town

town — 名詞

1. A populated area with homes, businesses, schools, and public buildings that serv

1.名詞A1
釋義

城鎮

比鄉村大但比城市小的居民聚居地

A populated area with homes, businesses, schools, and public buildings that serves as a local centre for the surrounding region.

例句

Minh grew up in a small farming town in the central valley.

Minh 在中央谷地的一個小型農業城鎮長大。

countable: a + [adjective] + town

The nearest town is about ten kilometres down the highway.

最近的一個城鎮距離這條公路大約十公里。

同義詞
  • village

    smaller than a town, often with fewer services; in British English, a village usually does not have a market.

  • city

    larger and more important than a town; often the seat of a regional government.

  • settlement

    a general, more formal term for any place where people live; can apply to a camp or a hamlet as well.

反義詞
  • countryside

    rural land outside towns and villages, where few people live.

文法句型

a + town

常見錯誤

❌I live in a small town city.
✅I live in a small town.
💡'town' already means a type of settlement; do not add 'city' after it.
❌Tokyo is a big town.
✅Tokyo is a big city.
💡large, important urban centres are called 'cities', not 'towns'.

2. The zone within a settlement that contains its main concentration of shops and o

2.名詞A2
釋義

市區；商圈

城鎮裡商店、餐廳、辦公樓集中的區域

The zone within a settlement that contains its main concentration of shops and office buildings.

例句

Jisoo went into town to buy groceries and pick up a parcel.

Jisoo 進城去買菜，順便領了一個包裹。

phrase: go into town

The new cinema in town is showing four films this weekend.

城裡新開的那間電影院這週末要播四部電影。

phrase: in town

同義詞
  • downtown

    the same meaning, but standard in American English and usually written as one word.

  • city centre

    used for larger urban areas; the equivalent zone in a city.

反義詞
  • suburbs

    the residential areas on the edge of a town or city, away from the commercial core.

文法句型

in town

to town

down town

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable and usually used without an article (e.g., 'in town', 'to town', 'out of town'). In American English, the equivalent phrase is 'downtown'.

常見錯誤

❌I went to the town to do some shopping.
✅I went into town to do some shopping.
💡use 'into town' (no article) for the central shopping area.

3. A town that functions as the political, economic, or cultural hub of a particula

3.名詞B1
釋義

中心城市

某國家或地區最重要的城鎮

A town that functions as the political, economic, or cultural hub of a particular area or nation.

例句

Christopher spent the weekend in the main town of the region, visiting museums and galleries.

Christopher 在該地區的主要城鎮度過了週末，參觀博物館和畫廊。

pattern: the main town of [region]

The capital is not always the largest town in a country, but it is the political centre.

首都不一定是一個國家最大的城鎮，但它是政治中心。

同義詞
  • capital

    specifically the seat of government of a country or state; narrower than 'main town'.

  • metropolis

    a very large, important city, usually with strong cultural or economic influence; more formal.

  • principal town

    a more formal synonym for the most important town in a region.

文法句型

the + [adjective] + town of + [place]

用法筆記

Often used with 'the' and a following 'of' phrase, e.g., 'the main town of the region'. In some contexts 'chief town' or 'principal town' may be used more formally.

4. The town in which someone currently resides, carries out their daily activities,

4.名詞A2
釋義

居住的城鎮

某人居住或工作的地方

The town in which someone currently resides, carries out their daily activities, or is staying.

例句

Kasia has been out of town all week for a training course in Taipei.

Kasia 整週都不在城裡，去台北參加培訓課程了。

phrase: out of town

Tariro called to say she would be in town for just two days.

Tariro 打電話來說她只會在城裡待兩天。

phrase: be in town

同義詞
  • home base

    the place where a person lives or works; less common in everyday speech.

  • hometown

    the town where a person grew up or considers home; a more specific term.

文法句型

out of town

leave town

be in town

用法筆記

In this sense 'town' is usually used without 'the' — 'in town', 'out of town', 'leave town'. Adding 'the' (e.g., 'in the town') shifts the meaning toward the physical settlement (Sense 1).

常見錯誤

❌She is in the town this week.' (when meaning she is visiting/available)
✅She is in town this week.
💡omit the article when referring to the place where someone is based.

5. The residents of a town considered as a collective body that shares reactions, o

5.名詞B1
釋義

全鎮居民

同住在一個城鎮裡的所有人

The residents of a town considered as a collective body that shares reactions, opinions, or decisions.

例句

The whole town turned out to watch the New Year fireworks display.

全鎮的人都出來觀賞跨年煙火秀。

collective: the whole town [verb]

The town was shocked to learn that the old library would be closing down.

鎮民得知老圖書館要關閉時，都感到十分震驚。

passive: the town was [emotion]

同義詞
  • community

    a broader term that can refer to a group living in any area, not just a town; emphasises shared bonds.

  • residents

    literal plural; less collective in feel than 'the town'.

  • townspeople

    slightly old-fashioned but clear; specifically refers to the inhabitants of a town.

文法句型

the whole town

the town + [singular verb]

用法筆記

Used as a collective singular: 'the town has decided', 'the town is celebrating'. The verb is singular even though the referent is many people.

常見錯誤

❌The town have decided to build a new school.
✅The town has decided to build a new school.
💡'town' as a collective noun takes a singular verb in standard English.
❌All the town were happy.
✅The whole town was happy.
💡or 'All the people in town were happy.'

6. The experience of living in a built-up urban area, seen as a lifestyle that cont

6.名詞A2
釋義

城鎮生活

相對於鄉村而言的城市生活方式

The experience of living in a built-up urban area, seen as a lifestyle that contrasts with rural life.

例句

Samir prefers town life because everything is close and convenient.

Samir 比較喜歡城鎮生活，因為什麼都很近很方便。

modifier: town life

After twenty years on the farm, Aunt Rosa found town living too noisy.

在農場住了二十年後，Rosa 阿姨覺得城鎮生活太吵了。

同義詞
  • city life

    essentially the same meaning but often implies a larger, busier urban environment.

  • urban life

    more formal; used in sociological or planning contexts.

反義詞
  • country life

    rural living, usually with farms and more open space.

  • rural life

    formal equivalent of 'country life'.

文法句型

town + noun (as modifier)

用法筆記

Typically used without the definite article ('town life', 'town living'). Adding 'the' shifts the meaning to a specific settlement (Sense 1). Often contrasted with 'country' or 'countryside' in set phrases like 'town and country'.

常見錯誤

❌The town life is more expensive than the countryside.
✅Town life is more expensive than life in the countryside.
💡'town life' usually takes no article.