city
city — 名詞
1. a very big town with many homes, shops, offices, and places to work
城市
大型城鎮，人口密集
a very big town with many homes, shops, offices, and places to work
Theo moved to a big city after finishing university to find a better job.
Theo 大學畢業後搬到一個大城市，想找更好的工作機會。
move to a/the + city for [purpose]
Aiko took the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka and spent the afternoon exploring Dotonbori's street-food stalls.
Aiko 從東京搭新幹線到大阪，下午在道頓堀的街頭小吃攤到處逛。
concrete scene: named person + specific city + specific action
Ravi moved to Berlin last year and still loves exploring the different shops and parks every weekend.
Ravi 去年搬到柏林，到現在還是很喜歡每個週末探索不同的商店和公園。
The city council approved a plan to build more bike lanes across the area.
市議會通過了一項在整個地區增設自行車道的計畫。
Every morning thousands of people ride the train into the city for work.
每天早晨，數千人搭火車進城上班。
- town
smaller than a city; less formal
- metropolis
a very large, important city; more formal and dramatic
- urban centre
neutral, descriptive term for any densely built-up area
- village
much smaller than a city
- countryside
the rural area outside cities
文法句型
the + city
in + a/the + city
a + adj + city
常見錯誤
2. a UK settlement that became a city because it has a bishop's cathedral, not beca
主教城
英國擁有主教座堂的傳統城市
a UK settlement that became a city because it has a bishop's cathedral, not because it is large or got official city status recently
Chester is a historic cathedral city in northwest England with Roman walls.
Chester 是英格蘭西北部一座歷史悠久的主教座堂城市，擁有羅馬時期的城牆。
Leila was surprised that Wells is called a city because it has a beautiful cathedral.
Leila 發現 Wells 因為有一座美麗的主教座堂而被稱為城市，感到很驚訝。
cathedral city as UK-specific concept — cathedral + defines + city status
Tourists spent the afternoon exploring the narrow streets of the cathedral city before visiting the medieval market.
觀光客花了一下午探索這座主教座堂城市的狹窄街道，然後去逛中世紀市集。
Tourists visit Bath to see its Roman baths and explore the beautiful cathedral city.
遊客造訪 Bath 欣賞羅馬浴場，並探索這座美麗的主教座堂城市。
- town
a smaller settlement, but in the UK 'town' can also be used informally for a city
文法句型
a/the + city + in + [UK location]
city + with + a cathedral
用法筆記
This sense is specific to the UK and Ireland. It refers to a traditional historical status linked to the presence of a cathedral, not to the modern size or population of the town. A settlement granted city status by a royal charter in the 20th century does not necessarily have a cathedral.
常見錯誤
3. the officials and departments that manage and make decisions for a city, includi
市政府
城市的管理機構
the officials and departments that manage and make decisions for a city, including elected members, the mayor, and administrative staff
The city voted to spend an extra two million dollars on public schools.
市政府投票通過額外撥款兩百萬美元用於公立學校。
the city + collective verb (voted / decided / announced)
City officials announced a new recycling programme for all neighbourhoods.
市府官員宣布了一項適用於所有社區的新回收計畫。
The mayor represents the city at national conferences about housing policy.
市長在全國住房政策會議上代表市政府發言。
In April the city sent workers to repair cracks in the pavement along Elm Street near the elementary school.
四月，市政府派工人到 Elm Street 小學附近修補人行道上的裂縫。
- municipality
formal legal term for a city's local government
- city council
the elected assembly that makes decisions for a city
- local government
broader term covering all levels of administration in a city
文法句型
the city + [singular/plural verb]
the city + [verb of decision or action]
用法筆記
Often used in news reports and official contexts. When 'the city' is the subject of a verb (e.g. 'the city decided', 'the city announced'), it treats the city government as a single decision-making body. The verb can be singular or plural depending on whether you see the government as a unit or as a group of people.
常見錯誤
4. the financial district in central London where major banks, insurance companies,
倫敦金融城
倫敦金融中心及其從業人員
the financial district in central London where major banks, insurance companies, and stockbrokers are based; also the financial industry and its workers considered as a group
On Monday morning traders at Barclays on Lombard Street watched their screens as the London Stock Exchange opened.
週一早上，Lombard Street 上 Barclays 銀行的交易員盯著螢幕，看著倫敦證券交易所開盤。
traders in the City + watched + financial market opening
Yusuf, a currency analyst in the City, checked the FTSE 100 index before his morning coffee.
Yusuf 是倫敦金融城的貨幣分析師，他在喝早咖啡前先查看了 FTSE 100 指數。
Leila works as a financial analyst in the City of London.
Leila 在倫敦金融城擔任金融分析師。
Amara walked past the Bank of England on Threadneedle Street to reach her new office in the City.
Amara 走過 Threadneedle Street 上的英格蘭銀行，前往她在倫敦金融城的新辦公室。
- the Square Mile
informal name for the City of London, referring to its small geographical area
- Wall Street
the US equivalent — the financial district in New York City
文法句型
the City (of London)
the City + [singular verb]
用法筆記
Almost always capitalised as 'the City' (or 'the City of London'). It is both the physical district (the Square Mile) and the financial institutions located there. Frequently used as a collective noun: 'The City expects...', 'The City reacted...'. This sense is distinct from the broader meaning of 'London' as a capital city.
常見錯誤
5. every resident of a particular city viewed collectively, especially when they sh
全城居民
城市中的所有居民
every resident of a particular city viewed collectively, especially when they share an emotion, reaction, or experience together
The whole city celebrated when the local team won the national championship.
全城居民在當地隊伍贏得全國錦標賽時共同慶祝。
the whole city + verb of collective emotion
When news of the earthquake reached the neighbourhood in Sendai, the whole city fell silent for a moment.
當地震的消息傳到位在仙台的社區時，整座城市頓時陷入一片寂靜。
Nearly the entire city lost electricity during the powerful typhoon last night.
昨晚的強烈颱風導致幾乎整個城市的居民都停電了。
The city showed its support by clapping for hospital workers every evening.
全城居民每天晚上鼓掌，向醫護人員表達支持。
- the population
more neutral and statistical
- the people
simpler and more direct
- the community
emphasises shared identity and belonging
文法句型
the whole/entire + city + [singular verb of emotion or action]
用法筆記
Used as a collective noun treating all residents as a single group with a unified feeling or action. Common with verbs of emotion (celebrated, mourned, was shocked, welcomed) and in news headlines. The pronoun for the city is usually 'it'/'its', not 'they'/'their'.
常見錯誤
6. a town officially granted city status by a government, which gives it special le
法定城市
依法獲得城市地位的行政區
a town officially granted city status by a government, which gives it special legal powers under a charter
The small town applied to the state government for official city status.
這個小鎮向州政府申請正式的法定城市地位。
apply for city status
When the population of Oakdale reached ten thousand in 2022, the town council began applying to become a city.
2022 年 Oakdale 的人口達到一萬人時，鎮議會開始申請成為法定城市。
become + a city
Milton officially became a city in 2023 after years of campaigning by residents.
Milton 經過居民多年的爭取後，於 2023 年正式成為法定城市。
After the state granted city status to Oak Creek in 2023, residents lined up to vote in their first mayoral election.
2023 年州政府授予 Oak Creek 法定城市地位後，居民排隊參加了首次市長選舉投票。
- municipality
broader legal term for any incorporated town, city, or village
- incorporated area
formal US term for a place with its own local government
文法句型
become + a city
grant + city status
apply for + city status
用法筆記
More common in North American legal and administrative contexts than in everyday British conversation. The requirements for city status vary by country — in the US each state sets its own rules; in Canada the threshold is typically population-based; in the UK city status is granted by the monarch on advice of the government.