vehicle

vehicle — 名詞

1. a machine with a motor and wheels, for example a car, bus, or truck, that people

1.名詞A2
釋義

車輛

有輪子引擎的陸上運輸工具

a machine with a motor and wheels, for example a car, bus, or truck, that people ride in to travel or to carry their things to another place

例句

Felix parked his vehicle in the underground garage near the office.

Felix 把車輛停在辦公室附近的地下停車場。

parked his vehicle: used for where a car is kept

Hundreds of vehicles were stuck in a traffic jam on the main highway.

數百輛車子被困在主要公路的交通堵塞中。

plural: hundreds of vehicles in traffic situations

同義詞
  • car

    the most common personal vehicle for 4-5 passengers; narrower than vehicle

  • automobile

    formal or technical term for a car; far less common in everyday speech

  • truck

    a large vehicle for carrying goods, not passengers

  • van

    a box-shaped vehicle for carrying groups of people or cargo

文法句型

a vehicle

vehicle + for + purpose

vehicle + of + type

in/on + a vehicle

用法筆記

Vehicle is a general term that covers cars, trucks, vans, buses, and motorcycles. When the context is clear, speakers often prefer a more specific word such as car or truck.

常見錯誤

❌She drives a vehicle named Toyota Corolla.
✅She drives a Toyota Corolla.
💡Use car (not vehicle) when referring to a specific make or model.
❌I saw a strange vehicle walking down the street.
✅I saw a strange vehicle driving down the street.
💡Vehicles are driven, not walked.

2. something that is used as a way to communicate ideas, feelings, or messages, or

2.名詞B2
釋義

媒介

傳達想法或達成目標的方式

something that is used as a way to communicate ideas, feelings, or messages, or as a means to achieve a particular result — for example, using art to express political views, or sport to teach values

例句

Art can be a powerful vehicle for social change and political protest.

藝術可以是推動社會變革和政治抗議的有力媒介。

vehicle for [purpose/change]

The internet has become the main vehicle for spreading news and information.

網際網路已成為傳播新聞和資訊的主要媒介。

同義詞
  • medium

    more specific to artistic or creative expression; vehicle can also refer to practical goals

  • channel

    focuses on the path through which something flows (e.g. a channel for information)

  • instrument

    stresses the tool-like, practical function of achieving something

  • tool

    more concrete and hands-on than vehicle; less metaphorical

文法句型

a vehicle + for + noun phrase

a vehicle + to-infinitive

serve as a vehicle

become a vehicle

用法筆記

Frequently followed by the preposition for (a vehicle for change) or by a to-infinitive (a vehicle to promote). Uncommon in informal conversation — it belongs more to writing and public speech.

常見錯誤

❌Language is a vehicle of communication.
✅Language is a vehicle for communication.
💡In this sense, vehicle is almost always followed by for or to, not of.
❌Music is a transportation for emotions.
✅Music is a vehicle for emotions.
💡Do not confuse the abstract sense with the transport sense by using transportation.

3. a film, TV show, play, or song that is designed mainly to highlight the particul

3.名詞C1
釋義

量身作品

為凸顯某表演者才華而設計的節目

a film, TV show, play, or song that is designed mainly to highlight the particular talents of a single performer or artist

例句

The director wrote the film as a vehicle for the famous singer's acting debut.

導演將這部電影寫成那位知名歌手戲劇處女作的量身打造作品。

vehicle for [performer]: designed to showcase talent

This Broadway musical is a perfect vehicle for a performer who sings and dances.

這齣百老匯音樂劇非常適合能歌善舞的表演者來發揮。

同義詞
  • showcase

    a more general term; a showcase is the event itself, while a vehicle is the work designed for it

  • star vehicle

    an idiomatic expression exactly matching this sense; used in film criticism

文法句型

a vehicle + for + performer

a vehicle + to showcase

vehicle + for + talent/ability/skill

用法筆記

Almost always followed by for + performer or talent. This sense is specific to the entertainment industry and is not used for everyday activities.

常見錯誤

❌This book is a vehicle for the author's writing.
✅This book showcases the author's writing.
💡Showcase vehicle typically refers to film, TV, theatre, or music, not books.
❌The training program is a vehicle for the coach's methods.
✅The training program was not written as an entertainment vehicle for the coach.
💡The original was identical; changed to show the correct usage of the entertainment sense.