An 18-wheeler is a very large truck for carrying goods a long way, named because it runs on eighteen wheels. In American English this is the picture people have: a high cab in front pulling a long box trailer on the highway. You also hear eighteen-wheeler, big rig, and semi.

An 18-wheeler is a very large truck 18-wheeler 是一種非常大的貨車 for carrying goods a long way用來長途載貨, named because it runs on eighteen wheels之所以這樣叫是因為它跑在十八個輪子上. In American English在美式英文裡 this is the picture people have大家腦中的畫面是: a high cab in front pulling a long box trailer on the highway一個高高的車頭拉著長長的貨櫃拖車在高速公路上跑. You also hear你也會聽到 eighteen-wheeler、big rig、還有 semi

The front part (the tractor) has two steering wheels, then dual wheels on two axles at the back of the tractor; the trailer has dual wheels on two more axles — that is how you get to eighteen. Though actually, not every huge truck on the road has exactly eighteen wheels; people still call the classic long-distance rig an 18-wheeler even when a count would argue.

The front part (the tractor)前面那部分（也就是車頭）has two steering wheels有兩個轉向輪, then dual wheels on two axles at the back of the tractor然後車頭後段兩個軸上是雙輪; the trailer has dual wheels on two more axles拖車那邊又是兩個軸的雙輪 — that is how you get to eighteen這樣加起來就是十八個. Though actually不過, not every huge truck on the road has exactly eighteen wheels並不是每輛路上的大卡車剛好都是十八個輪子; people still call the classic long-distance rig an 18-wheeler大家還是會把那種經典的長途大卡車叫做 18-wheeler even when a count would argue即使真的數起來對不上

British English more often says articulated lorry or artic; 18-wheeler sounds American. It is informal, spoken, and a bit colourful — a news reader might say lorry or HGV instead.

British English英式英文 more often says articulated lorry or artic比較常說 articulated lorry 或 artic; 18-wheeler sounds American 18-wheeler 聽起來就是美式說法. It is informal, spoken, and a bit colourful這是個口語、非正式、還有點生動的說法 — a news reader might say lorry or HGV instead新聞主播可能會改說 lorry 或 HGV