window-shopping
window-shopping — 名詞
1. the activity of walking past shops and looking at the items shown in their windo
逛櫥窗
逛街欣賞櫥窗陳列但不購買
the activity of walking past shops and looking at the items shown in their windows, without planning to buy anything
On Saturday afternoons, Aoi and her best friend enjoy window-shopping in the Shibuya district.
每逢週六下午，Aoi 和好友都喜歡在澀谷區逛櫥窗。
present participle after 'enjoy'
Window-shopping is a cheap way for families to spend time together on weekends.
逛櫥窗是家人週末一起消磨時間的省錢方式。
uncountable noun as singular subject
Elena walked down Nanjing East Road, window-shopping at every clothing boutique.
Elena 沿著南京東路走，每經過一家服飾店就看看櫥窗。
Even without any money, Maeve loves window-shopping at the jewelry stores downtown.
即使身上沒帶錢，Maeve 還是很喜歡逛市區的珠寶店櫥窗。
- browsing
browsing is broader — you can browse in a store or online, while window-shopping is specifically about looking at displays from outside
- window-gazing
less common; emphasizes the looking aspect rather than the shopping context
- shopping
shopping usually involves buying, while window-shopping excludes purchase
文法句型
go + window-shopping
do some + window-shopping
用法筆記
This is the most common sense. The verb pattern 'go window-shopping' is a fixed collocation — the headword functions like a gerund in this structure.
常見錯誤
2. browsing through products or services on websites or apps to see what is for sal
瀏覽商品
在網路瀏覽商品或服務但不立即購買
browsing through products or services on websites or apps to see what is for sale, without planning to buy anything right away
Cyrus spent an hour window-shopping on furniture websites before choosing a desk.
Cyrus 花了一小時在傢俱網站上看商品，最後才選定一張書桌。
spend + time + verb-ing pattern
Online window-shopping helps Reema compare prices without leaving her apartment.
線上瀏覽商品讓 Reema 不用出門就能比價。
compound noun pre-modified by 'online'
Selim enjoys window-shopping on auction sites just to see unusual items for sale.
Selim 喜歡在拍賣網站上逛，純粹看看有哪些特別的東西在賣。
Many shoppers do online window-shopping for weeks before the holiday sales begin.
許多消費者會在節日促銷前好幾週就開始線上瀏覽商品。
- browsing online
more general term that covers all kinds of web browsing, not just products or services
- comparing prices
focuses on the price-checking goal, while window-shopping includes any kind of looking
- online shopping
online shopping involves purchasing; online window-shopping is looking only
文法句型
go + window-shopping + on + [website/platform]
do some + online + window-shopping
用法筆記
Often used with the pre-modifier 'online' to distinguish from the physical sense. Common with verbs like 'spend time', 'do', and 'enjoy'. This sense has grown more frequent with the rise of e-commerce.
常見錯誤
3. the act of looking at the different possibilities open to you in a situation bef
觀望評估
做決定前先考量各種選擇
the act of looking at the different possibilities open to you in a situation before you decide what to do — for example, considering several job offers before choosing one, or evaluating different university programs before applying
Before accepting the job offer, Christopher did some window-shopping among other positions.
在接受那份工作之前，Christopher 先觀望評估了其他職缺。
do some + window-shopping + among + [options]
The committee did some window-shopping among design proposals, which delayed the project by a week.
委員會在幾個設計方案之間觀望評估，導致專案延遲了一週。
do some + window-shopping + among + [options]
Adisa treated the first round of interviews as window-shopping to learn about the field.
Adisa 把第一輪面試當作觀望評估，藉此了解業界狀況。
After some window-shopping among graduate programs, Ilan chose the university in Kyoto.
Ilan 觀望評估了幾間研究所之後，選擇了京都的那所大學。
- exploring options
more formal and literal; lacks the light, informal tone of 'window-shopping'
- sizing up
informal; can carry a competitive or evaluative tone, while window-shopping is more neutral
- committing
committing is the act of making a final choice after the window-shopping phase
文法句型
do some + window-shopping + among + [options]
treat + [something] + as + window-shopping
用法筆記
This is a metaphorical extension of the literal senses. It always implies that the person is gathering information and has not yet made a commitment. The subject is typically a person or an organization considering alternatives. Avoid using this sense in formal writing.