A timepiece is a clock or a watch — anything made to show the time. In plain meaning it covers both, which is its whole reason for existing: it is the word you reach for when you want one word for wristwatches, pocket watches, wall clocks and grandfather clocks together.

A timepiece這個字 is指的是 a clock鐘 or或 a watch錶 — anything made to show the time只要是能顯示時間的東西都算. In plain meaning就字面意義來說 it它 covers both兩個都涵蓋, which這 is is its whole reason for existing它存在的全部理由: for wristwatches手錶, pocket watches懷錶, wall clocks掛鐘 and和 grandfather clocks落地鐘 together放在一起 when you want one word當你想要一個字統稱這些 it is the word you reach for就是你會用的這個字.

But the everyday feeling matters more than the definition here. Nobody in ordinary conversation says 'What time is it? Let me check my timepiece.' They say watch, or clock. Timepiece is formal, a little old-fashioned, and slightly grand — you meet it in museums, in auction catalogues, in the writing of collectors, and above all in advertising for expensive watches, where 'a fine Swiss timepiece' sounds more serious than 'a watch'.

But但是 the everyday feeling這裡日常的語感 matters more than比 the definition字面定義 重要here — Nobody沒有人 in ordinary conversation在平常講話時 says會說 'What time is it? Let me check my timepiece.'「現在幾點？我看一下我的timepiece」 They他們 say會說 watch手錶 or或 clock時鐘 instead. Timepiece這個字 is is formal正式, a little old-fashioned有點過時, and和 slightly grand帶點高級感 — you你會 meet it在 in museums博物館, in auction catalogues拍賣目錄, in the writing of collectors收藏家的文章 遇到它, and above all尤其是 in advertising for expensive watches名錶廣告裡 遇到, where那裡 'a fine Swiss timepiece'「一只精美的瑞士timepiece」 sounds more serious than聽起來比 'a watch'「一只watch」更正式莊重.

Because of that, using it about a cheap plastic watch is usually a joke. Note also that it is a plain noun, countable, and normally written as one word.

Because of that正因為這樣, using it about a cheap plastic watch拿它來說一支便宜的塑膠錶 is is usually通常 a joke開玩笑的意思. Note also that另外要注意 it它 is is a plain noun普通名詞, countable可數, and normally通常 written as one word寫成一個字.