automation
automation — 名詞
1. The practice of relying on machines, computers, and software to carry out tasks
自動化
用機器取代人力的技術
The practice of relying on machines, computers, and software to carry out tasks that once needed human workers, so the work happens with very little direct human control.
The factory introduced automation to speed up production and reduce errors.
這家工廠引進自動化來加快生產並減少錯誤。
collocation: introduce automation
Automation has replaced many jobs on factory production lines over the past ten years.
過去十年來，自動化已取代了工廠生產線上的許多工作。
Wei's company invested in automation to handle customer-service tasks at night.
Wei 的公司投資自動化，以便在夜間處理客服工作。
collocation: invest in automation
Banks use automation to process thousands of payments every minute without human help.
銀行利用自動化每分鐘處理數千筆付款，無需人工協助。
Charlotte read that automation could change how people work in hospitals and offices.
Charlotte 讀到自動化可能改變人們在醫院和辦公室的工作方式。
agent-noun pattern: subject (person/company) + use/invest in/adopt + automation
- introduce automation
- invest in automation
- adopt automation
- expand automation
- automation technology
- automation system
- automation process
- degree of automation
- mechanization
older and narrower — refers specifically to replacing human or animal muscle power with machines, not necessarily with computer control
- computerization
focuses on replacing manual or paper-based processes with digital systems; does not always involve autonomous decision-making
- robotization
specifically the use of robots; a subset of automation rather than a synonym for the whole concept
- manual labor
work done by people using their hands or basic tools, without machine assistance
用法筆記
Typically uncountable. This sense is most common in discussions about industry, employment, technology adoption, and productivity. The word is often paired with verbs such as 'introduce', 'adopt', 'expand', or 'invest in'.
常見錯誤
2. The condition in which a machine, system, or process operates by itself, without
自動運行
系統自行運作的狀態
The condition in which a machine, system, or process operates by itself, without requiring continuous human control or intervention.
The new parking system runs on full automation, so drivers never need a ticket.
新的停車系統採用全自動運行，車主完全不需要拿票。
common modifier: full automation
Romi prefers the automation of her smart home — lights turn on when she walks in.
Romi 喜歡她智慧住宅的自動運行功能——她一走進門燈就會亮起。
The train line's automation means no driver is needed inside the cabin.
這條地鐵線路的自動運行代表車廂內不需要駕駛員。
pattern: [noun]'s automation + verb (describes the result of automatic operation)
With full automation, the factory can keep running twenty-four hours a day.
有了全自動運行，這家工廠可以一天二十四小時持續運作。
Noa checked the level of automation in each machine before buying it for the workshop.
Noa 在購買 workshop 的機器之前，先檢查了每臺機器的自動運行程度。
collocation: level of automation
- full automation
- complete automation
- total automation
- level of automation
- degree of automation
- runs on automation
- the automation of [something]
- automatic operation
more concrete — describes the functioning itself rather than the abstract condition
- self-operation
less common; emphasizes the lack of external control
- manual operation
operation that requires a person to control each step
用法筆記
Frequently modified by 'full', 'complete', or 'total' to indicate the extent of autonomous operation. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 describes the resulting condition (the state of working automatically), whereas sense 1 describes the practice of introducing such technology.
常見錯誤
同根字
- automate動詞B2
- automatic形容詞B1
- automatically副詞B1