vampire

vampire — 名詞

1. A mythical undead creature from folklore that rises from its burial place after

1.名詞A2
釋義

吸血鬼

夜間吸血的傳說不死生物

A mythical undead creature from folklore that rises from its burial place after dark and survives by biting people and drinking their blood.

例句

According to local legend, a vampire haunts the old cemetery on the hill.

根據當地傳說，山丘上的舊墓園經常有吸血鬼出沒。

countable noun with indefinite article

In many old tales, villagers drove wooden stakes through vampires' hearts to stop them.

在許多古老的傳說中，村民會將木樁刺穿吸血鬼的心臟來阻止牠們。

vampires (plural) + possessive form

同義詞
  • undead

    broader category; refers to any reanimated corpse, not just blood-drinkers

  • bloodsucker

    informal or literary term that emphasises the feeding habit

反義詞
  • human

    a living person as opposed to an undead creature

  • mortal

    a being subject to natural death, unlike a vampire

文法句型

a + vampire

the + vampire

vampires (plural)

用法筆記

Countable noun. Usually takes the indefinite article or plural form. Frequently appears in possessive constructions (vampire's, vampires').

常見錯誤

❌The vampire bit the man and then he died.
✅The vampire bit the man, and the man later became a vampire himself.
💡In most folklore traditions, a vampire's bite does not immediately kill; it turns the victim into another vampire.

2. A person, business, or institution that takes advantage of others by extracting

2.名詞B2
釋義

剝削者

壓榨他人時間金錢或精力的人或組織

A person, business, or institution that takes advantage of others by extracting their money, time, or emotional energy for selfish gain.

例句

The landlord was a real vampire, collecting rent but never fixing the broken pipes.

房東簡直是個吸血鬼，只會收租卻從不修理破損的水管。

metaphorical use with 'real' emphasiser

Critics called the payday loan company a vampire that fed on struggling families.

批評人士稱這家發薪日貸款公司是吸血鬼，專門榨取那些手頭拮据的家庭。

同義詞
  • predator

    less figurative than 'vampire'; can describe both literal and figurative exploitation

  • parasite

    stronger negative connotation; implies the exploiter contributes nothing in return

  • bloodsucker

    informal, synonymous with the figurative use of 'vampire'

反義詞
  • benefactor

    a person or organisation that gives rather than takes

  • philanthropist

    someone who actively helps others, especially financially

文法句型

a + vampire

vampire + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Metaphorical, informal, and often hyperbolic. Commonly paired with modifiers like 'corporate', 'financial', or 'emotional' to specify the type of exploitation. Frequently pejorative.

常見錯誤

❌That company is a vampire for using old equipment.
✅That company is a vampire because it steals ideas from smaller competitors.
💡'Vampire' implies active predation, not just poor management or frugality.

vampire — 形容詞