patron

patron — 名詞

1. someone who helps an artist, event, charity, or other cause by giving money, inf

1.名詞C1
釋義

贊助人

出錢或出力支持活動的人

someone who helps an artist, event, charity, or other cause by giving money, influence, or public backing.

例句

A local bank became the main patron of the summer music festival.

一家在地銀行成了那場夏季音樂節的主要贊助人。

patron of + event or organization

For twenty years, Mrs. Lin was a generous patron of young painters.

二十年來，林太太一直是年輕畫家的慷慨贊助人。

同義詞
  • sponsor

    often used for financial support of an event, team, or person

  • benefactor

    usually suggests generous giving, often to a charity or school

  • backer

    less formal; often used for business or political support

  • supporter

    broadest term; not always linked to money or status

反義詞
  • opponent

    someone who works against a cause or plan

  • critic

    someone who expresses disapproval rather than support

用法筆記

Often used in art, charity, and public-life contexts, especially for people or groups that give money or status. Distinguish from sense 2: a patron here supports the work itself, not simply buys a ticket or meal.

常見錯誤

❌She is a patron for local artists.
✅She is a patron of local artists.
💡after 'patron', 'of' is the usual preposition for the people or work being supported.
❌The museum's patrons just bought tickets and left.
✅The museum's patrons donated money to support its work.
💡in this sense, patrons help fund or back the institution.

2. someone who goes to a business such as a cafe, bar, library, or hotel to use its

2.名詞B2
釋義

顧客；常客

到某店或場所消費的人

someone who goes to a business such as a cafe, bar, library, or hotel to use its services or buy things there, often more than once.

例句

Several patrons waited outside the cafe before it opened at seven.

好幾位顧客在那家咖啡館七點開門前就在外面等。

patrons of a shop, bar, or cafe

The bartender already knew most patrons by name.

那位酒保早就認得大多數常客的名字。

同義詞
  • customer

    the usual general word for someone who buys from a business

  • client

    more common when a professional service is provided

  • guest

    used especially for hotels and some restaurants

  • shopper

    used mainly for people buying goods in shops

用法筆記

Common in formal notices for restaurants, bars, libraries, and hotels, and often appears in the plural. Distinguish from sense 1: these patrons use the service, but they are not sponsors.

常見錯誤

❌I was patron at that bar for years.
✅I was a patron of that bar for years.
💡with a singular count noun, you normally need an article.
❌The library needs more patrons to pay for a new building.
✅The library needs more donors to pay for a new building.
💡in this sense, patrons are users of the service, not people giving money for a project.