tutor
/ˈtjuːtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtuːtər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtü-tər ˈtyü-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtʃuː.tər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtuː.t̬ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
tutor — noun
- tutorsingular
- tutorsplural
1. a person you pay to teach you a subject outside of regular school hours, usually
a person you pay to teach you a subject outside of regular school hours, usually meeting one-on-one or with just a few other students, so that you can get extra help with work you find hard.
Tariq hired a math tutor to help his daughter prepare for the final exams.
hire a tutor + to-infinitive for purpose
After school, Hui meets with her English tutor twice a week at the library.
The tutor used simple drawings to explain the science topic to the young student.
A student worked as a private tutor during the summer break to earn extra money.
- coach
more common for sports or performance skills (singing, public speaking), whereas tutor is mainly academic
- instructor
more formal and often tied to a specific course or skill (driving instructor, swim instructor)
- mentor
a more experienced person who gives long-term guidance on career or life, not just academic help
常見錯誤
2. a member of the teaching staff in a university or college whose job involves wor
a member of the teaching staff in a university or college whose job involves working individually or with very few students at a time, supporting both their academic progress and their personal wellbeing.
Each first-year student at the college is assigned a personal tutor.
personal tutor / assigned a tutor
João went to see his tutor for advice on choosing his final-year project topic.
The history tutor at Oxford meets with her group of four students every week.
Samir's tutor helped him apply for a scholarship to continue his research.
- adviser / advisor
focuses on academic/career guidance rather than teaching; used widely in US universities
- supervisor
specifically for research students (PhD, master's thesis); more about directing a project than general support
- don
a very traditional term used at Oxford and Cambridge for a college teacher; less common and quite formal
用法筆記
Common in the British university system. A tutor at this level often combines teaching, academic guidance, and pastoral support — unlike a 'lecturer', who mainly gives large-class lectures.
常見錯誤
3. a teacher working in a school whose main job is to watch over the welfare of spe
a teacher working in a school whose main job is to watch over the welfare of specific children, keeping an eye on their schoolwork and personal circumstances, and giving support when they need it.
Ari's form tutor noticed he had been missing classes and asked if he needed help.
form tutor + notices personal issues
Students go to their tutor first with a problem at school or at home.
Adisa's tutor wrote a letter to support his application for the science camp.
As a form tutor, Mr. Nakamura checks on each of his fifteen students every morning.
- form teacher
a more general term used in many countries for the teacher responsible for a homeroom class
- guidance counsellor
a specialist role focused on personal and career counselling, not usually a regular teacher
- pastoral tutor
emphasises the welfare/care aspect of the role; common in UK private schools
用法筆記
In UK secondary schools, this role is usually called a 'form tutor' or 'pastoral tutor'. Unlike a subject teacher, the tutor's main job is student welfare and general guidance.
常見錯誤
tutor — verb
- tutorpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tutors3rd person singular
- tutoring-ing form
- tutoredpast simple
1. to give a person or a small group extra lessons in a particular subject outside
to give a person or a small group extra lessons in a particular subject outside of regular school, usually because they need more help or want to improve.
Henrik tutors high school students in biology on Saturday mornings.
tutor + [someone] + in + [subject]
A retired teacher from the village tutors children who cannot afford extra classes.
Sade tutors her younger brother in French so he does not fall behind the class.
Christopher earns extra income by tutoring international students in academic writing.
The programme pairs volunteer doctors who tutor medical students in clinical skills.
- coach
more common for test preparation, sports, or performance; 'coach someone for an exam' rather than 'coach someone in a subject'
- instruct
more formal and often used for teaching specific practical skills (instruct in driving, swimming)
- teach
more general — teaching happens in any setting (classroom, online, formal); tutoring is specifically private or small-group
文法句型
tutor [someone] in [subject]
tutor [someone]
用法筆記
Always takes an object — you tutor someone (in something). Can be used in passive: 'She was tutored in math by a retired professor.'
常見錯誤
2. to do the job of a private teacher, especially as a way of earning money, withou
to do the job of a private teacher, especially as a way of earning money, without saying who is being taught.
Asher tutors at a community centre every Tuesday and Thursday evening.
tutor + at + [place]
When Noa was in college, he tutored to help pay for his textbooks.
The website connects families with people who tutor in their local area.
Beatrix has been tutoring for over twelve years and still enjoys working with young people.
- give private lessons
a phrasal alternative that can be used with or without an object; slightly more formal
- do tutoring
more informal, often used in casual conversation ('She does tutoring on the side')
文法句型
tutor + adverb/prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Used without a direct object — describes the profession or regular activity rather than a specific teaching situation. 'He tutors' means his job or side work is tutoring, not that he is teaching someone particular right now.