quarter
quarter — 動詞
1. to take a whole item and split it into four pieces of roughly the same size
切成四份
把物品切成大小相近的四塊
to take a whole item and split it into four pieces of roughly the same size
Nellie quartered the apple and shared it with her three children.
Nellie 把那顆蘋果切成四份，分給她的三個孩子。
active voice: quarter + food item
The recipe says to quarter the potatoes before putting them into the pot.
食譜上說要先將馬鈴薯切成四份，再放入鍋中。
The butcher quartered the whole chicken so it would fit in the roasting pan.
肉販把整隻雞切成四塊，這樣才放得進烤盤。
The chef quartered each ripe tomato and fanned the slices across a large white plate.
主廚將每顆成熟的番茄切成四份，並將切片扇狀排列在白色大盤上。
文法句型
quarter + noun phrase (object that can be divided)
用法筆記
Used mainly for food items such as fruit, vegetables, and meat. The resulting pieces do not have to be mathematically exact, but they should be similar in size.
常見錯誤
2. to provide someone, especially members of a military force, with a place to stay
安置；駐紮
為（尤指軍人）提供臨時住所
to provide someone, especially members of a military force, with a place to stay or live, often temporarily
The army quartered the new recruits in an old barracks near the training ground.
軍隊把新兵安置在訓練場附近的一座舊軍營裡。
army quartered + troops + in + place
During the campaign, the soldiers were quartered in abandoned houses for the winter.
在戰役期間，那些士兵被安置在廢棄的房屋裡過冬。
passive: soldiers were quartered in [place]
Families near the battlefield were sometimes required to quarter officers in their homes.
戰地附近的家庭有時候必須在家裡安置軍官住宿。
The general quartered his troops at a farm on the outskirts of the village.
將軍把他的部隊駐紮在村莊外圍的一個農場裡。
Noor's great-grandmother once quartered a group of visiting soldiers in the family barn.
Noor 的曾祖母曾經把一批過路的士兵安置在自家的穀倉裡。
- house
Less formal; common in both military and civilian contexts
- accommodate
More general; covers any type of lodging arrangement
文法句型
quarter + someone + in/at + place
be quartered + in/at + place
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice. The place of lodging is introduced by 'in' or, less often, 'at'. In modern English, this sense is mostly limited to military contexts.
常見錯誤
quarter — 名詞
1. each of the four same-sized portions that a whole thing or amount can be divided
四分之一
整體等分為四份的其中一份
each of the four same-sized portions that a whole thing or amount can be divided into
Astrid cut the apple into four quarters and gave one to each child.
Astrid 將蘋果切成四等份，每個小孩分到一塊。
collocation: cut into quarters
Nearly a quarter of the students at Linh's school come from farming families.
Linh 的學校裡將近四分之一學生來自務農家庭。
collocation: a quarter of + noun group
Three quarters of the class voted to hold the party on Friday instead of Monday.
班上四分之三的同學投票決定在週五而非週一舉辦派對。
The recipe asks for one quarter of a cup of milk in the cake batter.
食譜要求麵糊中加入四分之一杯的牛奶。
Three quarters of the land on the hill belongs to the national park service.
山丘上四分之三的土地屬於國家公園管理局。
- fourth
used more in US English; 'quarter' is more common in everyday speech globally
- twenty-five percent
more technical or mathematical; 'quarter' is more natural in daily conversation
用法筆記
Often appears in fractions with 'a' (a quarter), 'one' (one quarter), or larger numbers with 's' (three quarters). Common in measurements, statistics, and everyday division contexts.
常見錯誤
2. fifteen minutes of time, representing one fourth of an hour
一刻鐘
十五分鐘的時間長度
fifteen minutes of time, representing one fourth of an hour
The train from Taichung arrives every quarter of an hour during rush hour.
從台中來的火車在尖峰時段每十五分鐘就有一班。
collocation: every quarter of an hour
Ayana waited a quarter of an hour at the bus stop then walked home in the rain.
Ayana 在公車站等了一刻鐘，然後在雨中走路回家。
collocation: wait a quarter of an hour
The oven timer beeps in a quarter of an hour when the chicken is ready.
烤箱定時器過一刻鐘會響，那時雞肉就準備好了。
Rodrigo set a meeting in a quarter of an hour in the conference room upstairs.
Rodrigo 安排在樓上會議室舉行會議，時間是一刻鐘後。
- quarter of an hour
fuller expression; 'quarter' as a standalone noun is slightly informal or time-saving
- 15 minutes
neutral and explicit; 'quarter' implies the same duration when context is clear
用法筆記
This sense refers to a 15-minute duration without specifying a clock hour. When telling time on the clock (e.g. 'quarter to three'), see the QUARTER TO and QUARTER PAST senses below.
常見錯誤
3. 15 minutes before a named hour, used when telling the time
差一刻
整點前十五分鐘
15 minutes before a named hour, used when telling the time
The first class starts at a quarter to eight every weekday morning.
第一堂課平日早上在差一刻八點開始。
pattern: quarter to + hour
Nellie arrived at a quarter to nine and found the meeting had already begun.
Nellie 在差一刻九點抵達，發現會議已經開始了。
The library closes at a quarter to six on Sundays during the summer break.
暑假的星期天，圖書館在差一刻六點關門。
Kian checked his watch and saw it was a quarter to midnight already.
Kian 看了看手錶，發現已經差一刻就到午夜了。
- quarter of
used in American English to mean the same thing, e.g. 'quarter of eight'
- fifteen to
less common; used in some regions or formal contexts
用法筆記
In American English, 'quarter of [hour]' is also used (e.g., 'quarter of eight'). In British and Australian English, 'quarter to' is standard. This pattern always requires the article 'a' before 'quarter'.
常見錯誤
4. 15 minutes after a named hour, used when telling the time
過一刻
整點後十五分鐘
15 minutes after a named hour, used when telling the time
Lunch is served in the cafeteria at a quarter past twelve every day.
自助餐廳每天中午過一刻供應午餐。
pattern: quarter past + hour
Caio called his mother at a quarter past seven to wish her a good morning.
Caio 在過一刻七點打電話給母親，祝她早安。
The bus to the station comes at a quarter past two on weekday afternoons.
往車站的公車週間下午在過一刻兩點發車。
Ignacio watched the clock hit a quarter past ten and rushed to the gate.
Ignacio 看著時鐘走到過一刻十點，便匆忙衝向閘門。
- quarter after
used in American English, e.g. 'quarter after seven'
- fifteen past
less common outside military or radio communication contexts
用法筆記
In American English, 'quarter after [hour]' is more common. In British and Australian English, 'quarter past' is standard. The article 'a' is required before 'quarter'.
常見錯誤
5. one of four three-month periods into which a calendar or financial year is divid
季度
一年四個財務結算週期之一
one of four three-month periods into which a calendar or financial year is divided, used for reporting profits, taxes, and other financial results
The electronics company Shin-Etsu saw profits rise sharply in the third quarter of last year.
電子公司 Shin-Etsu 去年第三季度的利潤大幅上升。
collocation: first/second/third/fourth quarter
Talia works in accounting and prepares tax reports at the end of each quarter.
Talia 從事會計工作，每季末準備稅務申報。
preposition: end of each quarter
Ritu invested in the fund last quarter and has already seen a good return.
Ritu 上個季度投資了這檔基金，已經看到不錯的回報。
Aoi reviews her department sales at each quarter's end to plan next season.
Aoi 在每季末檢視部門銷售業績，以規劃下一季。
The store's biggest sales usually happen in the final quarter before the holidays.
這家商店最大的銷售額通常出現在節前的最後一季。
- Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4
abbreviated form commonly used in business; 'Q3' means 'third quarter'
- three-month period
more general; 'quarter' specifically implies one of four such periods in a year
用法筆記
Often appears with ordinal numbers (first quarter, Q1, etc.). Companies use fiscal quarters that may start in months different from the calendar year. 'Quarterly' is the adjective form.
常見錯誤
6. one of four equal periods of playing time into which certain sports games, espec
節
球賽劃分的四段時間之一
one of four equal periods of playing time into which certain sports games, especially American football and basketball, are divided
The home team scored twenty points in the first quarter of the basketball game.
主隊在那場籃球賽的第一節得到了二十分。
collocation: first/second/third/fourth quarter
Henry's coach told the team to save their energy for the final quarter.
Henry 的教練告訴球隊把體力留到最後一節再用。
The quarterback was injured during the third quarter and did not return.
四分衛在第三節受傷，沒有再回到場上。
Fans cheered loudly when the score tied with two minutes left in the quarter.
比賽剩下兩分鐘，比數平手時，球迷們大聲歡呼。
- period
generic term; 'quarter' specifically indicates one of four equal segments
用法筆記
Not used for all sports: soccer uses 'halves', tennis uses 'sets', rugby uses 'halves'. In American football, each quarter lasts 15 minutes; in basketball, each quarter lasts 12 minutes in the NBA.
7. a round silver-coloured piece of money worth 25 cents, used in the United States
25美分
美國及加拿大的25分錢幣
a round silver-coloured piece of money worth 25 cents, used in the United States and Canada
Beatrix used a quarter to buy a candy bar from the vending machine.
Beatrix 用一枚 25 美分硬幣在自動販賣機買了一條巧克力棒。
The parking meter only accepts quarters, so Bilal had to get change.
停車收費器只收 25 美分硬幣，所以 Bilal 得去換零錢。
common collocation: parking meter + quarter
Lara found three quarters in her coat pocket and put them in a charity box.
Lara 在外套口袋裡找到三枚 25 美分硬幣，把它們投進了慈善捐款箱。
When Noa visited Canada, she noticed the quarter has a maple leaf on it.
Noa 去加拿大時注意到，那裡的 25 美分硬幣上印有楓葉圖案。
A vending machine on the corner took quarters and gave out cold drinks.
街角有一臺自動販賣機，投 25 美分硬幣就能買到冰涼的飲料。
- 25-cent piece
more formal or written, less common in speech
用法筆記
This sense is used mainly in the US and Canada, where 25-cent coins are in daily circulation. Learners from other countries may not carry quarters.
常見錯誤
8. a section of a city or town with a distinct character, such as a historic neighb
街區
城鎮中具特定特色的地區
a section of a city or town with a distinct character, such as a historic neighbourhood or a cultural area
The French Quarter in New Orleans is famous for its music and restaurants.
紐奧良的法語區以音樂和餐廳聞名。
proper noun: French Quarter (New Orleans district)
Ravindra's family runs a small grocery shop in the Latin Quarter of the city.
Ravindra 一家在城裡的拉丁區經營一家小雜貨店。
The financial quarter of London is full of tall office buildings.
倫敦的金融區到處都是高聳的辦公大樓。
Lan found a cheap apartment in the student quarter near the university campus.
Lan 在大學附近的學生區找到了一間便宜的公寓。
Tourists often visit the historic quarter of the old town on weekends.
遊客們經常在週末造訪古城的歷史街區。
- district
more general, can apply to any area
- neighbourhood
more residential and community-focused
- area
broader, less specific about character
常見錯誤
9. an unnamed person or group whose opinion, support, news, or reaction is being me
方面
不具名的消息來源或群體
an unnamed person or group whose opinion, support, news, or reaction is being mentioned, without stating exactly who they are
News reports from official quarters suggest the trade talks in Geneva are making steady progress.
來自官方方面的消息指出，在日內瓦的貿易談判正穩步取得進展。
pattern: from [adjective] quarters — unspecified source
Support for the renewable energy policy came from unexpected quarters within the manufacturing industry.
這項再生能源政策出乎意料地獲得製造業內某些方面的支持。
Élise received encouraging words from several quarters after her presentation on urban farming projects.
Élise 在介紹都市農業計畫的報告之後，收到了來自好幾個方面的鼓勵。
Criticism of the new curriculum reform has been growing in educational quarters across Taipei.
對於新課綱改革的批評聲浪在教育界日益升高。
There is concern in some quarters that the project might be too expensive.
有些方面擔心這個計畫可能太過昂貴。
文法句型
from ... quarters
in some quarters
用法筆記
Almost always appears in set phrases like 'from … quarters', 'in some quarters', or 'from all quarters'. The source's identity is deliberately vague.
常見錯誤
10. a room, set of rooms, or small house provided for someone to live in, especially
住宿區
提供給僕人、軍人等居住的空間
a room, set of rooms, or small house provided for someone to live in, especially for servants, soldiers, or other staff and their families
The servants' quarters were located at the back of the old mansion.
傭人住宿區在古老莊園的後方。
common pattern: [role]'s quarters — possessive before the word
Gabriel visited the officers' quarters on the military base during the tour.
Gabriel 在參觀軍營時看了軍官住宿區。
The ambassador's private quarters are on the top floor of the embassy building.
大使的私人住宿區在大使館頂樓。
The hotel staff have comfortable living quarters in a separate building nearby.
這家飯店的員工在附近一棟獨立的建築裡有舒適的住宿區。
During the war, the soldiers were ordered to stay in their assigned quarters.
戰爭期間，士兵們被命令留在指定的住宿區內。
- lodgings
more general and slightly dated
- accommodation
broader, can include hotels and temporary housing
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'quarters'. The singular 'quarter' is rare and sounds dated for this sense. Distinguish from sense 11 (COMPANY HOUSING) which refers specifically to employee housing provided by a company, not servant or military quarters.
常見錯誤
11. a house or apartment that a company provides for one of its employees to live in
員工宿舍
公司提供給員工的住所
a house or apartment that a company provides for one of its employees to live in, often as part of the job benefits
Salma's new job at the research station comes with a quarter near the lab.
Salma 在研究站的新工作附帶一間靠近實驗室的員工宿舍。
The mining company provides quarters for workers who live far from town.
這家礦業公司為住得離城鎮很遠的工人提供員工宿舍。
pattern: company + provides + quarters for [type of worker]
Christopher and his family moved into the company quarter next to the school.
Christopher 一家人搬進了學校旁邊的公司宿舍。
The teachers at the remote school are given a quarter with basic furniture included.
這所偏遠學校的老師可以分配到一間附有基本家具的宿舍。
- tied accommodation
British English term for housing tied to a job
用法筆記
Less common in modern urban contexts, but still used for remote work sites (mines, oil rigs, research stations, schools in rural areas). Distinguish from sense 10 (LIVING SPACE), which covers traditional servant/soldier accommodations.
12. kindness, pity, or forgiveness shown to someone you have defeated or who is in a
寬恕
對戰敗者或弱勢者的憐憫
kindness, pity, or forgiveness shown to someone you have defeated or who is in a weaker position than you
The invading army gave no quarter to the villagers who resisted them.
入侵的軍隊對反抗的村民絲毫不留情。
fixed phrase: give no quarter — show no mercy
In medieval times, a knight who asked for quarter expected to be treated with mercy.
在中世紀，請求寬恕的騎士期望得到善待。
fixed phrase: ask for quarter — request mercy in battle
The boxing match was brutal — neither fighter gave quarter to the other.
那場拳擊比賽非常激烈——兩名選手都沒有手下留情。
Zuri argued that the court should show some quarter to the young offender.
Zuri 主張法院應該對年輕的犯法者展現一些寬容。
After the long siege, the general gave no quarter to the few defenders in the fort.
經過長久圍城之後，將軍對堡壘中的少數守軍毫不留情。
- ruthlessness
absence of mercy
文法句型
give no quarter
ask for quarter
show quarter
用法筆記
Almost always used in fixed phrases: 'give no quarter' (show no mercy), 'ask for/cry quarter' (beg for mercy), 'show quarter' (show mercy). The word 'quarter' alone in this sense is rare outside these patterns.
常見錯誤
13. a period of about twelve weeks that forms one fourth of a school or university y
學季
一年分成四個學季的學制
a period of about twelve weeks that forms one fourth of a school or university year, during which students attend classes and sit for exams.
The University of Oregon runs three quarters per year instead of two semesters.
奧勒岡大學一年分成三個學季（quarter），而不是兩個學期（semester）。
collocation: runs three quarters
Aylin registered for four courses in the fall quarter at the state university.
Aylin 在州立大學的秋季學季選修了四門課。
attributive use: fall quarter
Each quarter at the community college lasts about eleven weeks of instruction.
那所社區大學每學季大約上十一週的課。
Final exams in the spring quarter at Osaka University start next Monday.
大阪大學春季學季的期末考下週一開始。
Gabriel transferred to a university in California that uses the quarter system.
Gabriel 轉學到加州一所採用學季制（quarter system）的大學。
用法筆記
Primarily used in the US and Canada to describe the academic calendar at colleges that divide the year into three or four teaching periods, rather than two semesters.
常見錯誤
14. one of the two points in the moon's cycle each month when half of its visible fa
弦月
月球週期中可見半圓形月面
one of the two points in the moon's cycle each month when half of its visible face is lit by the sun, appearing as a half-circle shape in the sky.
The first quarter moon is visible in the western sky at sunset.
上弦月在日落時出現於西方天空。
compound noun: first quarter moon
Aylin checked her astronomy calendar for the date of the next quarter moon.
Aylin 查看她的天文月曆，確認下一次弦月的日期。
The old farmer in the valley always planted his crops by the quarter moon phases.
山谷裡那位老農夫總是依照弦月週期來種植作物。
Coastal fishermen know that tides are higher during new moon and the last quarter.
沿海漁民知道，新月和下弦月期間潮汐都會比較高。
Amira pointed her telescope at the crisp quarter moon above the desert horizon.
Amira 將望遠鏡對準沙漠地平線上方那道清晰的弦月。
- half moon
describes the same visual appearance but without specifying first or last in the cycle
用法筆記
Usually appears as first quarter (waxing half) or last quarter (waning half). A quarter moon is distinct from a crescent moon, which shows less than half of the surface.
常見錯誤
15. a primary direction on a compass — such as north, south, east, or west — or a re
方位
羅盤上的四個主要方向
a primary direction on a compass — such as north, south, east, or west — or a reading taken from one of those points.
The ship changed course and sailed toward the southern quarter.
那艘船改變航向，朝南方的方向前進。
collocation: southern quarter
Rodrigo oriented his map to find which quarter the mountain road followed.
Rodrigo 將地圖對好方向，弄清楚那條山路朝向哪個方位。
Wind from the northern quarter brought a sudden drop in temperature.
來自北方的風帶來氣溫驟降。
The ancient Roman army camp was divided into four quarters aligned with the compass.
古羅馬軍隊的營地沿著羅盤方位劃分為四個區域。
Minh calculated the bearing by noting the compass's western quarter before the storm arrived.
Minh 在暴風雨來臨前，看著羅盤的西方方位估算出航行方向。
- cardinal point
more technical; refers specifically to north, south, east, west
- compass point
broader; includes both cardinal and intercardinal directions
用法筆記
Often used in nautical or geographical contexts. The four cardinal points are the primary quarters; intermediate points are expressed as e.g. 'south-western quarter'.
常見錯誤
quarter — 形容詞
1. placed before a unit of measurement to mean one fourth of it: for example, a qua
四分之一的
特定量、距離或時間的四分之一
placed before a unit of measurement to mean one fourth of it: for example, a quarter pound of cheese, a quarter mile run, or a quarter century
Roya bought a quarter pound of Swiss cheese at the market.
Roya 在市場買了四分之一磅的瑞士起司。
attributive: quarter + unit of weight
The company offered Lien a quarter share of the annual profits.
公司給了 Lien 年度利潤四分之一的股份。
attributive: quarter + abstract noun (share)
The old oak tree had been standing for nearly a quarter century.
那棵老橡樹已經矗立了將近四分之一個世紀。
Rafael ran a quarter mile in under sixty seconds during gym class.
Rafael 在體育課上以不到六十秒跑完四分之一英里。
Ife divided the land into quarter sections for the new housing project.
Ife 將那塊土地分成四分之一區塊，用於新的住宅建設計畫。
- fourth
More common in American English; 'fourth' can replace 'quarter' in most fraction uses ('a fourth of a mile').
文法句型
quarter + noun (unit or amount)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'the mile was quarter' — the noun must follow this adjective directly.