trail
trail — 名詞
1. a narrow unpaved way through a natural area such as a forest, mountain, or count
步道;小徑
穿過自然區域的狹窄路徑
a narrow unpaved way through a natural area such as a forest, mountain, or countryside, created by repeated walking or made for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or horse-riding
A steep dirt trail winds up the side of the mountain to a lookout point.
一條陡峭的泥土步道蜿蜒上山,通往一個觀景點。
collocation: dirt trail / hiking trail
Rangers built a wooden walkway along the trail to protect the wetland plants.
管理員沿著步道搭建了一條木板走道,以保護濕地植物。
trail + along: path alongside a natural feature
Eri follows the same forest trail every morning before breakfast.
Eri 每天早餐前都會走同一條森林步道。
Camila and her friends walked the coastal trail from the fishing village to the lighthouse.
Camila 和她的朋友們沿著海岸步道,從漁村一路走到燈塔。
The trail is clearly marked with painted arrows on the tree trunks.
這條步道有清楚的標示,樹幹上漆有箭頭記號。
文法句型
trail + through/across/along [area]
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often combined with the type of surface or purpose: dirt trail, gravel trail, bike trail, hiking trail, nature trail.
常見錯誤
2. physical marks or scents that a moving person, animal, or object deposits along
痕跡;蹤跡
移動時留下的記號或氣味
physical marks or scents that a moving person, animal, or object deposits along its route, allowing someone to follow and locate them
The tracker found a fresh trail of wolf prints in the soft mud.
追蹤者在軟泥中發現了一串新鮮的狼腳印。
trail of + [marks/prints] — describing what is left behind
Sade noticed a trail of breadcrumbs leading from the cupboard to the back door.
Sade 注意到一串從櫥櫃通往後門的麵包屑痕跡。
A trail of smoke rising from the chimney told Kofi that someone was home.
煙囪升起的一縷煙讓 Kofi 知道家裡有人在。
Takeshi followed a trail of wet footprints from the swimming pool to the locker room.
Takeshi 沿著一連串從游泳池到更衣室的濕腳印跟過去。
The dog picked up the rabbit's scent trail and dashed into the bushes.
那隻狗聞到了兔子的氣味蹤跡,衝進了灌木叢中。
文法句型
trail + of [marks/footprints/scent]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' + noun describing the physical or chemical trace: trail of blood, trail of footprints, trail of smoke, scent trail. Also common with verbs like 'pick up', 'lose', 'follow'.
常見錯誤
3. a connected series of facts, clues, or evidence that helps someone find a person
線索
有助於找到某人的一連串資訊
a connected series of facts, clues, or evidence that helps someone find a person or understand what has happened to them
The journalist followed a trail of leaked emails to uncover the corruption scandal.
那名記者循著一系列外洩的電子郵件,揭開了貪腐醜聞。
trail of + [information/evidence] — abstract paper or digital trail
Rohan picked up the trail of his birth mother through online adoption records.
Rohan 透過網路上的收養紀錄找到了關於他親生母親的線索。
A trail of financial transactions led investigators to the hidden offshore accounts.
一連串的金融交易記錄引導調查人員找到了那些隱藏的海外帳戶。
The accountant left a clear trail of fraudulent payments in the company ledgers.
那名會計師在公司帳本中留下了一連串清楚的詐欺付款記錄。
Chidi picked up the trail of his missing uncle through social media posts.
Chidi 透過社群媒體的貼文找到了關於他失蹤叔叔的線索。
- paper trail
specifically documents and written records left behind
- clues
individual pieces of evidence; less connected than a trail
- evidence
broader — any fact that supports a conclusion, not necessarily sequential
文法句型
trail of [information/evidence/clues]
用法筆記
This sense extends the physical trail metaphor to the world of information. Common in crime, journalism, and research contexts. Frequently used with 'follow', 'pick up', 'leave a ... trail'.
4. the process of trying to locate a person or thing by looking at evidence that re
追查
循線尋找某人或某物的過程
the process of trying to locate a person or thing by looking at evidence that reveals their movements; used in the fixed phrase 'on the trail of' or 'on someone's trail'
The police are on the trail of a gang that stole over two million dollars.
警方正在追查一個偷竊超過兩百萬美元的幫派。
fixed phrase: on the trail of [someone] — searching
Salma has been on the trail of a rare first-edition novel for almost a year.
Salma 將近一年來一直在尋找一本珍貴的初版小說。
The hackers covered their tracks well, so investigators are not yet on their trail.
駭客很好地掩蓋了他們的蹤跡,因此調查人員尚未追查到他們。
Animal rights activists are on the trail of an illegal wildlife trader in Southeast Asia.
動物權益人士正在追查東南亞一名非法野生動物貿易商。
The detective felt she was finally on the right trail after months of dead ends.
那位偵探覺得在經歷了數個月的死胡同之後,她終於找到了正確的方向。
- in pursuit of
more formal; often used in police or military contexts
- on the hunt for
more informal and active; suggests energetic searching
- searching for
simpler and more general; does not imply following a specific track
文法句型
on the trail of [someone/something]
on [someone's] trail
用法筆記
This sense only appears in the fixed expressions 'on the trail of' and 'on someone's trail'. It cannot be used alone as a standalone noun. The preposition 'on' is always required. After 'of', use a noun or noun phrase for the target being sought.
常見錯誤
trail — 動詞
1. to pull something behind yourself so it drags across a surface; or to dangle loo
拖曳;垂曳
使某物在身後觸地移動
to pull something behind yourself so it drags across a surface; or to dangle loosely and brush against a surface while attached to a moving person or thing
The little boy trailed a stick in the sand as he walked along the beach.
那個小男孩沿著海灘走,把一根樹枝拖在沙子上。
transitive: trail + object + in/through [surface]
Lauren's long scarf trailed behind her in the wind as she rode her bicycle downhill.
Lauren 騎自行車下坡時,她的長圍巾在風中飄曳在身後。
intransitive: scarf + trailed + behind — thing moves freely behind
A thin line of smoke trailed from the candle into the still air.
一縷細煙從蠟燭裊裊升起,飄入靜止的空氣中。
The bride's white dress trailed across the marble floor as she walked down the aisle.
新娘的白色婚紗拖曳在大理石地板上,她緩緩走向紅毯另一端。
A long rope trailed from the back of the truck, whipping in the wind.
一條長繩從卡車後面垂下來,在風中甩動。
文法句型
trail + object + behind/along
trail + adverb/preposition
trail from/in/through
用法筆記
Can be transitive (someone trails something) or intransitive (something trails behind). The intransitive use often describes hair, clothing, smoke, or ribbons that hang loosely and sweep the ground or flow through the air.
常見錯誤
2. to proceed at a slow, tired pace, typically because you are exhausted, reluctant
慢行;拖步
疲憊無力地緩慢行走
to proceed at a slow, tired pace, typically because you are exhausted, reluctant, or physically less able than your companions
After walking for eight hours, the children trailed behind their parents in silence.
走了八個小時之後,孩子們默默地拖在父母身後。
trail behind [someone] — moving slower than others
The injured horse trailed slowly along the fence, favouring its front leg.
那匹受傷的馬沿著圍欄緩慢前進,小心翼翼地用著前腿。
David trailed wearily up the stairs after a long day at the hospital.
David 在醫院度過了漫長的一天後,拖著疲憊的腳步走上樓。
The old dog trailed after its owner, stopping every few steps to rest.
那隻老狗拖在主人後面,走幾步就停下來休息。
Lucía always trails behind on long hikes because she stops to photograph wildflowers.
Lucía 在長途健行時總是落在後面,因為她會停下來拍攝野花。
文法句型
trail + adverb/preposition
trail behind [someone]
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you cannot trail someone in this sense. The word describes your own movement, not that of another person. If you trail behind someone, you are moving more slowly than them, not pursuing them.
常見錯誤
3. to have a lower score, vote count, or position than an opponent in a race, elect
落後
比賽或競爭中分數較低
to have a lower score, vote count, or position than an opponent in a race, election, contest, or market competition
The home team trailed by fourteen points with only three minutes left.
主隊在只剩三分鐘時還落後十四分。
trail by + [number/points/margin]
In the latest polls, the challenger is trailing the incumbent by eight percentage points.
在最新的民調中,挑戰者落後現任者八個百分點。
Mayumi's company still trails its main competitor in the European smartphone market.
Mayumi 的公司在其主要競爭對手的歐洲智慧型手機市場上仍然落後。
The company sales have been trailing the industry average for three quarters.
該公司的銷售業績已連續三季落後業界平均水準。
In the final lap, the runner trailed by less than a second.
在最後一圈時,那名跑者落後不到一秒鐘。
- lag behind
more general; can be about progress or development, not just scores
- be down by
informal, especially in sports contexts
- fall behind
suggests losing a position you once held
- lead
to be ahead of others in a competition
- be ahead by
to have a higher score or position
文法句型
trail + by + [number]
trail + behind + [competitor]
用法筆記
Common in sports, politics, and business. 'Trail by (a margin)' states the gap; 'trail behind (someone)' states who is ahead. Can also be used transitively: 'Team A trails Team B by three goals.'
4. to follow the marks, smell, or other signs left by a person or animal in order t
追蹤;跟蹤
循跡尋找人或動物
to follow the marks, smell, or other signs left by a person or animal in order to catch them or find out where they have gone; or to follow behind someone without their knowledge
The search dog trailed the missing toddler through the forest for over three hours.
搜救犬在森林裡追蹤失蹤幼童長達三個多小時。
trail + [someone] + through [area] — tracking by scent
Lucía trailed the suspect from the train station to an apartment building across town.
Lucía 從火車站一路跟蹤嫌疑人到市區對面的一棟公寓大樓。
A police helicopter trailed the stolen car along the highway until backup arrived.
一架警方直升機沿著高速公路跟蹤被竊車輛,直到支援抵達。
The biologist trailed the rare snow leopard for weeks using camera traps.
那位生物學家利用相機陷阱,追蹤那隻稀有的雪豹長達數週。
Police trailed the suspect vehicle for several kilometres before making an arrest.
警方跟蹤嫌疑車輛好幾公里後才進行逮捕。
文法句型
trail + [someone/something]
trail + [someone] + through/across + [area]
用法筆記
Transitive only — you trail someone or something. This sense differs from sense 2 (move slowly) in that the focus is on the target being followed rather than the manner of moving. Frequently used in police, military, and wildlife contexts.