span
span — 名詞
1. how long something continues to exist, work, or be available, measured from its
期間
事物存在或發生的時間長度
how long something continues to exist, work, or be available, measured from its beginning to its end
The average human attention span has become shorter in the digital age.
數位時代中，人類的平均注意力廣度已變得更短。
collocation: attention span
Faisal completed the entire project within a span of just three weeks.
Faisal 在短短三週的時間內就完成了整個專案。
grammar: a span of + time period
Tyler noticed his concentration span grew shorter after long hours of screen work.
Tyler 發現在長時間使用螢幕工作後，他的注意力廣度變得更短了。
The life span of a pet tortoise can easily reach eighty years in good conditions.
寵物烏龜的壽命在良好照護下輕鬆可達八十年。
- instant
a single moment rather than a measured duration
文法句型
a span of + period
用法筆記
Often paired with a modifier like 'attention,' 'life,' 'concentration,' or 'time' to specify what kind of duration is being measured.
常見錯誤
2. the full distance between one end of an object or open space and the opposite en
全長
物體兩端之間的距離
the full distance between one end of an object or open space and the opposite end
The garden wall measured a span of nearly twelve metres from house to gate.
花園圍牆從房子到大門的長度將近十二公尺。
collocation: span of [enclosure]
The wings of that bird have an impressive span of nearly two metres.
那種鳥的翅膀全長將近兩公尺，令人印象深刻。
collocation: wingspan / wing span
Aylin measured the span of the window frame before buying new curtains.
Aylin 在買新窗簾前先量了窗框的寬度。
The bridge has a total span of almost five hundred metres from bank to bank.
這座橋從此岸到彼岸的全長近五百公尺。
- narrowness
the quality of being small in width
文法句型
the span of + noun
3. the section of a bridge, arch, or other structure that stretches between two sup
橋跨
橋樑兩支撐點之間的結構段
the section of a bridge, arch, or other structure that stretches between two supporting points
The central span of the bridge was rebuilt after the earthquake damaged its supports.
橋樑的中段橋跨在地震損壞其支撐後進行了重建。
Engineers designed a single concrete span to connect the two sides of the valley.
工程師設計了一個單一混凝土橋跨來連接山谷的兩端。
collocation: single span
Each arch span of the old aqueduct was built from local limestone blocks.
舊水道橋的每個拱形橋跨都是用當地石灰岩建成的。
Ingrid studied how the bridge span handled strong winds during the typhoon season.
Ingrid 研究了橋跨在颱風季節中如何承受強風。
文法句型
a single-span bridge; span of + number + metres
用法筆記
Frequently used in civil engineering and architecture to describe bridge or roof structures. The 'span' is specifically the unsupported section between piers or columns.
常見錯誤
4. a historical unit based on the greatest distance possible between the thumb tip
掌幅
拇指到小指張開的距離（約23公分）
a historical unit based on the greatest distance possible between the thumb tip and the tip of the smallest finger when the hand is opened wide, about 23 centimetres
In medieval times, cloth was often measured by the span of a hand.
中世紀時，布匹常用手掌的掌幅來測量。
historical usage
Old texts describe the statue as standing just three spans tall.
古老文獻描述那座雕像僅有三掌幅高。
Mathieu learned that a span was used by tailors before standard rulers became common.
Mathieu 學到在標準尺普及之前，裁縫常用掌幅來量布。
The carpenter's handbook defined a span as roughly nine inches across.
木工手冊將一掌幅定義為大約九吋寬。
- handbreadth
a related but different measure based on the palm, not the spread fingers
用法筆記
Chiefly found in historical writing, traditional crafts, or descriptions of pre-modern measurement systems. Not used in modern everyday contexts.
span — 動詞
1. the past tense of 'spin', describing a turning motion or the twisting of fibres
過去式
spin 的過去式，表示旋轉或紡線
the past tense of 'spin', describing a turning motion or the twisting of fibres into thread that took place before now
Nikhil span around sharply when he heard a loud crash in the kitchen behind him.
Nikhil 聽到身後廚房傳來一聲巨響，便迅速轉了過去。
past tense of spin: turn around quickly
Tamás span the classroom globe and stopped it with one finger on his home country.
Tamás 轉動了教室裡的地球儀，用一根手指在屬於他國家的位置把它停住。
past tense of spin: make rotate
Nia span fresh wool into thick yarn while her children played near the fireplace.
Nia 將新鮮羊毛紡成粗毛線，她的孩子們則在壁爐旁玩耍。
The young ice skater span three times in a row before her partner caught her gliding away.
年輕的滑冰選手連續旋轉了三圈，然後被她的搭檔接住滑開。
- spun
the standard modern past tense of 'spin' in both American and British English
文法句型
span + object (for transitive uses of spin)
用法筆記
This is the simple past form of 'spin.' In modern American English, 'spun' is far more common; 'span' as the past tense is primarily British and less frequent in contemporary use.
常見錯誤
2. to last across a particular period of time from the beginning to the end, withou
持續
從開始到結束涵蓋一段時間
to last across a particular period of time from the beginning to the end, without interruption
Heather's career in journalism spanned more than four decades.
Heather 的新聞職業生涯持續了四十多年。
collocation: span + career / lifetime / period
The empire spanned three centuries before finally collapsing.
那個帝國持續了三個世紀，最終才崩潰。
Ezra's research on ocean pollution spanned nearly fifteen years of field studies and lab work.
Ezra 關於海洋污染的研究涵蓋了將近十五年的實地考察與實驗室工作。
The dynasty spanned over four hundred years, from the twelfth to sixteenth century.
這個王朝持續了四百多年，從十二世紀到十六世紀。
- last
more everyday; 'last' is simpler and fits short durations
- cover
emphasises the full extent rather than the endpoint
- extend over
more formal; used in written reports
- momentary
lasting only a moment
文法句型
span + period of time
用法筆記
Subject is usually a career, relationship, civilisation, or other entity with a defined start and end. Not used for short, everyday events.
常見錯誤
3. to stretch from one side of a physical gap to the other side, especially a bridg
橫跨
橋樑等結構從一端延伸到另一端
to stretch from one side of a physical gap to the other side, especially a bridge or arch over a river, valley, or road
A stone bridge spans the river near the old mill.
一座石橋橫跨老磨坊附近的河流。
typical pattern: [structure] spans [gap]
Zola watched the workers build a steel arch that would span the railway tracks.
Zola 看著工人們搭建一座將橫跨鐵軌的鋼拱橋。
A wooden footbridge spans the stream behind Eri's cottage.
一座木製人行橋橫跨 Eri 小屋後方的小溪。
A steel-and-concrete bridge now spans the gorge near Yara's hometown market.
一座鋼筋混凝土橋現在橫跨 Yara 家鄉市場附近的峽谷。
- cross
simpler and more general; 'cross' can be used for people and vehicles, while 'span' is about the structure itself
- bridge
can also be a verb; 'bridging' emphasises connecting two sides
- extend across
more formal and descriptive
文法句型
span + river / valley / gap
用法筆記
Subject is always a structure (bridge, arch, beam, cable) or something functioning like one. The object is the gap being crossed, not the land on either side.
常見錯誤
4. to cover a wide variety of subjects, places, or activities within a single conti
涵蓋
包含廣泛的主題、地點或活動
to cover a wide variety of subjects, places, or activities within a single continuous range
Soraya's research interests span biology, chemistry, and environmental science.
Soraya 的研究興趣涵蓋生物學、化學和環境科學。
pattern: interests span [list of fields]
The museum collection spans several continents and many historical periods.
這間博物館的收藏涵蓋了數個大洲和許多歷史時期。
Kofi's musical tastes span classical, jazz, and electronic music genres.
Kofi 的音樂品味涵蓋古典、爵士和電子音樂等類型。
Paloma's professional work spanned architecture, urban planning, and landscape design.
Paloma 的專業工作涵蓋了建築、都市規劃與景觀設計。
- cover
more neutral and common; 'cover' is less dramatic about the breadth
- encompass
more formal and suggests a completeness
- range over
emphasises movement across different areas
文法句型
span + subjects / areas / topics
用法筆記
Subject is often a person's knowledge, interests, or career, or a collection. The object usually lists diverse categories to emphasise breadth.
常見錯誤
span — 形容詞
1. extremely clean, tidy, and well organised, as if everything has just been cleane
一塵不染
非常乾淨整潔
extremely clean, tidy, and well organised, as if everything has just been cleaned or put in order
Lan spent the whole morning cleaning until the apartment was spick and span.
Lan 花了一整個早上打掃，直到公寓一塵不染。
informal idiom: spick and span
Adina walked into the kitchen and found it spick and span, with every dish put away.
Adina 走進廚房，發現裡面一塵不染，所有碗盤都已收好。
After the renovation, the old hotel rooms were spick and span and ready for guests.
翻新之後，老飯店的房間一塵不染，準備好迎接客人。
Owen insisted the workshop be spick and span before the safety inspector arrived.
Owen 堅持工作坊在安全檢查員到來之前必須一塵不染。
- spotless
more formal and focuses on absence of dirt rather than overall tidiness
- immaculate
more formal and suggests perfection
- pristine
suggests an untouched, brand-new state
文法句型
be/look spick and span
用法筆記
Used only in the fixed phrase 'spick and span.' It never appears as 'spick' or 'span' alone in this sense. Common in informal British and American English.