middleman
middleman — 名詞
1. a person or business that connects a producer of goods with shops or customers,
中間商
在生產者與零售商之間轉賣獲利者
a person or business that connects a producer of goods with shops or customers, earning money from the difference between the buying price and the selling price.
Tariq's family runs a small business as a middleman between coffee farmers and city supermarkets.
Tariq 家裡經營小本生意，擔任咖啡農與市區超市之間的中間商。
middleman between [producer] and [buyer]
By cutting out the middleman, the crafts workshop sold furniture directly to customers online.
這間工坊繞過中間商，直接在網路上將傢具賣給消費者。
common idiom: 'cut out the middleman'
Small farmers often complain that middlemen take most of the profit from their crops.
小農時常抱怨中間商拿走了他們作物的大部分利潤。
Manuela found that using a middleman for imported fabrics raised the final cost too much.
Manuela 發現進口布料若透過中間商，最終成本會高出太多。
The logistics team worked as a middleman, coordinating shipments between factories and retail stores.
物流團隊擔任中間商，負責協調工廠與零售店之間的出貨。
- intermediary
More formal and neutral in tone; used in legal and business writing
- wholesaler
Specifically refers to someone who buys in bulk from producers and sells to shops, not directly to end customers
- broker
Arranges transactions for a commission but typically does not own the goods; common in finance and real estate
- distributor
A company that handles the movement of products from the producer to the retail level, often with exclusive rights in a region
- end customer
The final person who uses the product, at the opposite end of the supply chain from the producer
- direct seller
A producer or brand that sells directly to customers without intermediaries
文法句型
middleman + between [producer] and [buyer]
middleman in [industry/trade]
用法筆記
Often used with a negative tone — middlemen are sometimes seen as adding unnecessary cost rather than providing a real service. The phrase 'cut out the middleman' reflects this view.
常見錯誤
2. a person who passes information or sets up agreements between two sides that pre
中間人
協助不願直接溝通者傳話或促成協議
a person who passes information or sets up agreements between two sides that prefer not to talk to one another directly.
The landlord and the tenant asked a middleman to handle the talks.
房東與房客請了一位中間人來處理協商。
middleman between disputing parties
Sivan acted as a middleman between the film studio and the community during filming.
Sivan 在電影拍攝期間擔任片商與居民之間的中間人。
In sensitive talks, companies hire a middleman to keep discussions open without direct confrontation.
遇到敏感的談判時，公司會聘請中間人維持對話，避免直接衝突。
During the labour dispute, a neutral middleman helped both sides reach a fair agreement.
勞資糾紛期間，一位中立的中間人幫助雙方達成公平協議。
Rafael knew both groups well, so he offered to be the middleman for the negotiation.
Rafael 對兩個團體都很熟悉，因此自願擔任協商的中間人。
- go-between
Less formal and more personal; often used for romantic or social matchmaking
- mediator
More formal; specifically describes someone who helps resolve a disagreement, often trained or certified
- intermediary
Neutral, flexible term that works for both commercial and personal contexts
- negotiator
Focuses on the bargaining aspect; a negotiator may represent only one side rather than acting as a neutral link
文法句型
middleman + between [party] and [party]
act as a middleman in [discussions/talks]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (TRADE INTERMEDIARY): sense 2 does not involve buying or selling goods for profit. The focus here is on communication and arrangement between parties. In formal contexts, 'mediator' or 'go-between' may be preferred.