These are all words for the things that you need for a particular purpose or activity. 以上各词均指特定目的或活动所需的材料、设备、器材。

• equipment the things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity 指特定目的或活动所需的设备、器材：◆camping equipment 野营装备◆a piece of equipment 一件设备
• material things that are needed for a particular activity 指特定活动所需的材料：◆household cleaning materials 家用清洁剂◆teaching material 教学材料

equipment or material? 用 equipment 还是 material？

Equipment is usually solid things, especially large ones. Materials may be liquids, powders or books, CDs, etc. containing information, as well as small solid items. * equipment 通常指固体材料，尤其是大型设备器材；material 除指小型固体材料外，还可指液体、粉末、书籍、信息光盘等。

• gear the equipment or clothes needed for a particular activity 指某种活动所需的设备、用具、衣服：◆Skiing gear can be expensive. 滑雪装备有时会很昂贵。
• kit a set of tools or equipment that you use for a particular purpose 指用于特定目的的成套工具、成套设备：◆a first-aid kit 一套急救用品◆a tool kit 一套工具
• apparatus the tools or other pieces of equipment that are needed for a particular activity or task 指特定活动或任务所需的仪器、器械、装置：◆breathing apparatus for firefighters 消防员用的呼吸器◆laboratory apparatus 实验室仪器 NOTE Apparatus is used especially for scientific, medical or technical purposes. * apparatus 尤具有科学、医学或技术等方面的用途。

Patterns

• electrical/electronic equipment/gear/apparatus
• sports equipment/gear/kit
• camping equipment/gear
• a piece of equipment/apparatus