race
race — 名詞
1. an event in which people, animals, or vehicles compete to see who can move from
比賽；賽跑
比速度的競賽
an event in which people, animals, or vehicles compete to see who can move from one point to another the fastest, or who finishes first.
Paloma won the 100-metre race at the school sports day.
Paloma 在學校運動會的百米賽跑中贏得第一名。
race + distance adjective (100-metre race)
The two cyclists were neck and neck for most of the race.
在比賽大部分時間裡，那兩位自行車選手並駕齊驅。
collocation: neck and neck (very close)
The children held a race across the playground to the swings.
孩子們在操場上來了一場跑到鞦韆架的賽跑。
Yuki finished the race in third place but broke her personal best time.
Yuki 以第三名完成比賽，但打破了自己的個人最佳成績。
Minh trained for six months before the race and finished in second place.
Minh 為了那場比賽訓練了六個月，最終獲得第二名。
常見錯誤
2. a situation in which a person or group tries hard to achieve something before ot
競爭
搶先達成目標的角逐
a situation in which a person or group tries hard to achieve something before others do, such as winning a leadership position, securing a deal, or reaching a goal first.
Three candidates are in the race to become the next party leader.
三位候選人正在角逐下一任政黨領袖。
collocation: in the race to [do something]
The technology race between the two companies pushed prices down quickly.
兩家公司之間的科技競爭讓產品價格迅速下降。
The hospital team was in a race against time to find a matching organ donor.
醫院團隊正與時間賽跑，尋找合適的器官捐贈者。
Many countries joined the space race to send a person to the moon.
許多國家加入了將人類送上月球的太空競賽。
The research team is in a race to develop a vaccine before the next flu season.
研究團隊正搶在下一個流感季節來臨前研發出疫苗。
- competition
more general; a race feels more urgent and time-bound
- contest
suggests a formal event with rules; a race may be informal
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'against' (a race against time/the clock) or 'to' (a race to do something). Often modified by a domain noun: arms race, space race, technology race.
3. a planned afternoon or day at a racecourse where several horse races or greyhoun
賽馬會
同日舉行的多場賽馬
a planned afternoon or day at a racecourse where several horse races or greyhound races are held one after another, often with betting.
The Watanabe family spent Saturday afternoon at the races.
渡邊家週六下午去賽馬場看比賽。
usually plural: the races
A large crowd gathered at the racecourse for the final race of the day.
大批群眾聚集在賽馬場，觀看當天的最後一場比賽。
Erik placed a small bet on a horse in the third race.
Erik 在第三場比賽中為一匹馬下了一小筆賭注。
The local races attract visitors from all over the county every summer.
每年夏天，當地的賽馬會都會吸引全國各地的遊客前來。
- meeting
formal term for a scheduled set of horse races
- race meeting
more explicit than just 'meeting'
用法筆記
In British English, 'going to the races' means attending a horse-racing meeting. Less common in American English, where 'the track' is more typical.
4. one of the broad groups that humans are divided into based on shared physical fe
種族
以身體特徵區分的人群類別
one of the broad groups that humans are divided into based on shared physical features such as skin colour, hair type, or facial shape, which people often treat as significant in society.
The school welcomes students from every race and background.
這所學校歡迎來自各種族與背景的學生。
collocation: every race and background
Laws against discrimination protect people regardless of their race or religion.
反歧視法保護所有人，不論其種族或宗教。
collocation: regardless of race
The census form asked each person to identify their race.
人口普查表要求每個人表明自己的種族。
Ada wrote an essay about how race has been used to divide communities throughout history.
Ada 寫了一篇文章，探討種族在歷史上如何被用來分化社群。
People of the same race can have very different cultural traditions and languages.
同一種族的人可能擁有截然不同的文化傳統和語言。
- ethnicity
overlaps but focuses more on shared culture, language, and ancestry than physical traits
- ethnic group
more precise and less loaded term in modern usage
用法筆記
Often discussed alongside 'ethnicity' (which refers more to shared culture, language, and ancestry) and 'equality'. Increasingly viewed by scholars as a social construct rather than a biological fact.
常見錯誤
5. the notion that physical traits such as skin colour or hair type can separate hu
種族概念
以膚色等特徵分類人群的觀念
the notion that physical traits such as skin colour or hair type can separate humans into distinct categories — a concept studied in sociology and often tied to issues of prejudice and inequality.
The sociology course examines how race has been constructed differently across societies.
這門社會學課程探討種族在不同社會中如何被建構。
collocation: race as a social construction
The professor argued that race is not a biological reality but a social category.
教授主張種族不是生物現實，而是社會分類。
The documentary explores the role of race in shaping housing policy in the twentieth century.
這部紀錄片探討了種族在二十世紀住房政策中所扮演的角色。
Mei and her classmates studied how race affected access to housing loans in the 1950s.
Mei 和同學們研究了種族在 1950 年代如何影響房屋貸款的取得。
用法筆記
This abstract sense — 'race' as a concept or system — is used mainly in academic, political, and activist contexts. It is uncountable: 'Race is a factor in hiring decisions', not 'a race is a factor'.
6. a community whose members have in common a particular language, set of customs,
族群
有共同語言歷史的群體
a community whose members have in common a particular language, set of customs, historical background, or line of descent.
The island is home to several distinct races that have lived there for centuries.
這座島上有數個在那裡生活了數百年的獨特族群。
Aylin's research focuses on the traditions of the Kurdish race across the region.
Aylin 的研究聚焦於該地區庫爾德族的傳統。
collocation: the [name] race
The festival celebrates the music and dance of the original races of the area.
這個節日慶祝該地區原住族群的音樂與舞蹈。
Many traditional stories are passed down orally within each race from one generation to the next.
許多傳統故事在每個族群內部世代口耳相傳。
- ethnic group
more common in modern usage; less ambiguous
- people
as in 'the Kurdish people'; broader and less specific
用法筆記
This older sense overlaps with 'ethnic group' or 'people'. In modern English, 'ethnicity' or 'ethnic group' is more common; 'race' in this sense can sound dated or poetic.
race — 動詞
1. to take part in a competition of speed against someone or something, or to cause
參加比賽
與他人比賽速度
to take part in a competition of speed against someone or something, or to cause an animal or vehicle to compete in such an event.
Yael raced against her best friend in the fifty-metre freestyle.
Yael 在五十公尺自由式比賽中與她最好的朋友較量。
intransitive: race against + person
James races his greyhound every weekend at the local track.
James 每個週末都帶他的灰狗到當地賽道上比賽。
transitive: race + animal
The two brothers love to race each other down the hill on their bikes.
那兩兄弟喜歡騎腳踏車從山坡上衝下來比賽。
Darius has been racing professionally since he was sixteen years old.
Darius 從十六歲起就開始參加職業比賽。
The children raced across the field to see who could reach the fence first.
孩子們跑過操場，看誰能先到達圍籬。
文法句型
race + against/with + person
race + noun (vehicle/animal)
race + noun + to/from + place
用法筆記
When transitive, the object can be a person (race someone to a place), an animal (race a horse), or a vehicle (race a car). In professional contexts 'race' alone implies a formal event.
常見錯誤
2. to move or travel at great speed, often because of urgency or strong emotion.
疾走；疾行
快速移動或行進
to move or travel at great speed, often because of urgency or strong emotion.
The ambulance raced through the city streets with its siren on.
救護車鳴著警笛，疾駛過城市街道。
intransitive + through + place
Ada raced downstairs when she heard the baby crying.
Ada 聽到嬰兒哭聲後飛快地衝下樓。
His heart raced with excitement as he opened the letter.
當他打開信時，他的心因興奮而怦怦直跳。
The cat raced along the top of the fence and disappeared into the garden.
那隻貓沿著籬笆頂飛快跑過，消失在花園裡。
Thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to decide what to do next.
當她試圖決定下一步該怎麼做時，腦中思緒奔騰。
文法句型
race + adverb/preposition (to/through/along/down)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this is purely about speed — no competition is implied. Commonly used with prepositions of direction (through, along, down, up) and in metaphorical contexts (heart races, mind races).