assistant

assistant — noun

1. a person whose job is to support a more senior worker by handling smaller tasks,

1.名詞B1
釋義

a person whose job is to support a more senior worker by handling smaller tasks, paperwork, and arrangements so the senior person can focus on bigger duties.

例句

Mira works as an assistant to the head chef at a busy hotel kitchen.

pattern: assistant to + senior person

The lawyer asked her assistant to print copies of the contract before the meeting.

typical task: handling routine work for a senior

同義詞
  • helper

    more general; can describe casual or unpaid help, not just a job role

  • aide

    common in political, medical, or military settings; sounds more formal

  • deputy

    ranks higher than an assistant; can act in place of the senior person

反義詞
  • boss

    the person an assistant reports to

  • supervisor

    the person who directs and reviews the assistant's work

文法句型

assistant to + person

[adjective/job] + assistant

用法筆記

Frequently appears as a compound job title (research assistant, teaching assistant, personal assistant). Often modified by 'to + person' to name the senior worker being supported.

常見錯誤

❌She is an assistant of the manager.
✅She is an assistant to the manager.
💡the preposition is 'to', not 'of'.
❌He assistants the doctor every Friday.
✅He assists the doctor every Friday.
💡'assistant' is only a noun; the verb is 'assist'.

2. a worker in a store who serves people at the counter, points out products, answe

2.名詞A2
釋義

a worker in a store who serves people at the counter, points out products, answers questions, and rings up purchases.

例句

The shop assistant showed Camille three pairs of running shoes in her size.

compound: shop assistant (British English)

A friendly assistant at the bakery wrapped the birthday cake in pink paper.

同義詞
  • salesclerk

    American English equivalent for someone serving shop customers

  • sales associate

    modern American job title used in retail chains

  • shopkeeper

    owns or runs the shop, rather than being employed there

反義詞
  • customer

    the person being served, not the one serving

文法句型

shop assistant

sales assistant

用法筆記

Mainly British English; American speakers usually say 'salesclerk', 'sales associate', or simply 'clerk'. Distinguish from sense 1: this 'assistant' serves shoppers, not a senior colleague.

常見錯誤

❌I work as an assistant in the supermarket' (in American English contexts).
✅I work as a sales associate in the supermarket.
💡in the US, 'assistant' alone usually means the office helper of sense 1.