date
date — 名詞
1. a specific day shown on a calendar, written as numbers and words for the day, mo
日期
日曆上的特定日子
a specific day shown on a calendar, written as numbers and words for the day, month, and sometimes year.
We moved into our new apartment on the same date as Meera's birthday.
我們搬到新公寓的那天正好是 Meera 的生日。
The wedding invitation did not include the exact date of the ceremony.
婚禮邀請函上沒有寫明典禮的確切日期。
collocation: exact date
Please write today's date at the top of the application form.
請在申請表最上方寫上今天的日期。
Can you remind me what date the library books are due back?
你可以提醒我圖書館的書什麼時候到期嗎？
- day
more general; 'day' can mean any day of the week, while 'date' specifies the number
常見錯誤
2. a particular year, especially when it is written as a number.
年份
特定的年分
a particular year, especially when it is written as a number.
The vase on the shelf is from the date 1789 according to the museum label.
根據博物館的標籤，架子上的花瓶來自西元 1789 年。
Historians cannot agree on the exact date of the ancient king's birth.
歷史學家無法就這位古代國王的確切出生年份達成共識。
Coins often show the date they were made on one side.
硬幣上通常會在其中一面標示製造年份。
The architect carved the building's completion date into the stone wall.
建築師將建築物的完工年份刻在石牆上。
- year
more common for talking about a year alone; 'date' is slightly more formal
用法筆記
In this sense, 'date' refers to a year only, whereas sense 1 refers to a full calendar day including month and day number.
常見錯誤
3. two calendar parts — the month and the year written together — used when no spec
年月
月份和年份
two calendar parts — the month and the year written together — used when no specific day number is given or needed.
Mira graduated in June 2018 and started work the following month.
Mira 在 2018 年 6 月畢業，隔月就開始工作了。
collocation: in [month] [year]
The letter was marked with the date of November 1952, not a specific day.
信上標示的日期是 1952 年 11 月，沒有寫明具體哪一天。
Nikos remembers only the date of the party — December 2024 — but not the day.
Nikos 只記得派對的月份和年份是 2024 年 12 月，但不記得是哪一天。
Can you tell me what date the report covers? It only says March 2023 at the top.
你能告訴我這份報告涵蓋的日期嗎？上面只寫了 2023 年 3 月。
- time period
broader; can refer to any length of time, not just month + year
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 uses only month + year (e.g. 'March 2021'), while sense 1 includes a specific day number (e.g. '15 March 2021').
4. a pre-arranged social outing where two people get together because they have or
約會
男女之間的社交約會
a pre-arranged social outing where two people get together because they have or hope for a romantic connection, often sharing a meal or an activity.
Omar asked Linh out on a date to the new Thai restaurant downtown.
Omar 約 Linh 去市中心新開的泰式餐廳約會。
collocation: ask someone out on a date
Their first date was at a small coffee shop near the park.
他們第一次約會是在公園附近的一家小咖啡店。
collocation: first date
Lucía was nervous about her blind date because she knew very little about him.
Lucía 對她的相親感到很緊張，因為她對對方所知甚少。
Going on a double date with friends can take the pressure off a little.
和朋友一起進行雙對約會可以稍微減輕壓力。
- rendezvous
more formal or literary; suggests a secret or carefully planned meeting
- meeting
neutral; does not imply romance
常見錯誤
5. a person who you are having a romantic relationship with and meet socially on a
約會對象
與你約會的人
a person who you are having a romantic relationship with and meet socially on a regular basis.
Yael brought her date to the office holiday party last Friday.
Yael 帶她的約會對象一起去參加辦公室的聖誕派對。
collocation: bring a date
Cyrus told his roommate that his date would arrive at seven o'clock.
Cyrus 告訴室友他的約會對象會在七點到達。
I have not met my brother's new date yet, but I hear she is very kind.
我還沒見過哥哥的新約會對象，但我聽說她人很好。
When Amani introduced her date to her parents, everyone got along well.
當 Amani 向父母介紹她的約會對象時，大家都相處得很融洽。
- partner
more neutral and broader; can refer to a long-term romantic partner without specifying gender
用法筆記
In this sense, 'date' refers to the person, not the event. 'Boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' is more common in longer relationships; 'date' is used for newer or more casual partnerships.
常見錯誤
6. a scheduled public performance, especially of music, theatre, or a similar enter
演出
排定的表演活動
a scheduled public performance, especially of music, theatre, or a similar entertainment event.
The band's date at the jazz club was completely sold out within hours.
該樂團在爵士俱樂部的演出在幾小時內就全部售罄。
collocation: date at [venue]
The singer added a second date in Chicago after the first show sold out.
這位歌手在芝加哥加開了一場演出，因為第一場門票已經賣光了。
Jude checked the tour dates online to see if the band was playing nearby.
Jude 上網查了巡演日程，看看樂團是否會在附近演出。
The theatre announced three new dates for the spring comedy show.
劇院為春季喜劇表演新增了三場演出日期。
- engagement
more formal; used especially for professional performances
- show
more general; refers to the performance itself rather than its scheduling
用法筆記
Common when a performer or group has multiple scheduled appearances. Often used with modifiers like 'tour date', 'show date', or 'concert date'.
7. a sweet, dark-brown item harvested from certain palm trees and commonly eaten as
椰棗
棕櫚樹的甜果實
a sweet, dark-brown item harvested from certain palm trees and commonly eaten as a dried snack; each piece has one hard seed inside.
Meera added chopped dates to her oatmeal for natural sweetness.
Meera 在她的燕麥片裡加了切碎的椰棗來增加天然的甜味。
Dried dates are a popular snack in many Middle Eastern countries.
椰棗乾是許多中東國家常見的零食。
collocation: dried dates
Feng bought a box of fresh dates at the market and shared them with his colleagues.
Feng 在市場買了一盒新鮮椰棗，和同事們一起分享。
The recipe calls for dates, almonds, and a little honey blended together.
食譜需要將椰棗、杏仁和少許蜂蜜攪拌均勻。
- date fruit
explicitly distinguishes the fruit from other meanings of 'date'
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun ('date' / 'dates'), it refers to the fruit as a food item. As a countable noun ('a date'), it refers to one individual fruit.
常見錯誤
date — 動詞
1. to write the current day's date on a letter, check, document, or other written i
註明日期
在文件上寫下日期
to write the current day's date on a letter, check, document, or other written item, usually by hand or with a stamp.
Marco dated the contract before passing it to the client for signature.
Marco 在合約上註明日期後，才交給客戶簽名。
Please remember to date all your receipts when you make a purchase.
購物時請記得在所有收據上寫下日期。
The letter was dated the first of March but arrived a week later.
那封信的日期寫著三月一日，但一週後才送達。
Élise forgot to date her cheque, so the bank returned it to her.
Élise 忘了在支票上寫日期，所以銀行把支票退了回來。
- stamp
more specific; implies using a rubber stamp with a date
文法句型
date + noun
be dated + time
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('The application must be dated and signed'). Also used in the past participle form 'dated' as an adjective ('a dated document').
常見錯誤
2. to discover or decide the age of an object or event, especially through scientif
測定年代
判斷物品的製作年代
to discover or decide the age of an object or event, especially through scientific methods such as carbon testing or historical analysis.
The archaeologists used carbon testing to date the wooden tools found at the site.
考古學家使用碳定年法來測定遺址中木製工具的年代。
pattern: date + noun + using [method]
Scientists dated the volcanic rock to about five thousand years ago.
科學家測定這些火山岩大約形成於五千年前。
pattern: date + noun + to [time]
Researchers at the lab used chemical analysis to date the pottery fragments from the dig site.
實驗室的研究人員使用化學分析來測定挖掘現場的陶器碎片的年代。
The bones were dated using a combination of geological and DNA analysis.
這些骨頭是透過地質分析和 DNA 分析相結合來測定年代的。
- determine the age of
more formal and explicit about the process
文法句型
date + noun
date + noun + to + time
用法筆記
Common in academic and scientific contexts. The object is usually an object, fossil, rock, or document whose creation time is unknown.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The expert dated the painting from the 1800s.' — This is actually acceptable, but be careful: 'date from' (phrasal verb) can also mean 'originate from,' which overlaps.
3. to go out together with a person on repeated social outings because you share a
約會交往
與某人談戀愛約會
to go out together with a person on repeated social outings because you share a romantic interest in each other.
Nala and Jack have been dating for almost two years now.
Nala 和 Jack 已經交往將近兩年了。
intransitive: have been dating [duration]
Astrid is dating someone she met at a cooking class last semester.
Astrid 正在和一位她上學期在烹飪課認識的人約會。
transitive: date someone
Camila and Joon started dating after working together on a community project.
Camila 和 Joon 在共同參與社區專案後開始約會。
Linh told her friends she is not ready to date anyone seriously right now.
Linh 告訴朋友們她現在還不想認真和任何人交往。
- go out with
slightly more informal; very common in everyday speech
- see
informal; often implies a less committed relationship
- break up with
the opposite of starting or continuing a dating relationship
文法句型
date + noun
date someone
date each other
用法筆記
When used intransitively ('They are dating'), the relationship is usually known from context. When transitive ('He is dating her'), the object specifies the partner.
常見錯誤
4. to gradually begin to look or seem old-fashioned, so that people no longer consi
過時
變得不再流行
to gradually begin to look or seem old-fashioned, so that people no longer consider something modern or stylish.
Science textbooks date quickly because new discoveries are made every year.
科學教科書很快就會過時，因為每年都有新發現。
adverb: date quickly
Technology like this dates within a few years of its release.
像這樣的科技產品在推出幾年內就會過時。
pattern: date within [time]
The design of the building has dated badly compared to newer structures nearby.
與附近較新的建築相比，這棟大樓的設計已經明顯過時了。
Fashion trends date very fast, but classic styles often stay popular.
時尚潮流很快就會過時，但經典風格通常依然受歡迎。
- become outdated
more formal; emphasizes loss of relevance rather than style
- go out of style
informal; focuses specifically on fashion or trendiness
- stay modern
opposite of becoming dated or old-fashioned
用法筆記
Usually describes objects, styles, technology, or ideas — not people (use 'get old' or 'age' for people). Often used with adverbs like 'quickly' or 'badly'.
常見錯誤
5. to make someone or something look clearly old or from a particular earlier perio
顯露年紀
顯示出某人或某物的年齡
to make someone or something look clearly old or from a particular earlier period, especially through visible signs like style, colour, or wear.
Her old-fashioned hairstyle dates her more than the clothes she wears.
她那過時的髮型比衣服更顯現出她的年紀。
pattern: [feature] dates [person]
The orange carpet and wooden wall panels really date the hotel lobby.
那張橘色地毯和木質牆板讓飯店大廳看起來很有年代感。
Using slang from twenty years ago can date a writer's dialogue very quickly.
使用二十年前的俚語會讓作者筆下的對白很快暴露時代感。
The style of the car's dashboard dates it to the early nineteen-nineties.
這輛車儀錶板的樣式顯示它來自九○年代初期。
- give away one's age
idiomatic; specifically about people revealing how old they are
- keep young
opposite effect; makes something look newer or fresher
文法句型
date + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (DETERMINE AGE). Sense 2 is about using science or research to find an age; sense 5 is about visible features that unintentionally reveal age. The subject is a visible characteristic, not a person doing analysis.