original it replaces appearing as the prepositional object. Use 'instead of' in casual speech; 'in place of' sounds slightly more formal and is common in writing. Distinguish from sense 5 ('take the place of'): sense 4 is a preposition; sense 5 is a verb phrase whose subject is the substitute.
常見錯誤
5. used in 'take the place of' as a verb phrase: the substitute is the subject and
取代；接替
替代者作主詞接替原物
used in 'take the place of' as a verb phrase: the substitute is the subject and steps into the role the original held, often because that original is gone, broken, or no longer suitable.
Email has largely taken the place of handwritten letters in business.
在商業上，電子郵件已大幅取代手寫信件。
X has taken the place of Y (replacement over time)
A young teacher from Tainan took the place of Mrs. Wong after she retired.
Wong 老師退休後，一位來自台南的年輕老師接替了她的職位。
Nothing can take the place of a parent's love, the social worker told the volunteers.
社工告訴志工們，沒有任何東西能取代父母的愛。
Solar panels are slowly taking the place of coal plants on the island.
在這座島上，太陽能板正在慢慢取代燃煤電廠。
Marcus offered to take the place of his sister at the wedding rehearsal.
Marcus 主動提議在婚禮彩排上代替他妹妹出席。
- replace
shorter and more common; same core meaning
- substitute for
neutral; often used in technical contexts
文法句型
[substitute] + take the place of + [original]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 ('in place of'): sense 5 is a verb phrase ('X takes the place of Y') with the substitute as the active subject, while sense 4 is a preposition ('A in place of B') that simply marks A as the substitute. Often used in 'nothing/no one can take the place of …' to express that something is irreplaceable.
常見錯誤
6. a setting or moment that is suitable, sensible, or proper for a particular activ
適合的場合
從事某活動或話題的合適場所或時機
a setting or moment that is suitable, sensible, or proper for a particular activity, person, or topic.
A school playground is no place for adults to argue loudly.
學校的遊樂場可不是大人大聲爭吵的場合。
no place for + noun/-ing (unsuitable setting)
Daniel said the dinner table was not the place to discuss money.
Daniel 說餐桌上不適合談錢。
the place to + verb
Sara's boss reminded everyone that work was not the place for personal jokes.
Sara 的老闆提醒大家，工作場合不適合開私人玩笑。
A small fishing village is the perfect place to relax after a long week.
忙了一整週後，小漁村是放鬆心情的最佳去處。
This is neither the time nor the place to start that conversation.
現在既不是時間，也不是場合來開始那段對話。
文法句型
the place to + verb
this is no place for + noun
用法筆記
Often appears in negative or evaluative frames: 'no place for…', 'not the place to…', 'the right place to…'. Subject is usually a setting (room, table, meeting, village) or an occasion.
常見錯誤
7. a small spot or point on a surface, on the body, or within a larger area, often
位置；點
表面、身體或大區域內的某個小定點
a small spot or point on a surface, on the body, or within a larger area, often the exact part where something happens or appears.
Lina noticed a sore place on her elbow after the volleyball game.
排球賽過後，Lina 注意到手肘上有一處痠痛的地方。
a place on + body part
There was a dark place on the carpet where the coffee had spilled.
地毯上灑到咖啡的地方留下了一個深色斑點。
Marcus found the place in the book where he had stopped reading.
Marcus 找到了書中他上次停下來的那個地方。
The mechanic pointed to the exact place on the engine that was leaking oil.
技師指著引擎上正在漏油的確切位置。
Rosa rubbed the sore place above her ankle gently.
Rosa 輕輕揉著腳踝上方那塊痠痛的地方。
文法句型
a place on/in/under + noun
用法筆記
Distinct from sense 1: this refers to a small spot within a larger area, not a whole town or building. Frequently followed by a where-clause that pinpoints the spot ('the place where the wire broke').
常見錯誤
8. a seat that you have booked, are using, or normally sit in — for example in a th
座位
在劇院、教室、火車等場所所坐或預訂的位子
a seat that you have booked, are using, or normally sit in — for example in a theatre, classroom, train, or plane.
Please take your places; the play is about to start.
請就座，戲就要開演了。
take your place(s) (theatre / classroom)
Lina saved a place for me near the window on the school bus.
Lina 在校車上幫我留了一個靠窗的位子。
save a place for + person
Marcus moved to a quieter place at the back of the train.
Marcus 換到火車後段一個比較安靜的位子。
The teacher asked the children to return to their places after lunch.
老師要孩子們午餐後回到自己的座位。
There were no places left in the front row of the cinema.
電影院前排已經沒有空位了。
文法句型
take a/your place
save a place for + person
用法筆記
Common in classrooms, theatres, and on public transport. Often plural in announcements ('take your places'). Distinguish from sense 14, which refers to a setting at a dinner table rather than a chair in rows.
常見錯誤
9. a chance to join a school, course, sports team, or workplace, often after being
名額；職位
競爭後獲得的入學、入隊或入職資格
a chance to join a school, course, sports team, or workplace, often after being chosen from many others.
Maya finally won a place at the medical school in Taipei.
Maya 終於申請到台北那所醫學院的名額。
a place at + [school]
Only twenty places are open on the summer art course this year.
今年的暑期藝術課程只開放二十個名額。
places on + [course]
Marcus lost his place on the school football team after the injury.
Marcus 受傷後失去了校隊足球隊的位置。
His uncle offered Yusuf a place in the bakery once he finished school.
Yusuf 的叔叔答應他畢業後可以到那間麵包店工作。
More than five hundred students applied for fifty places in the program.
超過五百名學生申請這個計畫的五十個名額。
文法句型
a place at/in/on [school, team, course, company]
用法筆記
Common in education and recruitment contexts. Distinguish from sense 7 (general spot on a surface) — this sense always implies selection or competition for a limited slot.
常見錯誤
10. used after 'any', 'some', 'no', or 'every' to mean an unspecified location, much
某處；任處
美式口語：接 any、some 後表某處
used after 'any', 'some', 'no', or 'every' to mean an unspecified location, much like 'anywhere' or 'somewhere'.
Carlos could not find his keys any place in the apartment.
Carlos 在公寓裡到處都找不到鑰匙。
any place = anywhere
Let's go some place quiet to talk about the wedding plans.
我們找個安靜的地方聊聊婚禮的計畫吧。
some place = somewhere
There was no place to sit on the crowded bus to Kaohsiung.
前往高雄的公車太擠了，根本沒有地方坐。
Every place we visited in Kyoto had cherry blossoms in bloom.
我們在京都去過的每個地方都開滿了櫻花。
文法句型
any/some/no/every + place
用法筆記
Mainly American and informal. British English usually prefers 'anywhere', 'somewhere', etc. as single words. Do not use in formal writing.
常見錯誤
11. in the phrase 'in place', when a plan, rule, system, or arrangement has been set
已就緒
in place：制度或計畫已建立可運作
in the phrase 'in place', when a plan, rule, system, or arrangement has been set up and is ready to be used or to take effect.
The new safety rules are now in place at every factory in the country.
新的安全規定現在已在全國各工廠實施。
be in place at + [location]
By Monday morning, the team had a backup plan in place for the launch.
到了星期一早上，團隊已為這次發表會準備好備案。
have a plan in place for + [event]
Strict checks are in place to stop dangerous goods entering the port.
港口已實施嚴格的檢查，以阻擋危險物品進入。
The mayor wants better support systems in place before the typhoon season starts.
市長希望颱風季開始前能備妥更完善的支援系統。
Once the funding was in place, building work began the following week.
資金一到位，下週就開始了建築工程。
- established
more formal; stresses that it has been set up after a process
- set up
informal; describes the action that puts something in place
- operational
technical; for systems that are actively running
- lacking
describes the absence of a needed system
文法句型
[plan/system/rule] + be in place
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract noun (plan, system, rule, policy, measure, funding). Distinguish from sense 16: a screw is 'in place' physically; a policy is 'in place' organizationally.
常見錯誤
12. used in 'in place' or 'on the spot' to describe running, jumping, or marching wh
原地
腳動但身體不前進的位置
used in 'in place' or 'on the spot' to describe running, jumping, or marching where the feet move but the body stays at the same point on the ground.
Coach Lin made the soccer team jog in place for two minutes before practice.
Lin 教練在練習前讓足球隊原地慢跑兩分鐘。
fixed phrase: jog/run in place
When the lift broke, Marcus jumped in place to keep his feet warm.
電梯壞掉時，Marcus 原地跳動讓雙腳保暖。
The dance teacher told the children to march in place until the music started.
舞蹈老師要小朋友原地踏步，等音樂響起。
Soldiers were ordered to run in place beside their packs.
士兵被命令在背包旁邊原地跑步。
On rainy mornings, Aunt Rosa skips in place by the kitchen window for exercise.
下雨的早上，Rosa 阿姨會在廚房窗邊原地跳繩運動。
- on the spot
British English equivalent for the same physical action
- stationary
more formal; describes the state rather than the action
文法句型
run/jump in place
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'verb + in place' (run, jog, jump, march, skip in place). American English also uses 'on the spot' for the same idea; British English prefers 'on the spot' in this physical sense.
常見錯誤
13. used in figurative phrases like 'running in place' or 'spinning in place' to des
原地踏步
比喻努力卻沒有進步
used in figurative phrases like 'running in place' or 'spinning in place' to describe working hard at a task or project but achieving no real advance.
After three months of meetings, the design team felt they were running in place.
開了三個月會之後，設計團隊覺得自己一直在原地踏步。
figurative: running in place = no progress
Without new investors, the small bakery has been spinning in place all year.
沒有新投資人，這家小麵包店整年都毫無進展。
Maya complained that her thesis research was just running in place.
Maya 抱怨她的論文研究只是在原地打轉。
The peace talks have been stuck in place since the spring elections.
和平談判從春季選舉之後就一直停滯不前。
- treading water
informal; same metaphor of effort without advance
- stagnating
more formal; emphasises a stalled state
- progressing
moving forward toward a goal
文法句型
run/spin in place (figurative)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 12: this sense is figurative (a project, career, or negotiation makes no progress) while sense 12 is literal physical movement. Common subjects are abstract: talks, research, careers, projects.
常見錯誤
14. the spot at a dining table set for one diner, with their own plate, cutlery, and
餐位；席位
餐桌上一人份的位子，含餐具和盤子
the spot at a dining table set for one diner, with their own plate, cutlery, and glass laid out ready to use.
Rosa set an extra place for her cousin at the Sunday lunch.
Rosa 在週日午餐多擺了一個餐位給她的表弟。
set a place for + person
Each place at the wedding table had a small card with a guest's name.
婚宴餐桌上每個餐位都放了一張寫著賓客名字的小卡片。
Daniel forgot to lay a place for the new neighbour and ran back to the kitchen.
Daniel 忘了幫新鄰居擺餐位，趕緊跑回廚房拿。
Grandma's place at the head of the table was always set with her favourite blue plate.
奶奶在餐桌主位的位子總是擺著她最喜歡的藍色盤子。
The waiter cleared two empty places before bringing dessert.
服務生在端上甜點之前先收走了兩個空著的餐位。
- place setting
the full name; emphasises the plate, knives, forks, and glasses together
- cover
restaurant industry term for one diner's full setting
文法句型
set a place for + person
lay a place
用法筆記
Almost always used in cooking, hosting, or restaurant contexts. Often appears with verbs 'set' or 'lay'. Distinguish from sense 8 (a chair in a row of seats); a 'place' here includes the plate and cutlery, not just the chair.
常見錯誤
15. in the phrase 'out of place', describing something that is sitting in the wrong
格格不入
out of place：與場合不搭
in the phrase 'out of place', describing something that is sitting in the wrong location, or someone or something that does not match the surroundings or situation.
Marcus felt out of place at the formal dinner in his old jeans.
Marcus 穿著舊牛仔褲出席正式晚宴，覺得格格不入。
feel out of place at + [event]
The bright pink sofa looked completely out of place in the dark study.
那張亮粉色沙發放在陰暗的書房裡，看起來完全不搭。
look out of place in + [room]
Aunt Rita's loud joke seemed out of place during the quiet memorial service.
Rita 阿姨在安靜的追思禮拜上開的玩笑，顯得很不合時宜。
A single book lay out of place on the carefully arranged shelf.
整理得整整齊齊的書架上，有一本書擺錯了位置。
Lina felt out of place among the experienced lawyers at her first court hearing.
Lina 第一次出庭時，在資深律師之間覺得格格不入。
- misplaced
physical only; for objects in the wrong location
- awkward
social discomfort; describes the person, not the setting
- inappropriate
more formal; for behaviour or comments that do not fit
文法句型
look/feel/seem + out of place
用法筆記
Almost always used as 'out of place'. Two senses overlap: physical (sofa is in the wrong spot) and social/emotional (a person does not fit in). Context decides which.
常見錯誤
16. in the phrase 'in place', sitting where it should sit, or held firmly so that it
在原位
in place：物品穩固於該在位置
in the phrase 'in place', sitting where it should sit, or held firmly so that it does not move.
Make sure every screw is in place before you switch the machine on.
啟動機器前，請確認每顆螺絲都在原位。
be in place before + [action]
Maya pinned her hair in place with a small silver clip.
Maya 用一個小銀夾把頭髮固定住。
pin in place with + [tool]
Strong tape held the broken window in place during the storm.
暴風雨中，強力膠帶把破掉的窗戶固定住。
The librarian checked that each book was back in place on the shelf.
圖書館員確認每本書都歸回了書架原位。
Two heavy stones kept the tent in place through the windy night.
兩塊大石頭在大風的夜裡把帳篷壓得穩穩的。
- secured
stronger; suggests fastened so it cannot move
- in position
near-equivalent; slightly more formal
- out of place
physical opposite (see sense 15)
- loose
for things that should be held but are not
文法句型
be/stay/hold/keep + in place
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 11 (in place = arranged/ready, abstract). Sense 16 is concrete physical position. If you can point to the object and say 'right there', it's sense 16.
常見錯誤
17. the proper role, right, or duty that society or a situation gives a person — wha
本分；分際
依社會規範該做或可做的事
the proper role, right, or duty that society or a situation gives a person — what they should do, or what they have the standing to do.
As a junior teacher, Hannah felt it was not her place to question how the headmaster ran the school.
身為菜鳥老師，Hannah 覺得校長怎麼治校不是她該過問的事。
it is (not) one's place + to-infinitive
Sarah felt it was her place as the eldest daughter to care for her mother.
身為長女，Sarah 覺得照顧母親是自己的本分。
The young intern knew his place and waited quietly for the senior lawyers to speak.
年輕的實習生很守本分，安靜等資深律師先發言。
Old custom kept women in their place at the back of the temple courtyard.
舊習俗讓女性只能待在寺廟院子的後方，不得逾越分際。
The new manager put the rude clerk firmly in his place at the staff meeting.
新主管在員工會議上嚴厲地讓那位無禮的職員知道自己的分際。
文法句型
it is (not) one's place + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense. Most common in fixed phrases: 'it is (not) one's place to do something', 'know one's place', 'keep/put someone in their place'. The last two often carry a negative tone, suggesting social hierarchy or rebuke.