theater
theater — 形容詞
1. relating to a broad geographical area where armed forces conduct combat operatio
戰區的
與軍事作戰區域相關的
relating to a broad geographical area where armed forces conduct combat operations during a war or conflict.
General Kabir was assigned command of the entire Pacific theater during the conflict.
Kabir 將軍在戰爭期間受命指揮整個太平洋戰區。
attributive use: theater + proper noun as region name
New surveillance drones were deployed to the European theater of operations last spring.
去年春天，新型偵察無人機被部署到歐洲作戰戰區。
collocation: theater of operations
Each theater commander controlled all air, land, and naval forces in that zone.
每位戰區指揮官都掌控該區域內的所有陸、海、空部隊。
The North African theater saw some of the fiercest tank battles of the entire war.
北非戰區經歷了整場戰爭中最激烈的坦克戰鬥。
Military planners divided the conflict zone into three separate theaters of operation.
軍事規劃者將衝突區域劃分為三個獨立的作戰戰區。
- operational
broader and less tied to a specific war zone; 'operational command' can refer to any military mission
- combat
narrower, focusing on active fighting rather than the whole region
文法句型
theater + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Almost always placed before a noun (attributive position). Most commonly appears in the fixed expressions 'theater of operations' and 'theater of war,' or paired with a geographic modifier (Pacific theater, European theater).
常見錯誤
theater — 名詞
1. the US spelling of the word 'theatre,' used in all the same meanings including a
美式拼法
theatre 的美國拼寫方式
the US spelling of the word 'theatre,' used in all the same meanings including a performance building, a cinema, and the art of drama.
The word 'theater' is the standard American spelling of 'theatre' in every sense.
「theater」這個拼法是「theatre」在美國的標準拼寫，適用於所有義項。
explicitly marks US spelling variant
In US schools, children learn to write 'theater' for both the building and the art.
在美國的學校裡，孩子們學會無論指建築物還是藝術形式都寫成「theater」。
British newspapers use 'theatre' while their American counterparts use 'theater.'
英國報紙使用「theatre」，而美國報紙則使用「theater」。
After moving to the US, Sven learned to write 'theater' instead of 'theatre.'
搬去美國後，Sven 學會把「theatre」寫成「theater」。
用法筆記
No difference in meaning between 'theater' and 'theatre.' Use 'theater' in American English contexts and 'theatre' in British English contexts. Be consistent within a single piece of writing.
常見錯誤
2. a building with one or more large screens where films or movies are shown to peo
電影院
放映電影給觀眾觀看的建築物
a building with one or more large screens where films or movies are shown to people who have bought tickets.
Noor and her friends went to the theater to watch the new animated film.
Noor 和朋友去電影院看那部新的動畫片。
go to the theater for a movie
The old theater on Main Street shows classic films every Saturday night.
主街上那家老電影院每週六晚上播放經典電影。
How much does a ticket cost at your local movie theater these days?
你們當地的電影院現在一張票要多少錢？
The theater was nearly empty for the afternoon showing of the documentary.
那場紀錄片下午場的電影院裡幾乎空無一人。
Diya bought popcorn and found two seats near the back of the theater.
Diya 買了爆米花，在電影院後排找了兩個座位。
- movie theater
more specific US term that avoids confusion with the playhouse sense
- cinema
the standard British equivalent; also used in US English for art-house film venues
- multiplex
a large cinema with many screens, typically part of a chain
文法句型
the + theater
a + theater
movie theater
用法筆記
In British English, 'cinema' is far more common than 'theatre' for this meaning. In US English, 'movie theater' or simply 'theater' is standard. When using 'theater' alone, context must make clear you mean a cinema, not a playhouse.
常見錯誤
3. a building where plays, musicals, and other live performances are staged for an
劇院
上演舞台劇、音樂劇的建築物
a building where plays, musicals, and other live performances are staged for an audience.
The new theater in the city center stages Shakespeare plays every summer.
市中心那家新劇院每年夏天都會上演莎士比亞的戲劇。
stages + plays: typical verb collocation
Ayesha's parents took her to see a children's musical at the local theater.
Ayesha 的父母帶她去當地的劇院看了一場兒童音樂劇。
The theater seats about eight hundred people and has a large wooden stage.
這家劇院可容納約八百人，並擁有一個大型木質舞台。
Ramón works part-time at the theater, selling tickets and handing out programs.
Ramón 在劇院兼職，負責售票和分發節目單。
The community theater put on a wonderful musical performance last night.
昨晚社區劇院上演了一場精彩的音樂劇表演。
- playhouse
a smaller or more intimate theater, often used for children's or experimental drama
- auditorium
the seating area inside a theater, can also refer to a multipurpose hall
- performance venue
a broader term covering any space where live shows occur
文法句型
the + theater
at the + theater
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 2: this sense refers specifically to live performance venues, not cinemas. In British English, 'theatre' is always used for this meaning, never 'cinema.' In US English, context (play title, mention of stage/actors) usually disambiguates.
常見錯誤
4. the art, profession, or activity of writing, producing, and performing plays for
戲劇
以舞台表演為形式的藝術或職業
the art, profession, or activity of writing, producing, and performing plays for a live audience.
Nkechi is studying theater at university and hopes to become a stage director.
Nkechi 正在大學學習戲劇，希望將來能成為舞台導演。
uncountable: study theater
Lakan read Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun for his theater class.
Lakan 為了戲劇課讀了 Lorraine Hansberry 的《A Raisin in the Sun》。
Christopher has been involved in community theater since he was a teenager.
Christopher 從十幾歲起就參與社區戲劇活動。
The festival celebrates traditional Japanese theater forms such as Noh and Kabuki.
該藝術節慶祝傳統日本戲劇形式，如能劇和歌舞伎。
Shanti spent every weekend performing with her university's theater troupe.
Shanti 每個週末都和學校的戲劇團一起排練演出。
- drama
focuses more on the written plays and acting technique than the broader production industry
- stage
used metaphorically ('the stage') to refer to the profession, often with a classical or prestige connotation
- performing arts
a broader category that includes dance, opera, and music, not just theater
文法句型
study + theater
work in + theater
modern + theater
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense — 'theater' refers to the field or art form, not a specific building. You would say 'I work in theater' (the profession) but 'I work in a theater' (a building, sense 3). The article 'a' or 'the' before 'theater' usually signals the building meaning, not the art-form meaning.
常見錯誤
5. a large geographic area where armed forces are actively engaged in fighting duri
戰區
軍事作戰行動發生的廣大區域
a large geographic area where armed forces are actively engaged in fighting during a war or armed conflict.
Thousands of soldiers were deployed to the Pacific theater during the Second World War.
第二次世界大戰期間，成千上萬的士兵被派往太平洋戰區。
geographic modifier + theater: Pacific theater
The aid organization operates only in areas outside active theaters of war.
該救援組織只在活躍戰區以外的區域運作。
collocation: theater of war
New weapons technology was first tested in the North African theater before wider deployment.
新武器技術先在北非戰區測試，之後才廣泛部署。
The Mediterranean theater saw some of the most intense naval battles of the conflict.
地中海戰區經歷了整場衝突中最激烈的海戰。
Each theater of operations had its own command structure and supply lines.
每個作戰戰區都有自己的指揮結構和補給線。
- war zone
more general term for any area affected by fighting, often at a smaller scale than a theater
- combat zone
focuses on areas where active fighting is happening, narrower than 'theater'
- battlefield
a specific location where battles occur, much smaller in scale than a theater
文法句型
the + geographic modifier + theater
theater of war
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrases 'theater of war' and 'theater of operations.' The word is typically preceded by a geographical modifier (Pacific theater, European theater, Mediterranean theater). Frequently used in historical writing about World War II. Distinguish from noun sense 3 (playhouse) and noun sense 2 (cinema) — those share the same spelling but come from a completely different etymological root applied to military geography.