核心畫面

Time that is counted because it is limited: minutes that go out through the air, or seconds when a body is up in the air. Somebody is always measuring it — buying it, sharing it, using it up, or bragging about it.

airtime 的核心畫面可以想成「在空中的那段時間」,而且是被人數著的時間。廣播和電視的訊號從空中傳出去,節目或廣更多收起airtime 的核心畫面可以想成「在空中的那段時間」,而且是被人數著的時間。廣播和電視的訊號從空中傳出去,節目或廣告佔掉的那段時間就叫 airtime。從這裡再走一步,會議裡誰講話佔了多久,也可以這樣說。手機通話同樣走電波,所以你付錢買到的通話量也是 airtime。還有最字面的一種:人跳起來、真的離地的那幾秒。這幾個意思差很多,共同點是同一件事:時間有限,所以要算、要買、要分,或者拿來炫耀。

From the word’s history

From air plus time.

由 air(空中)加 time(時間)組成。

Wiktionary (kaikki extract, source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:1031639859:11670): 'From air + time.'

Three branches

播出去的時間

訊號從空中傳出去,佔掉的那段時間就是 airtime;把會議當成節目,這個算法也跟著搬過去。

noun · B2

The amount of time that a radio or television station gives to one subject, person, song, or advertisement — how long it is on the air.

播出時間/廣告時段

付費買到的通話時間

電話同樣靠電波在空中傳,所以你買下的通話量也叫 airtime,用一分少一分。

noun · B2

The amount of mobile phone use you have paid for, counted in minutes or in units; when it runs out, you buy more before you can call again.

通話時數(預付)

人真的在空中的時間

這一支不經過廣播,直接回到字面:air 就是空中,time 就是停在那裡的秒數。

noun · C1

The time your body spends off the ground in the air after a jump, and also the moments on a rollercoaster or similar ride when you feel light and almost lifted out of your seat.

滯空時間/飄浮感