A steamboat is a boat driven by a steam engine — you burn coal or wood, the fire boils water, the steam pushes the engine, and the engine turns the wheels or the propeller.

A steamboat蒸汽船 is a boat driven by a steam engine是一種靠蒸汽引擎推動的船 — you burn coal or wood你燒煤或木頭, the fire boils water火把水煮沸, the steam pushes the engine蒸汽推動引擎, and the engine turns the wheels or the propeller引擎再帶動輪子或螺旋槳.

Steamboats were the fast, modern transport of the nineteenth century, especially on rivers and along coasts. The most famous ones are the big American paddle steamers on the Mississippi River, with a huge wheel turning at the back. Because that time has passed, the word now feels historical.

Steamboats蒸汽船 were the fast, modern transport of the nineteenth century曾是十九世紀快速、現代的交通工具, especially on rivers and along coasts尤其是在河流和沿海地區. The most famous ones最有名的 are the big American paddle steamers on the Mississippi River是密西西比河上的美國大型明輪蒸汽船, with a huge wheel turning at the back船尾裝著一個巨大轉動的輪子. Because that time has passed因為那個時代已經過去了, the word now feels historical這個詞現在聽起來就有歷史感.

If you say steamboat, people picture the past: Mark Twain, old photographs, tall chimneys, a whistle. Modern boats have diesel engines, so almost the only steamboats left today are tourist boats kept running because they are beautiful.

If you say steamboat如果你說steamboat, people picture the past大家會聯想到過去: Mark Twain, old photographs, tall chimneys, a whistle馬克吐溫、老照片、高聳的煙囪、汽笛聲. Modern boats have diesel engines現代的船都用柴油引擎, so almost the only steamboats left today are tourist boats所以現在幾乎只剩下觀光船還叫steamboat kept running because they are beautiful因為好看才繼續開著.

There is a size difference worth knowing. A steamboat is usually a river or coastal boat. A big ocean-going one is normally called a steamship, or a steamer. In practice people are loose about this, and 'steamer' covers both.

There is a size difference worth knowing有個大小上的差別值得知道. A steamboatsteamboat is usually a river or coastal boat通常是指河船或沿海的船. A big ocean-going one大型的遠洋船 is normally called a steamship, or a steamer通常叫做steamship或steamer. In practice實際上, people are loose about this大家用起來沒分那麼清楚, and 'steamer' covers both'steamer'兩種都可以指.

One thing that will surprise you: in Singapore and Malaysia, 'steamboat' means hot pot — the meal where you cook thin meat and vegetables yourself in a pot of boiling soup at the table. That is the everyday meaning there, nothing to do with boats at all. Taiwanese students meeting Singaporean friends run into this often. So if someone invites you to steamboat, they probably mean dinner, not a river trip.

One thing that will surprise you有件事會讓你意外: in Singapore and Malaysia在新加坡和馬來西亞, 'steamboat''steamboat' means hot pot指的是火鍋 — the meal where you cook thin meat and vegetables yourself in a pot of boiling soup at the table也就是自己在桌上用一鍋滾湯涮薄肉片和蔬菜的那種料理. That is the everyday meaning there那是當地日常的意思, nothing to do with boats at all跟船完全沒關係. Taiwanese students meeting Singaporean friends run into this often台灣學生遇到新加坡朋友常常會碰到這個. So if someone invites you to steamboat所以如果有人邀你去steamboat, they probably mean dinner他們大概是說要吃飯, not a river trip不是要去搭船遊河.