bother

/ˈbɒðə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɑːðər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbä-t͟hər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbɒð.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɑː.ðɚ/ (ame, ipa)

bother — verb

1. to interrupt someone, get in their way, or make them feel slightly annoyed in an

1.動詞及物A2
釋義

to interrupt someone, get in their way, or make them feel slightly annoyed in an unwanted way.

例句

Sorry to bother you during dinner, but your car lights are on.

polite apology: sorry to bother you

Buzzing flies bothered the campers through the whole breakfast.

同義詞
  • annoy

    focuses more on irritation than on interruption

  • disturb

    often used for breaking sleep, peace, or concentration

  • interrupt

    narrower; especially about cutting into speech or activity

  • bug

    informal; usually repeated annoying behavior

反義詞
  • leave alone

    to stop interrupting or annoying someone

  • spare

    to avoid causing trouble to someone

文法句型

bother somebody

bother somebody with something

sorry to bother you

be bothered by something

用法筆記

Common in polite requests and apologies: `Sorry to bother you ...` Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about interruption or irritation from a person, noise, or situation, not deep worry.

常見錯誤

❌Don't bother to me while I'm driving.
✅Don't bother me while I'm driving.
💡the person affected comes directly after the verb.
❌Sorry to disturb you a question.
✅Sorry to bother you with a question.
💡use `bother + person + with + thing` when asking for someone's time.

2. to do something that needs extra time or energy, especially when you might decid

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to do something that needs extra time or energy, especially when you might decide it is not worth it.

例句

Noa bothered to check the train times before leaving home.

bother to + infinitive

Few guests bothered to reply to Hana's birthday message.

同義詞
反義詞
  • ignore

    to give no attention to something

  • skip

    to leave the action undone

文法句型

bother to do something

bother doing something

don't bother to do something

用法筆記

Very common in negatives and questions, especially with `to + infinitive`: `don't bother to call`, `did you bother to ask?` In informal speech, `bother doing` also appears, usually when the speaker suggests the action was not worth the effort.

常見錯誤

❌I didn't bother do the form.
✅I didn't bother to do the form.
💡this pattern normally uses `to + infinitive`.
❌She bothered for calling me.
✅She bothered to call me.
💡do not put `for` before the verb.

3. to leave someone worried, sad, or uneasy because something seems wrong, unsafe,

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to leave someone worried, sad, or uneasy because something seems wrong, unsafe, or upsetting.

例句

The dark mark on Mei's arm bothered her for weeks.

health sign as subject

It bothered Dr. Okafor that the child stopped eating lunch.

it bothers somebody that ...

同義詞
  • worry

    the closest everyday choice when something stays on your mind

  • concern

    slightly more formal and often less emotional

  • trouble

    suggests something keeps returning to your thoughts

  • unsettle

    focuses on making someone feel less calm or secure

反義詞
  • reassure

    to make someone feel less worried

  • calm

    to reduce fear or nervous feelings

文法句型

something bothers somebody

it bothers somebody that ...

something is bothering somebody

用法筆記

The subject is often a fact, memory, health sign, or unanswered question rather than a person. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about inner worry or unease, not a small interruption.

常見錯誤

❌I bother about my son.
✅I am bothered about my son.' / 'I worry about my son.
💡this sense usually makes the cause the subject, not the worried person.
❌It was bothered me that he left.
✅It bothered me that he left.
💡use `bother` directly as the verb after `it`.

bother — noun

bother — exclamation