jam
jam — 縮寫
1. a short written form of Jamaica, used on vehicle registration plates, postal add
牙買加
Jamaica 的縮寫
a short written form of Jamaica, used on vehicle registration plates, postal addresses, or official forms to save space.
The parcel was addressed to 12 Harbour Street, Kingston, Jam., with a return label from Montego Bay.
包裹寄到牙買加京斯敦港街 12 號，回郵地址在蒙特哥灣。
abbreviation in postal address
The minibus had a Jam. sticker on its number plate, showing it was registered in Jamaica.
那輛小巴的車牌上貼著 Jam. 標籤，表示它是在牙買加註冊的。
On the shipping form, Lotte wrote 'Jam.' in the country field and handed it to the customs officer.
Lotte 在報關單的國籍欄寫了「Jam.」，然後交給海關人員。
The guide explained that 'Jam.' on the vehicle plates stands for Jamaica, not for the capital city.
導遊解釋說車牌上的「Jam.」代表牙買加，而不是首都的名稱。
文法句型
abbreviation written as 'Jam.'
jam — 名詞
1. a thick, sweet spread for bread, made from fruit and sugar that are heated toget
果醬
水果加糖熬煮而成的甜抹醬
a thick, sweet spread for bread, made from fruit and sugar that are heated together until the mixture thickens and becomes firm.
Minh spread strawberry jam on his toast and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
Minh 在吐司上抹了草莓果醬，然後給自己倒了一杯柳橙汁。
jam spread on toast
My grandmother makes her own apricot jam every summer and gives jars to the neighbours.
我祖母每年夏天都會自製杏桃果醬，並送給鄰居幾罐。
A pot of raspberry jam was sitting on the kitchen table next to a loaf of fresh bread.
一罐覆盆子果醬放在廚房的桌上，旁邊是一條剛出爐的麵包。
Do you prefer seedless raspberry jam or the kind with whole berries in it?
你比較喜歡無籽的覆盆子果醬，還是那種含有完整果粒的？
文法句型
(a jar of) jam
jam + noun (jam sandwich)
用法筆記
In British English 'jam' usually contains fruit pulp; in American English the term also covers clear fruit preserves sometimes called 'jelly'.
常見錯誤
2. a long line of vehicles on a road that are moving very slowly or have stopped co
塞車；堵車
車輛擁擠動彈不得的狀況
a long line of vehicles on a road that are moving very slowly or have stopped completely because there are too many of them.
Emre was forty minutes late for work because of a terrible traffic jam on the motorway.
Emre 因為高速公路上嚴重的塞車，上班遲到了四十分鐘。
stuck in a traffic jam
The accident on the bridge caused a jam that stretched back for over ten kilometres.
橋上的事故造成了一條長達十幾公里的車陣。
A broken-down lorry near the tunnel entrance created a massive jam during the evening rush hour.
隧道口附近一輛貨車故障，在晚間尖峰時段造成了嚴重的塞車。
The new traffic lights were meant to reduce jams at the junction, but they only made things worse.
新的交通號誌本來要減少路口的塞車，結果反而讓情況更糟了。
- gridlock
a traffic jam so bad that no vehicles can move in any direction
- tailback
British term for a long line of stationary traffic
- congestion
uncountable term for heavy, slow traffic
文法句型
be (stuck) in a jam
cause a jam
用法筆記
Often used in the compound noun 'traffic jam'. The single word 'jam' can also mean a traffic jam when the context is clear.
常見錯誤
3. when a machine part gets trapped or blocked, causing the machine to stop working
卡住
機器零件卡住無法運作
when a machine part gets trapped or blocked, causing the machine to stop working correctly.
The photocopier had a paper jam, so Wren had to open the tray and pull out the wrinkled sheet.
影印機卡紙了，Wren 只好打開紙匣把那張皺巴巴的紙抽出來。
paper jam in photocopier
A jam in the conveyor belt stopped the entire factory production line for nearly an hour.
輸送帶卡住，導致整條工廠生產線停擺了將近一個小時。
Before calling the repair person, try clearing the jam yourself by following the instructions on the screen.
在打電話叫修之前，你可以先試著按照螢幕上的指示自行排除卡住的情況。
A paper jam in the printer caused her report to come out with half the page blank and wrinkled.
印表機卡紙導致她的報告印出來有一半空白且皺巴巴的。
文法句型
a jam in [machine]
clear a jam
用法筆記
Most commonly used with printers and photocopiers ('paper jam'). The verb phrase 'clear a jam' means to remove the stuck object so the machine works again.
4. a difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to escape from, especially one
困境；窘境
難以脫身的麻煩局面
a difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to escape from, especially one caused by one's own actions or bad luck.
Valentina forgot her passport at the hotel and found herself in a real jam at the airport check-in counter.
Valentina 把護照忘在飯店，在機場報到櫃檯前陷入了真正的困境。
be in a jam
The company got into a financial jam after their biggest customer cancelled a major order without warning.
那間公司在最大的客戶無預警取消大筆訂單後，陷入了財務困境。
Tyler knew he was in a jam when the exam covered topics he had not studied at all.
當考題全是自己完全沒讀過的主題時，Tyler 知道自己麻煩大了。
A little help from his cousin got Minh out of the jam he created by double-booking the venue.
表弟幫了一點忙，Minh 就解決了因為重複預訂場地而造成的窘境。
文法句型
be in a jam
get into a jam
get out of a jam
用法筆記
Always used with 'in' or 'into' ('in a jam', 'into a jam'). More informal than 'in trouble' or 'in a difficult situation'. Similar to 'in a fix' or 'in a bind'.
5. a situation where so many people are packed into a space that it becomes very ti
擁擠
空間擠滿人的狀態
a situation where so many people are packed into a space that it becomes very tight and uncomfortable.
There was a real jam of commuters trying to squeeze into the last train carriage before the doors closed.
最後一節車廂關門前，大批通勤族拼命擠進去，搞得車廂內動彈不得。
a jam of [people]
Ayana could barely breathe in the jam of festival-goers packed shoulder to shoulder near the main stage.
Ayana 被擠在音樂祭主舞台前的人群中，肩膀緊貼著旁邊的人，幾乎無法呼吸。
The narrow market alley was a solid jam of shoppers pushing past each other with bags and umbrellas.
狹窄的市場小巷裡擠滿了購物者，他們提著袋子和雨傘互相推擠著前進。
During the New Year countdown, Times Square became such a jam that people could barely lift their arms.
跨年倒數時，時代廣場擠得水洩不通，大家幾乎連手都抬不起來。
文法句型
a jam of [people]
用法筆記
Describes a crowded state, not the crowd itself. For the crowd as a blocking mass, see the BLOCKING CROWD sense (noun 7).
6. an informal musical performance in which musicians play together without followi
即興演奏
未經排練的即興音樂合奏
an informal musical performance in which musicians play together without following a strict plan or set list, often inventing melodies and rhythms on the spot.
After the concert, the band members stayed behind for a late-night jam in the hotel lobby.
演唱會結束後，樂團成員留在飯店大廳進行了一場深夜即興演奏。
late-night jam
Mathieu invited a few friends from the jazz club to his apartment for a jam on Saturday afternoon.
Mathieu 邀請了幾位爵士俱樂部的朋友，週六下午到他公寓來一場即興演奏。
The weekly open-mic night turned into a fantastic jam when three guitarists and a drummer jumped on stage together.
三位吉他手和一名鼓手一起跳上台，每週的開放麥克風之夜變成了一場精彩的即興合奏。
Haruto recorded the whole jam on his phone so the group could listen back and improve their improvisation.
Haruto 用手機錄下了整場即興演奏，這樣團員們可以回放來改進他們的即興技巧。
- jam session
the full compound noun; more formal than just 'jam'
- improv session
used in jazz and theatre, emphasises improvisation
- free play
less common; emphasises the lack of rules
文法句型
have a jam
jam session
用法筆記
Often used in the compound 'jam session'. As a single word, the context (music, musicians, instruments) makes the meaning clear.
7. a tightly packed crowd that stops people from getting past, because it fills a d
阻塞人潮
堵住通道的大量人群
a tightly packed crowd that stops people from getting past, because it fills a doorway, street, or passage completely.
A solid jam of protesters blocked the entrance to the government building, so the staff could not get inside.
一大群抗議者堵住了政府大樓的入口，工作人員無法進入。
a jam of [people] blocking passage
A jam of onlookers blocked the stairs, so Élise could not reach the emergency exit.
Élise 無法到達緊急出口，因為樓梯下聚集了一群圍觀的民眾。
Guards tried to break up the jam of fans pushing against the barriers after the show.
演唱會結束後，保全人員試圖驅散推擠護欄的粉絲人潮。
A jam of journalists crowded the hallway outside the courtroom, making it hard for the lawyers to get through.
一群記者擠在法庭外的走廊上，律師們很難穿過去。
- logjam
originally a pile of floating logs blocking a river; now used for any blocked situation
- bottleneck
a narrow point that causes congestion, not the crowd itself
文法句型
a jam of [people/crowd]
用法筆記
Distinguish from the CROWDED SPACE sense (noun 5): this sense focuses on the crowd itself as a physical barrier that prevents movement, while sense 5 focuses on the uncomfortable state of being packed together.
jam — 動詞
1. to become fixed in one position so that movement is impossible, or to force some
卡住；楔住
使某物卡在固定位置無法移動
to become fixed in one position so that movement is impossible, or to force something into a position where it cannot move.
The window had not been opened for years, and the frame had jammed shut in its tracks.
那扇窗戶已經好幾年沒開過，窗框卡在軌道上動彈不得。
intransitive: thing jams
Ayesha jammed a towel under the door to keep the cold draught from blowing into the bedroom.
Ayesha 用一條毛巾塞在門下，防止冷風吹進臥室。
The lift doors kept jamming halfway closed, so the building manager called an engineer to inspect them.
電梯門老是在一半的地方卡住，管委會只好找技師來檢查。
Lotte jammed a piece of cardboard under the wobbly table leg to stop it from rocking on the uneven floor.
Lotte 在搖晃的桌腳下塞了一片紙板，讓桌子在不平的地板上不再搖晃。
文法句型
something jams
jam something in/on
get jammed
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive: 'get jammed', 'be jammed'. The object that is stuck can be a moving part of a machine (drawer, window, door) or an item wedged in place.
常見錯誤
2. to send out strong radio waves or other signals that stop radio, television, pho
干擾（訊號）
發射干擾波阻止訊號傳送
to send out strong radio waves or other signals that stop radio, television, phone, or radar transmissions from getting through to their intended receivers.
The military used a special device to jam the enemy's radar during the night operation.
軍方使用一種特殊裝置在夜間行動中干擾了敵軍的雷達。
jam [equipment]
Protesters brought equipment that could jam the police radio frequencies in the area.
抗議人士帶來了可以干擾該區域警方無線電頻率的設備。
Thieves sometimes use portable jamming devices to block the signals of car key fobs so that doors cannot be locked.
小偷有時會使用可攜式干擾裝置阻擋汽車鑰匙遙控器的訊號，讓車門無法上鎖。
The government accused the foreign intelligence agency of trying to jam satellite communications during the crisis.
政府指控外國情報機構試圖在危機期間干擾衛星通訊。
- block
more general; can mean preventing any type of transmission, not just by radio interference
- interfere with
less specific; can mean causing partial disruption rather than full blocking
- disrupt
to interrupt or throw into disorder, not necessarily to stop completely
文法句型
jam [signals]
jam [equipment]
用法筆記
Almost always transitive — you jam a signal, frequency, or device. The noun form is 'jamming' (e.g., 'signal jamming equipment').
3. to play music informally with other people, making up melodies, rhythms, and har
隨興合奏
與他人隨興合奏音樂
to play music informally with other people, making up melodies, rhythms, and harmonies as you go rather than following a written score.
Every Thursday evening, a group of local musicians gets together to jam in the basement of the old theatre.
每週四晚上，一群當地音樂人會在舊劇院的地下室聚在一起即興演奏。
jam together / get together to jam
Emre jammed on his electric guitar for hours with a bassist he had met at the record shop that afternoon.
Emre 和一位當天下午在唱片行認識的貝斯手一起用電吉他即興彈了好幾個小時。
The jazz trio invited anyone who played an instrument to come up and jam with them during the second set.
爵士三重奏邀請任何會樂器的人在第二輪表演時上台和他們一起即興演奏。
Wren loves to jam on the piano late at night when the house is quiet and nobody can hear her.
Wren 喜歡深夜時在鋼琴上隨意彈奏，那時屋子很安靜，沒人聽得到她彈錯。
- improvise
more formal and broader in meaning; used in theatre and dance as well as music
- play by ear
to play music without sheet music, not necessarily with others
- freestyle
used mostly for rap and hip-hop improvisation
- rehearse
to practise music following a plan or score
文法句型
jam with [someone]
jam on [instrument]
jam together
用法筆記
Always intransitive — you do not 'jam a song'; you 'jam' (play) or 'jam on a song' (improvise over it). The object is a musical context or instrument, introduced by a preposition.
4. to push or force something into a space that is too small or too tight for it, u
塞入
用力把某物擠進狹小空間
to push or force something into a space that is too small or too tight for it, using effort or pressure.
Tyler jammed his suitcase into the overhead bin and had to push hard to close the latch.
Tyler 把行李箱硬塞進座位上方的行李架，然後用力推才能把扣環關上。
jam [object] into [space]
Rania jammed another book onto the already overflowing shelf, knocking a pile of papers to the floor.
Rania 又塞了一本書到已經滿出來的書架上，結果一堆紙張掉到地上。
The movers jammed the sofa through the narrow doorframe, leaving scuff marks on both sides of the wall.
搬家工人把沙發硬擠過狹窄的門框，在牆壁兩側都留下了刮痕。
Ayesha jammed the key into the rusty lock and turned it with both hands until she heard a click.
Ayesha 把鑰匙用力插進生鏽的鎖孔，用雙手轉動，直到聽見喀嚓一聲。
文法句型
jam something into/in [space]
jam something together
用法筆記
The preposition 'into' is more common than 'in' when emphasising the forceful nature of the action. 'Jam together' means to press two or more things tightly against each other.
5. to fill a space so completely that there is hardly any room left, or for a space
擠滿
把空間塞得再也裝不下
to fill a space so completely that there is hardly any room left, or for a space to become so full that nothing else can fit.
The concert hall was jammed with fans who had queued since early morning to see the band perform.
音樂廳擠滿了粉絲，他們從一大早就在排隊等著看樂團表演。
passive: be jammed with [people]
Commuters jammed the platform during the morning rush, leaving no space for anyone else to stand.
早上尖峰時間，通勤族擠滿了月台，其他人連站的地方都沒有。
Haruto's garage is so jammed with old furniture and garden tools that he cannot park his car inside anymore.
Haruto 的車庫塞滿了舊家具和園藝工具，他再也沒辦法把車停進去了。
The narrow streets of the old town were jammed with tourists taking photographs of the historic buildings.
古城狹窄的街道上擠滿了拍照的遊客，他們對著歷史建築不斷按下快門。
文法句型
be jammed with [people/things]
jam [place]
用法筆記
Very common in the passive voice ('be jammed with [something]'). The active form is less common and often implies people doing the filling ('Fans jammed the hall').
常見錯誤
6. to trap someone's finger, hand, toe, or other body part between two hard surface
夾傷；撞傷
身體部位被夾住或撞到而受傷
to trap someone's finger, hand, toe, or other body part between two hard surfaces, causing a painful pinch or bruise.
Valentina accidentally jammed her finger in the car door when she was getting out of the back seat.
Valentina 下後座時不小心把手指夾在車門裡。
jam [body part] in [something]
The carpenter let out a cry of pain when he jammed his thumb against the workbench with the heavy hammer.
木工師傅用重鎚敲打工作檯時夾到了大拇指，痛得叫了出來。
Minh jammed his toe on the bed frame in the dark and limped to check for swelling.
Minh 在黑暗中一腳趾撞到床架，一拐一拐地走去檢查有沒有腫起來。
Adina jammed her hand in the car window while trying to roll it up quickly.
Adina 在快速搖下車窗時，手被夾住了。
文法句型
jam [body part] in/on [something]
用法筆記
The object is always a body part (finger, thumb, toe, hand). The preposition 'in' is used for trapping inside something (e.g., a door), 'on' or 'against' for hitting a hard surface.