tank
tank — 名詞
1. a large container, usually made of metal or strong plastic, used for keeping or
容器；槽
儲存液體或氣體的大型容器
a large container, usually made of metal or strong plastic, used for keeping or moving liquids or gases such as water, fuel, or chemicals.
The mechanic drained the oil from the tank before replacing the filter.
技師在更換濾芯之前，先把油箱裡的機油放掉。
noun modifier: oil tank / fuel tank
Water tanks on the roof collect rainwater for the garden during the dry season.
屋頂上的儲水槽在旱季收集雨水，用來澆灌花園。
Liam cleaned the fish tank every two weeks to keep the water clear for his pet fish.
Liam 每兩週清理一次魚缸，讓水保持清澈來養寵物魚。
Gas tanks must be checked regularly for leaks to prevent accidents in the building.
必須定期檢查瓦斯槽是否有洩漏，以預防建築物發生意外。
The factory installed a new storage tank to hold the chemicals used in production.
工廠安裝了一個新的儲存槽來存放生產過程中使用的化學品。
文法句型
a tank of [liquid/gas]
[noun] tank (e.g. fish tank, petrol tank)
用法筆記
Frequently combines with a noun that tells you what the tank contains: petrol tank, fish tank, water tank, gas tank, fuel tank.
常見錯誤
2. a heavily armoured military fighting vehicle with large guns that runs on contin
坦克
裝甲武裝戰鬥車輛
a heavily armoured military fighting vehicle with large guns that runs on continuous metal belts looped around wheels, allowing it to move across rough ground.
The army sent six tanks to guard the border crossing near the village.
軍方派遣了六輛坦克到村莊附近的邊境哨站駐守。
Jiwoo watched a documentary about how tanks changed the way wars were fought in the twentieth century.
Jiwoo 看了一部關於坦克如何在二十世紀改變戰爭方式的紀錄片。
historical usage context
A tank's thick armour can stop most bullets and small bombs from reaching the crew inside.
坦克的厚重裝甲能夠抵擋大多數子彈和小型炸彈，保護車內的組員。
The old tank sat in the museum courtyard with its guns removed for public safety.
那輛舊坦克停放在博物館的庭院裡，為了公共安全已將炮管拆除。
- armoured vehicle
broader category; includes tanks and other protected military vehicles
- armoured car
a lighter, wheeled vehicle with armour, not a tank
- battle tank
a full-size combat tank, as opposed to lighter armoured vehicles
文法句型
[number] + tank(s)
tank + [noun] (e.g. tank commander, tank battalion)
用法筆記
Often used attributively before another noun: tank commander, tank battalion, tank battle, tank engine. The plural is irregular only in that military contexts often use 'tank' as an uncountable modifier ('tank division').
3. a situation where a person or organization starts competing directly in another'
地盤
侵入他人的領域
a situation where a person or organization starts competing directly in another's established area of business or activity, often threatening their position.
The new streaming service is now competing in the tank of the traditional TV networks.
這家新的串流服務如今正在傳統電視網的地盤上與其競爭。
figurative: in the tank of [competitor]
Hassan worried that the large supermarket chain was operating in the tank of his small grocery store.
Hassan 擔心那家大型超市連鎖店已經進入他小雜貨店的市場領域。
Local bookshops feel the online retailer has moved into their tank with discounted prices and fast delivery.
當地書店認為這家線上零售商以折扣價格和快速配送侵入他們的地盤。
The startup is already operating in the tank of established car makers with its electric vans.
這家新創公司憑藉其電動貨車，已經開始在傳統汽車製造商的地盤上運作。
文法句型
in someone's tank
on someone's tank
用法筆記
A figurative and informal use, most common in business and competitive contexts. The phrase 'in someone's tank' suggests territory that someone previously controlled alone.
4. a man-made pool or lake, often built to store water for a town, farm, factory, o
蓄水池
人工建造的儲水池塘
a man-made pool or lake, often built to store water for a town, farm, factory, or for swimming.
The village built a large tank to store water for the rice fields during the dry months.
村莊建造了一個大型蓄水池，在乾旱月份為稻田儲水。
Swimming in the old quarry tank was forbidden after two accidents last summer.
去年夏天發生兩起意外後，舊礦坑水池被禁止游泳。
collocation: quarry tank
Eshe watched the swans glide across the ornamental tank in the city park.
Eshe 看著天鵝在城市公園的觀賞水池上滑行而過。
The tank behind the factory supplies water to cool the machines during production.
工廠後方的蓄水池在生產過程中為機器提供冷卻用水。
文法句型
a tank of [water]
storage tank
用法筆記
This sense is more common in British and Australian English than in American English, where 'reservoir' or 'pond' is preferred for artificial bodies of water.
常見錯誤
5. a piece of clothing without sleeves that covers the upper part of the body, typi
背心
無袖上衣
a piece of clothing without sleeves that covers the upper part of the body, typically worn in warm weather or during exercise.
Christopher wore a white tank top and shorts to the beach on Saturday.
Christopher 穿了一件白色背心和短褲，星期六去海灘玩。
Tank tops are popular in summer because they let your arms move freely and keep you cool.
夏天穿背心很受歡迎，因為手臂可以自由活動，而且能保持涼爽。
reason clause
The gym rules say you must wear a tank top or a T-shirt while using the equipment.
健身房規定必須穿背心或 T 恤才能使用器材。
Lotte bought three tank tops on sale — one blue, one green, and one with stripes.
Lotte 趁折扣買了三件背心——一件藍色、一件綠色、還有一件是條紋的。
文法句型
wear a tank top
a tank top
用法筆記
Called a 'singlet' or 'vest' in British English. The name comes from the early 20th-century 'tank suit' — a one-piece bathing suit worn in swimming tanks (artificial pools).
常見錯誤
6. the quantity of liquid, gas, or other material that a tank holds when it is full
一箱；一槽
整槽容器所裝的量
the quantity of liquid, gas, or other material that a tank holds when it is full.
The car can drive about five hundred kilometres on a full tank of petrol.
這輛車加滿一箱汽油大約可以行駛五百公里。
collocation: a full tank of
Nikhil used an entire tank of paint to cover the walls of the living room.
Nikhil 用了一整桶漆來粉刷客廳的牆壁。
A single tank of water lasts the family about three days during the hot summer months.
炎熱的夏季，一家人一箱水大約可以用三天。
The truck driver checked how far he could go on half a tank before deciding to stop.
卡車司機檢查了半箱油還能開多遠，然後決定是否停靠補給。
文法句型
a tank of [substance]
a full tank
half a tank
用法筆記
Often follows 'full' or 'half' — 'a full tank,' 'half a tank.' 'A tank of gas/petrol' is extremely common in driving contexts.
常見錯誤
tank — 動詞
1. to fall quickly and dramatically in price, value, or level of success.
暴跌
價格或價值急遽下跌
to fall quickly and dramatically in price, value, or level of success.
The company's shares tanked after the CEO announced lower profits than expected.
這家公司的股價在執行長宣布獲利不如預期後暴跌。
intransitive: shares tanked
Noa's confidence tanked when she saw how difficult the final exam questions were.
Noa 看到期末考題目這麼難之後，信心頓時跌到谷底。
metaphorical: confidence tanked
The value of the local currency tanked overnight after the government's surprise announcement.
當地貨幣在政府發布意外聲明後一夜暴跌。
Sven sold his shares quickly before the price could tank any further.
Sven 趁價格還沒跌得更慘之前迅速賣掉了持股。
Tourism in the region tanked after the hurricane destroyed most of the hotels.
颶風摧毀了當地大多數旅館之後，該地區的旅遊業急遽衰退。
文法句型
prices/shares/values + tank
something + tanks + [object] (less common)
用法筆記
Informal, common in financial journalism and everyday speech. Can be used transitively ('The bad news tanked the stock price') but most often intransitive ('Sales tanked').
常見錯誤
2. to deliberately or accidentally cause something to fail or become much less succ
搞垮
使某事失敗或惡化
to deliberately or accidentally cause something to fail or become much less successful.
A series of poor decisions by the new manager tanked the department's productivity.
新任主管一連串的錯誤決策搞垮了部門的生產力。
transitive: bad decisions tanked productivity
The negative reviews tanked the restaurant's reputation almost as soon as it opened.
負面評價幾乎在餐廳一開幕就毀了它的名聲。
Théo's mistake during the presentation tanked the team's chances of winning the contract.
Théo 在簡報中犯的錯誤毀掉了團隊贏得合約的機會。
The scandal tanked any hope she had of being re-elected for a second term.
那樁醜聞徹底毀掉她連任的希望。
文法句型
[subject] + tank + [object]
用法筆記
Always transitive — you tank something (a plan, a project, a reputation, a chance). The object is something that had potential for success.
常見錯誤
3. to deliberately play below your ability in a sporting contest, ensuring you lose
放水；故意輸
運動比賽中故意落敗
to deliberately play below your ability in a sporting contest, ensuring you lose, often to gain a future benefit.
The player was accused of tanking the match to help a friend win a large bet.
那名選手被指控在比賽中放水，好讓朋友贏得大筆賭金。
transitive: tank the match
Some basketball teams tank at the end of a weak season to get a better draft pick.
有些籃球隊在表現不佳的球季末段故意輸球，以取得更好的選秀順位。
Nicholas knew the other boxer was tanking when he stopped throwing punches in the third round.
Nicholas 看到對方拳擊手在第三回合就停止出拳，就知道他在放水。
Fans were angry when they discovered the club had been tanking games for money.
球迷發現球團為了錢而長期放水之後，感到非常憤怒。
- throw (a game)
to deliberately lose; often implies the player is paid or forced
- fix (a match)
to arrange a result dishonestly, usually for betting profits
文法句型
[team/player] + tanks
[team/player] + tanks + [match/season]
用法筆記
Widely used in North American professional sports discussions. The noun form 'tanking' ('The team was accused of tanking') is very common. This is considered unethical and is often against league rules.
常見錯誤
4. to apply a thick layer of plaster or a waterproof substance to a wall, ceiling,
塗抹防水層
塗上灰泥或防水材料
to apply a thick layer of plaster or a waterproof substance to a wall, ceiling, or floor so that moisture cannot get through.
Caio spent the weekend tanking the basement walls to stop water from seeping through.
Caio 花了整個週末在地下室牆壁上塗防水層，防止滲水進來。
gerund: tanking the walls
The builders tanked the bathroom floor with a waterproof layer before laying the tiles.
工人在鋪設磁磚之前，先在浴室地板塗上一層防水材料。
passive: tanked the floor with [substance]
Before painting the kitchen, you should tank any cracks in the ceiling with sealant.
在粉刷廚房之前，應該先用密封膠填補天花板上的裂縫。
The old stone wall was tanked with a special coating that keeps dampness out.
舊石牆塗上了一層特殊的防水塗料，防止濕氣滲入。
- seal
more general; to close a surface so that nothing passes through
- waterproof
to make something resistant to water
- plaster
to cover a wall with plaster — not necessarily for waterproofing
文法句型
tank + [wall/surface] + with + [substance]
用法筆記
Technical term in British construction. The past participle 'tanked' is common ('a tanked wall,' 'tanked bathroom'). In American English, 'waterproof' or 'seal' is more common for this action.