niche
niche — 形容詞
1. designed for or appealing to a small, specific group of people rather than the g
小眾的
針對特定小眾族群的
designed for or appealing to a small, specific group of people rather than the general public — used especially about products, services, or creative works that target a narrow audience.
Samir runs a niche coffee shop that only sells single-origin beans from Ethiopia.
Samir 經營一家只販售衣索比亞單一品種咖啡豆的小眾咖啡店。
niche + noun (coffee shop) describing a specialized business
The magazine covers niche topics like rare orchid cultivation that most readers have never seen.
這本雜誌報導的主題非常小眾，像是稀有蘭花的栽培，大多數讀者從未看過。
niche + noun (topics) for specialized subject matter
Though the film was too niche for mainstream cinemas, it found a loyal audience online.
雖然這部電影太小眾，無法在主流電影院上映，但在網路上找到了一批忠實觀眾。
A niche skincare brand can succeed by targeting customers with very specific allergies.
一個小眾護膚品牌可以透過鎖定對特定成分過敏的客戶來成功經營。
Eri designs furniture for a niche market of people who work standing up.
Eri 設計的家具鎖定一個小眾市場——習慣站著工作的人。
- specialized
neutral, broader — less about small audience size and more about focused expertise
- boutique
same register (B2), but usually describes small businesses with curated selections rather than any product
- select
more about exclusivity and high quality than narrow appeal
- mainstream
appealing to the general public, the opposite of niche
文法句型
niche + noun (attributive)
be + niche (predicative)
用法筆記
Frequently used attributively (before a noun). In predicative position ('too niche', 'very niche'), the meaning can be slightly informal.
常見錯誤
niche — 名詞
1. a job, role, or area of activity that fits a person's skills and personality per
合適的位置
最適合個人才能與個性的角色或職位
a job, role, or area of activity that fits a person's skills and personality perfectly, so that they feel comfortable and do well.
After years in sales, Christopher found his niche as a high school art teacher.
在業務部門工作多年後，Christopher 找到了最適合他的位置——高中美術老師。
find + possessive + niche as + [role]
Working with rescued animals was the niche Élise had always been looking for.
照顧 rescued 動物正是 Élise 一直以來尋找的合適位置。
The company helped Owen discover his niche in data analysis rather than customer service.
這間公司幫助 Owen 發現他最擅長的位置是數據分析，而非客戶服務。
Faisal finally found his niche in the publishing world as an editor of science fiction.
Faisal 終於在出版界找到了自己的位置——科幻小說的編輯。
文法句型
find + possessive + niche
possessive + niche
niche as + noun
niche in + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used with a possessive determiner (my, his, her, their, our) or the definite article when referring to a specific person. 'Find one's niche' is the most common fixed expression.
常見錯誤
2. a small but distinct section of a larger market, defined by the specific needs o
利基市場
市場中特定的小眾區塊
a small but distinct section of a larger market, defined by the specific needs or preferences of the customers it serves.
The company carved out a niche for itself by making affordable electric bicycles.
這家公司透過製造平價的電動自行車，為自己開創了一個利基市場。
carve out a niche for + [oneself] — create a market position
Kofi's publishing house found a profitable niche in West African cookbooks.
Kofi 的出版社在西非食譜書市場中找到了一個有利可圖的利基市場。
niche in + [product category]
Small bakeries often succeed by filling a niche that large supermarkets ignore.
小型烘焙坊的成功之道，往往是填補大型超市忽略的利基市場。
The app serves a niche in the fitness market for people over sixty years old.
這款應用程式服務於六十歲以上族群的健身利基市場。
Antonia spotted a niche for eco-friendly packaging among local restaurants.
Antonia 發現當地餐廳對環保包裝的需求，形成了一個利基市場。
文法句型
niche in + [market/industry]
niche for + [product/service]
carve out + a + niche
fill + a + niche
常見錯誤
3. a hollow area or recess built into a wall, often designed to hold a statue, orna
壁龕
牆壁上用來擺放物品的凹洞
a hollow area or recess built into a wall, often designed to hold a statue, ornament, or piece of furniture.
A small stone statue of a lion sat in a niche above the old fireplace.
舊壁爐上方的壁龕裡擺放著一尊小石獅雕像。
niche above + [feature] — indicating position
The builder created a niche in the bathroom wall for shampoo bottles.
建築師在浴室牆上做了一個壁龕，用來放置洗髮精瓶罐。
niche in + [wall] for storing things
Each side of the church entrance has a niche containing a figure of a saint.
教堂入口兩側各有一個壁龕，裡面各有一尊聖人雕像。
Museum staff placed the ancient vase inside a well-lit wall niche.
博物館人員將那只古花瓶放在一個光線充足的牆壁龕中展示。
文法句型
niche in + [wall/room/surface]
niche above/below/beside + [location]
用法筆記
This is the original, literal meaning from which all other senses of 'niche' developed metaphorically.
4. a role, situation, or way of life that suits a person well and gives them a sens
安身之處
適合自己且感到舒適的角色或生活狀態
a role, situation, or way of life that suits a person well and gives them a sense of belonging — one they gradually settle into over time.
After years of travelling, Marta found her niche in a quiet village by the sea.
旅行多年後，Marta 在一個寧靜的海邊村莊找到了自己的安身之處。
find + possessive + niche in + [place] — settling into a lifestyle
The retired professor created a peaceful niche for himself in the university library.
退休教授在大學圖書館裡為自己打造了一個安身之處。
Moving to the countryside helped Layla and her family find a slower, happier niche.
搬到鄉下後，Layla 和家人找到了節奏較慢、更快樂的生活方式。
Putri's niche in the community was organising weekly meals for elderly neighbours.
Putri 在社區中的任務是每週為年長鄰居準備餐點，這是她感到自在的位置。
文法句型
find + possessive + niche
create + a + niche
settle into + a + niche
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (PERFECT ROLE): sense 1 is specifically about a career or professional role, while this sense is broader — it includes one's whole lifestyle, social role, or personal situation.
5. the specific role and position of a type of plant or animal within its natural e
生態位
物種在環境中的特定角色與功能
the specific role and position of a type of plant or animal within its natural environment, including what it eats, where it lives, and how it interacts with other species.
The honeybee's ecological niche includes pollinating flowers while collecting nectar.
蜜蜂的生態位包括在採蜜的同時為花朵授粉。
ecological niche — standard compound noun in ecology
When a species loses its ecological niche, it may struggle to survive.
當一個物種失去它的生態位時，就可能難以生存。
Antelopes in Africa and kangaroos in Australia fill similar ecological niches on different continents.
非洲的羚羊和澳洲的袋鼠在不同大陸上扮演相似的生態位。
Chidi studied the niche of the deep-sea octopus to understand how it finds food.
Chidi 研究深海章魚的生態位，以了解牠如何尋找食物。
文法句型
ecological niche
niche of + [species]
fill + an + ecological niche
occupy + a + niche
常見錯誤
niche — 動詞
1. to place or position someone or something in a particular spot, especially one t
安置於
放置在精心挑選或隱蔽的位置
to place or position someone or something in a particular spot, especially one that is carefully chosen or feels sheltered and protected.
The architect niched the bronze statue in a small alcove where morning light would hit it.
建築師將那尊銅像安置在一個清晨陽光會照射到的小凹室裡。
niche + [object] + in + [location] — active transitive use
The stone cottage was niched among the pine trees at the edge of the valley.
那棟小石屋被安置在山谷邊緣的松樹間。
passive: be niched among + [features]
Stone benches are niched into the sides of the garden walls for quiet reading spots.
花園圍牆的側面嵌入了石凳，作為安靜的閱讀角落。
The small shrine was niched into the cliff face high above the water.
那座小神社被安置在高出水面很多的峭壁表面上。
文法句型
be niched in/among/between + [location]
niche + [object] + in/among + [location]
用法筆記
Very rare in everyday speech; found mainly in descriptive or literary writing about architecture, landscape, or interior design. The passive construction ('be niched in/among') is more common than the active form.