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northbound + noun
northbound 作定语，直接放在名词前，表示该名词所指的事物朝北移动。
There is heavy traffic on the northbound lane.
北行车道上交通拥堵。
北行的；向北的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
北行的；向北的
moving toward the north
There is heavy traffic on the northbound lane.
北行车道上交通拥堵。
向北行进或移动的；用于向北行驶的(指基础设施)。
Heading or moving in a northerly direction; or of infrastructure, intended for travelling northwards.
The northbound train leaves at six in the morning.
北行的火车早上六点出发。
We took the northbound lane to avoid the traffic jam.
我们走了北向车道以避开交通堵塞。
The northbound traffic was heavy during the holiday.
假日期间北行的交通很拥堵。
northbound 作定语，直接放在名词前，表示该名词所指的事物朝北移动。
There is heavy traffic on the northbound lane.
北行车道上交通拥堵。
作表语时描述主语行进的方向，常不带宾语。
The train was northbound when it left the station.
火车驶出车站时是向北行的。
Not this
The northbound is arriving at the station.
Use this
The northbound train is arriving at the station.
northbound 是形容词，表示“北行的”，不能单独作名词指代列车；要补上中心词 train。
Not this
Take the northern train to Beijing.
Use this
Take the northbound train to Beijing.
northern 指“北部的、北方的”，表示地理区域；northbound 指“向北行驶的”，表示行进方向。开往北京的列车应用 northbound。
Not this
The northbound train of Beijing is delayed.
Use this
The northbound train to Beijing is delayed.
表示列车开往的目的地要用介词 to；of 表示所属关系，不表示方向。用 to Beijing 说明列车驶向北京。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
北行列车
The northbound train arrives at platform 3.
北行列车停靠3号站台。
北向车流
Northbound traffic is moving slowly after the accident.
事故发生后，北向车流行驶缓慢。
北行车道
Stay in the northbound lane until you reach the exit.
在到达出口前，请保持在北行车道行驶。
北向行车道
The northbound carriageway is closed for repairs.
北向行车道因维修而关闭。
北行的旅程
We began the northbound journey at sunrise.
我们在日出时踏上了北行的旅程。
北向公交车
The northbound bus leaves every half hour.
北向公交车每半小时发一班。
Use northbound naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
north（北）+ bound（向…方向）→ 向北行的；联想一列 northbound 列车正朝北开去。
语域：neutral 常见场景：交通广播、铁路列车信息、公路路标 northbound 通常用于交通和运输等说明性语境，如列车或公路的方向表示，语气正式、中性；日常口语中较少单独使用，更常说 going north 或 heading north。
bound、sound、round 彼此押韵（/baʊnd/、/saʊnd/、/raʊnd/）。southbound、eastbound、westbound 与 northbound 共享拼写 -bound，结尾也读 /baʊnd/，但重音在第一个音节上，因此它们与目标词不押韵；northbound 的重读元音是 /ɒ:/。另外注意形近词 bond /bɒnd/，发音不同。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.