tube

tube — 名詞

1. A long hollow shape, typically made from materials such as metal, plastic, rubbe

1.名詞B1
釋義

管子

用於輸送液體或氣體的長管

A long hollow shape, typically made from materials such as metal, plastic, rubber, or glass, used to carry or hold liquids and gases as they travel between locations.

例句

The plumber replaced the old metal tube under the kitchen sink.

水電工更換了廚房水槽下方的舊金屬管子。

tube as a physical pipe used in plumbing

Water flows through a narrow rubber tube connected to the washing machine.

水經由一條連接洗衣機的窄橡膠管流出來。

同義詞
  • pipe

    more rigid, typically metal or hard plastic, used for plumbing

  • hose

    flexible and usually attached to a tap for watering or washing

  • conduit

    formal or technical term for a channel that protects electrical wires

用法筆記

Often used interchangeably with 'pipe' for flexible or smaller conduits. 'Pipe' is more common for rigid metal plumbing fixtures.

常見錯誤

❌The water runs through a tube in the wall.
✅The water runs through a pipe in the wall.
💡For rigid, fixed plumbing inside buildings, 'pipe' is the standard word; 'tube' usually refers to flexible or smaller conduits.

2. In medicine and biology, a narrow channel inside a living organism that transpor

2.名詞B2
釋義

管狀器官

體內輸送空氣或液體的通道

In medicine and biology, a narrow channel inside a living organism that transports fluids such as blood, air, or digestive substances from one part of the body to another.

例句

Food moves from the mouth to the stomach through a muscular tube called the oesophagus.

食物從口腔經由一條稱為食道的肌肉管進入胃部。

biological tube in the digestive system

Élise visited a doctor because one of her fallopian tubes was blocked.

Élise 去看醫生，因為她的一條輸卵管堵塞了。

同義詞
  • duct

    technical term for a tube that carries secretions in the body

  • vessel

    specifically a blood vessel (not used for air passages)

  • passage

    less technical, broader meaning

用法筆記

Frequently appears in compound medical terms: 'fallopian tube', 'bronchial tube', 'Eustachian tube'. The plural form 'tubes' is common when referring to paired structures.

3. A soft, narrow container sealed at one end with a small opening at the other, ma

3.名詞B1
釋義

軟管

裝膏狀物的擠壓式容器

A soft, narrow container sealed at one end with a small opening at the other, made of metal or plastic, designed to hold a thick liquid or paste that you push out by squeezing.

例句

Yumi squeezed out the last of the toothpaste before buying a new tube.

Yumi 把最後一點牙膏擠出來，然後買了一條新的牙膏管。

squeeze + out of the tube — indicating extracting contents

The artist bought a tube of red oil paint from the art supply shop.

那位藝術家在美術用品店買了一管紅色油畫顏料。

同義詞
  • container

    more general; does not specify the squeezable design

  • tube packaging

    descriptive term for the packaging format

用法筆記

Nearly always followed by 'of' + substance: 'a tube of toothpaste / paint / hand cream / sunscreen'. The lid is screwed back on after each use to prevent the contents from drying out.

4. An informal British term for a metal can or glass bottle containing beer, typica

4.名詞B2
釋義

罐裝啤酒

口語指一罐啤酒

An informal British term for a metal can or glass bottle containing beer, typically served cold.

例句

Imran opened a cold tube of beer while watching the football match.

Imran 邊看足球賽邊打開了一罐冰啤酒。

informal: tube of beer = can or bottle of beer

After work, Matthew grabbed a couple of tubes from the fridge.

下班後，Matthew 從冰箱裡拿了幾罐啤酒。

同義詞
  • can

    neutral, not slang — the standard term across all varieties of English

  • tin

    British informal synonym for a can of beer

用法筆記

Chiefly British slang. Used in casual conversation, especially in pubs or among friends. 'A tube' means one can; 'a couple of tubes' is a common plural.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a tube of beer from the shop.' (too formal/slow delivery)
✅I grabbed a tube from the shop.
💡The word 'tube' for beer is slang and works best in casual, short phrases.

5. An electric train network that runs mostly in tunnels beneath the streets of Lon

5.名詞B1
釋義

倫敦地鐵

倫敦的地下鐵路系統

An electric train network that runs mostly in tunnels beneath the streets of London, commonly referred to by locals as the Tube.

例句

Shanti took the Tube from King's Cross to Oxford Circus this morning.

Shanti 今天早上搭倫敦地鐵從 King's Cross 到 Oxford Circus。

the Tube + from [station] to [station] — typical route expression

Christopher has lived in London for five years but still gets lost on the Tube.

Christopher 在倫敦住了五年，但搭地鐵還是會迷路。

同義詞

用法筆記

Always capitalised as 'the Tube' when referring to the London Underground. Use 'take the Tube' / 'go by Tube' / 'on the Tube'. The official name is 'the London Underground', but locals almost always call it 'the Tube' — the nickname comes from the shape of the deep-level tunnels, which are cylindrical tubes.

常見錯誤

❌I went by tube to work.
✅I took the Tube to work.
💡Always use the definite article and capital 'T' when referring to the London system.

6. The television, considered as a device for watching programmes or as a broadcast

6.名詞B2
釋義

電視

口語指電視或電視節目

The television, considered as a device for watching programmes or as a broadcast medium; used informally in phrases such as 'watch the tube' or 'on the tube'.

例句

After dinner, the whole family sat around watching the tube.

晚餐後，全家人圍坐在一起看電視。

informal: watching the tube = watching TV

My grandfather still calls the television 'the tube' even though it is a flat screen.

我爺爺到現在還是把電視叫作「the tube」，儘管那已經是平面螢幕了。

同義詞
  • TV

    neutral, more common in modern usage

  • television

    formal, the full word

  • the box

    British informal synonym, also old-fashioned

用法筆記

Informal and somewhat old-fashioned in American English, but still widely understood. Originates from the cathode-ray tube (CRT) used in older television sets. The definite article 'the' is required: 'on the tube', not 'on tube'.

常見錯誤

❌What is on tube tonight?
✅What is on the tube tonight?
💡Always include 'the' before 'tube' in this sense.