second-hand
second-hand — 名詞
1. the thin pointer on a clock or watch that goes around the dial one full turn eve
秒針
時鐘或手錶上顯示秒數的指針
the thin pointer on a clock or watch that goes around the dial one full turn every sixty seconds
Greta watched the second-hand jump forward with each quiet tick.
Greta 看著秒針隨著每一次輕微的滴答聲向前跳動。
collocation: second-hand jump / tick
Wei waited for the second-hand to reach twelve before starting the race.
Wei 等待秒針走到十二的位置，然後才開始賽跑。
The kitchen clock had a broken second-hand, so Nora could not tell if it was still running.
廚房時鐘的秒針壞了，所以 Nora 無法判斷它是否還在運轉。
The bus driver tapped the dashboard clock and said the second-hand was stuck again.
公車司機敲了敲儀表板上的時鐘，說秒針又卡住了。
The second-hand on William's wristwatch had stopped moving, so he knew the battery was dead.
William 手錶上的秒針不動了，他知道電池沒電了。
Leo held his breath and watched the second-hand sweep past sixty before coming up for air.
Leo 憋住氣，看著秒針走完一圈後才浮出水面換氣。
用法筆記
Sometimes written as two separate words 'second hand' rather than 'second-hand'. Both spellings refer to the same clock pointer.
second-hand — 形容詞
1. bought or owned after someone else has already used it
二手的；舊的
先前已被他人使用過的
bought or owned after someone else has already used it
Caio found a reliable second-hand car at a local garage for a fair price.
Caio 在當地車行找到了一輛可靠的二手車，價格也很公道。
collocation: second-hand car
Roya bought a beautiful second-hand coat from a charity shop in town.
Roya 在鎮上的一家慈善商店買了一件漂亮的二手外套。
collocation: second-hand coat / charity shop
Jack prefers second-hand furniture because it costs much less and often looks unique.
Jack 比較喜歡二手家具，因為價格便宜很多，而且通常別具特色。
Gita dropped her old toys off at a second-hand shop on her way to school.
Gita 在上學途中順路把舊玩具拿到二手商店捐了。
- used
more general; can describe anything previously owned; slightly less formal in commerce
- pre-owned
more formal; common in car dealerships and commercial listings
- hand-me-down
informal; specifically for clothes or items passed within a family or close circle
用法筆記
Commonly placed before nouns such as 'car', 'clothes', 'books', 'furniture', and 'shop'. Also written 'secondhand' without a hyphen.
常見錯誤
second-hand — 副詞
1. in a way that is not from the original source but through another person
間接地
經由他人而非直接得知
in a way that is not from the original source but through another person
Noa learned about the job opening second-hand through a former classmate.
Noa 是從一位以前的同學那裡輾轉得知這個工作機會的。
adverb modifying 'learned' — source through another person
Hugo heard the rumour second-hand and called his cousin to check if it was true.
Hugo 是輾轉聽到這個謠言的，於是他打電話給表弟確認是否屬實。
The Watanabe family found out about the festival second-hand from a notice at the station.
渡邊家是從車站公告欄上得知那個節日活動的。
Kofi heard the news second-hand from a shopkeeper who had spoken to the mayor in person.
Kofi 從一位曾親自與市長交談的店家那裡輾轉聽到了這個消息。
- indirectly
more widely used; can apply to many contexts beyond information
- from a secondary source
more formal; explicitly names the type of source
- first-hand
directly from the original source or personal experience
- directly
without anyone or anything in between
用法筆記
Typically placed after the verb it modifies ('heard it second-hand', 'learned it second-hand').
常見錯誤
2. as something that has already been owned and used by someone else before you
買二手
以購買他人用過物品的方式
as something that has already been owned and used by someone else before you
Mayumi usually buys her textbooks second-hand to save money each semester.
Mayumi 通常都買二手教科書，這樣每學期可以省下一筆錢。
adverb modifying 'buys' — buying used items
The family bought most of their kitchen tools second-hand from online marketplaces.
這家人從線上二手市集買了大部分廚房用具。
Jack sold his camera second-hand after upgrading to a newer model.
Jack 把相機以二手價賣掉，然後升級了更新的型號。
Minh bought his bicycle second-hand from a neighbour who was moving to Canada.
Minh 跟一位即將移居加拿大的鄰居買了一輛二手腳踏車。
- new
in original unused condition
- directly from the store
from the original retailer, not a previous owner
用法筆記
Appears after verbs of buying, selling, or acquiring ('buy second-hand', 'sell second-hand', 'get it second-hand'). Cannot be used before a noun — the adjective form ('a second-hand camera') is used instead.
常見錯誤
second-hand — 慣用語
1. used in the fixed expression 'at second hand' to describe a situation where news
轉手
經由中間人而非直接來源
used in the fixed expression 'at second hand' to describe a situation where news, goods, or information reach you through someone else rather than coming straight from the original source
Madison heard the story at second hand through a friend of a friend and could not verify it.
Madison 是透過朋友的朋友輾轉聽到這個故事的，無法證實真偽。
fixed phrase: at second hand (through an intermediary)
The antique was bought at second hand, so Tariro never met the original owner.
這件古董是經由轉手購得的，所以 Tariro 從未見過原主。
The report reached the manager at second hand after passing through several departments.
這份報告經過好幾個部門層層轉手，才送到經理手中。
Lena only knew about the sale at second hand when her neighbour mentioned it at breakfast.
Lena 是吃早餐時聽鄰居輾轉提起，才知道那場拍賣會的。
Nadia found out about the scholarship at second hand from a notice sent to her local library.
Nadia 從當地圖書館張貼的通知輾轉得知了那筆獎學金的消息。
Chidi learned about the job at second hand through a community group that met every Tuesday evening.
Chidi 透過一個每週二晚上聚會的社區團體，輾轉得知了那份工作。
- indirectly
simpler and more common; can be used as an adverb in similar contexts
- through a third party
more formal; often used in business or legal contexts
- directly
from the original source without anyone in between
- first-hand
from personal experience or direct contact
用法筆記
This expression nearly always appears as 'at second hand'. It cannot be used without 'at' — you would not say 'I heard it second hand' (that would be the adverb form) or 'by second hand'.