gap

gap — 名詞

1. an area in or between two objects where there is nothing solid, so that light, a

1.名詞B2
釋義

縫隙；缺口

物體之間或內部的空隙

an area in or between two objects where there is nothing solid, so that light, air, or small things can pass through

例句

Sunlight streamed through a narrow gap in the curtains and woke the children.

陽光穿過窗簾的窄縫照進來，喚醒了孩子們。

gap in [physical object]

The builders left a small gap between the floorboards so the wood could expand in warm weather.

工人在木地板之間留了一條小縫，讓木材在天氣暖和時可以膨脹。

gap between [two things]

同義詞
  • opening

    more general; a gap is a specific type of opening, usually narrow

  • space

    broader; gap implies something missing between things that should be closer

  • hole

    a gap is usually long and narrow; a hole is often round or into something

文法句型

gap + between + plural noun phrase

gap + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Countable. Often used with a prepositional phrase beginning with 'between' or 'in' to specify the location.

常見錯誤

❌There is a gap on the fence.
✅There is a gap in the fence.
💡use 'in' for openings within a surface, and 'between' for the space separating two objects.

2. the stretch of field separating two baseball outfielders, where a strongly hit b

2.名詞B2
釋義

外野空隙

棒球內外野手之間的空地

the stretch of field separating two baseball outfielders, where a strongly hit ball can roll past them for extra bases

例句

The batter hit the ball into the gap between left and center field for a double.

打者將球平飛打進左外野和中間手之間的空隙，形成一支二壘安打。

hit into the gap

A fast runner can turn a hit into the gap into a triple if the outfielders are slow to react.

打進外野空隙的球，跑得快的選手可以跑成三壘安打，前提是外野手反應較慢。

文法句型

hit into the gap

gap between [outfielders]

用法筆記

Used mainly in American baseball commentary and coaching. Not common in everyday conversation outside of sports contexts.

3. the space in ice hockey between the puck carrier and the closest defender who is

3.名詞B2
釋義

防守間距

冰球持球員與防守員之間的空間

the space in ice hockey between the puck carrier and the closest defender who is trying to block their progress

例句

The defenseman closed the gap quickly, forcing the puck carrier to pass before reaching the blue line.

後衛迅速縮小防守間距，迫使持球員在到達藍線前就傳球。

close the gap

A skilled forward can exploit a small gap between defenders to create a clear scoring opportunity.

技術好的前鋒能利用防守球員之間的小空隙，創造出絕佳的得分機會。

文法句型

close the gap

gap + between + player and player

用法筆記

Specific to ice hockey strategy discussion. 'Close the gap' is the most common collocation in this sense.

4. something that is missing or not complete, so that the whole thing is not as goo

4.名詞B2
釋義

缺口；缺失

不完整或缺少的部分

something that is missing or not complete, so that the whole thing is not as good or useful as it should be

例句

The professor identified a gap in the student's understanding of basic algebra concepts.

教授發現學生在基礎代數概念的理解上存在缺口。

gap in [knowledge/understanding]

After the accident, Cyrus had gaps in his memory of what had happened that evening.

車禍之後，Cyrus 對當時晚上發生的事情有記憶缺口。

同義詞

文法句型

gap + in + noun phrase

fill + a/the gap

用法筆記

Countable. Frequently used in educational, professional, and research contexts to describe incomplete knowledge or resources.

常見錯誤

❌There is a gap of knowledge about this topic.
✅There is a gap in knowledge about this topic.
💡when referring to missing parts of a body of knowledge, use 'in', not 'of'.

5. an opportunity to create or sell something that people want but that no company

5.名詞B2
釋義

市場缺口

尚未被滿足的產品或服務需求

an opportunity to create or sell something that people want but that no company currently offers

例句

The startup identified a gap in the market for affordable electric bikes for city commuters.

這家新創公司發現市場上對於通勤族使用的平價電動自行車存在缺口。

gap in the market

Rachel's business idea came from spotting a gap in the local delivery service for organic groceries.

Rachel 的創業點子來自於發現當地有機生鮮配送服務的市場缺口。

同義詞
  • niche

    a gap is an unmet need; a niche is a specialized segment of a market

  • opportunity

    broader; a market gap is a specific type of business opportunity

文法句型

gap + in + the market / industry

fill + a gap

用法筆記

Common in business and entrepreneurship contexts. The fixed phrase 'gap in the market' is the most frequent form of this sense.

6. a large difference between two groups, amounts, or opinions, especially one that

6.名詞B2
釋義

差距；分歧

兩者之間顯著的差異

a large difference between two groups, amounts, or opinions, especially one that causes problems or is hard to reduce

例句

The gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen in many countries around the world.

世界各地許多國家的貧富差距持續擴大。

gap between [groups]

Saira's parents struggled to understand the generation gap between themselves and their teenage daughter.

Saira 的父母很難理解自己與正值青春期的女兒之間的代溝。

generation gap

同義詞
  • disparity

    more formal and emphasizes unfairness

  • divide

    suggests a separation that is hard to cross

  • difference

    more neutral; gap implies a large or problematic difference

反義詞

文法句型

gap + between + plural noun phrase

generation gap

pay gap

wealth gap

用法筆記

Countable. Often used in social commentary about inequality (wealth gap, gender gap) or disagreements (opinion gap). 'Bridge the gap' is a common idiom meaning to reduce differences.

常見錯誤

❌There is a big gap among the two groups.
✅There is a big gap between the two groups.
💡use 'between' for two groups, not 'among'.

7. the time between two events or activities, often used when someone chooses to do

7.名詞B2
釋義

空檔；間隔

兩件事之間的一段時間

the time between two events or activities, often used when someone chooses to do something outside their normal routine

例句

After high school, Ayana decided to take a gap year to travel through Southeast Asia and volunteer.

高中畢業後，Ayana 決定花一年空檔年到東南亞旅行並做志工。

gap year

There was a short gap of about three months between leaving her old job and starting the new one.

離開舊工作和開始新工作之間有大約三個月的空窗期。

gap between [time periods]

同義詞
  • break

    more general and can be any length; gap often implies a planned pause

  • hiatus

    more formal, often used for pauses in creative or professional work

  • interval

    more neutral; gap can feel longer or less structured than an interval

文法句型

gap + between + noun phrases (jobs, events)

gap year

gap + in + career/studies

用法筆記

Countable. 'Gap year' is a fixed phrase common in British and Australian English for a year taken between school and university. For other periods, specify the duration (e.g. 'two-year gap').

gap — 動詞