bearing

/ˈbeərɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈɛrɪŋ] /ˈberɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈɛrɪŋ] /ˈber-iŋ/ (ame, mw)

bearing — 名詞

  • bearingsingular
  • bearingsplural

1. a metal or plastic part in a machine that lets one moving piece slide or rotate

1.名詞B2
釋義

軸承

減少機械摩擦的零件

a metal or plastic part in a machine that lets one moving piece slide or rotate against another piece with less friction

例句

The mechanic replaced the worn wheel bearing on Astrid's car.

技師更換了 Astrid 車上磨損的車輪軸承。

collocation: wheel bearing

Ball bearings help the wheels of a skateboard spin smoothly.

滾珠軸承能讓滑板輪子平穩轉動。

collocation: ball bearing

同義詞
  • bushing

    a simpler type of bearing, usually a fixed metal sleeve

文法句型

bearings (plural) / a bearing (singular)

用法筆記

In mechanical contexts, 'bearings' is usually plural. Common types include ball bearings, roller bearings, and wheel bearings.

常見錯誤

❌The bearing wall supports the roof.
✅The load-bearing wall supports the roof.
💡a wall that supports a building is 'load-bearing', while a 'bearing' is a machine part that reduces friction.

2. to find out where you are, especially by looking at familiar landmarks, a map, o

2.名詞B2
釋義

辨別方向

找出自己所在的方位

to find out where you are, especially by looking at familiar landmarks, a map, or a compass

例句

Theo stopped on the hill to get his bearings before choosing a path.

Theo 在山上停下來辨別方向，然後才選擇走哪一條路。

phrase: get (one's) bearings

After the fog cleared, the hikers could finally find their bearings using the mountain peaks.

霧散去之後，登山者終於能靠山頂來辨別方位。

phrase: find (one's) bearings

同義詞
  • orient oneself

    more formal; often used in survival or navigation contexts

文法句型

get/find (one's) bearings

用法筆記

Almost always used in the fixed phrases 'get your bearings' or 'find your bearings'. Never used as a standalone countable noun in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌I need a bearing.
✅I need to get my bearings.
💡this sense always uses the plural phrase, never the singular form.

3. to become comfortable in a new job, home, or situation by learning how things wo

3.名詞B2
釋義

適應

熟悉新環境或新情況

to become comfortable in a new job, home, or situation by learning how things work and what is expected of you

例句

Defne needed a few weeks to get her bearings at the new school.

Defne 花了幾個星期才適應新學校。

figurative: get (one's) bearings in a new situation

New employees usually need about a month to get their bearings in this company.

新進員工通常在這個公司需要大約一個月才能熟悉環境。

同義詞
  • settle in

    less formal, more common in everyday speech

  • find one's feet

    idiomatic; refers to becoming confident in a new situation

文法句型

get (one's) bearings

用法筆記

This is a figurative extension of sense 2. Use this when the context is about adapting to a new role or environment, not about physical location. Distinguish from sense 2 by checking whether the situation involves literal navigation (sense 2) or adjustment to a new task or social setting (sense 3).

常見錯誤

❌I am getting my bearing in the new job.
✅I am getting my bearings in the new job.
💡always plural in this phrase, even when the meaning is figurative.

4. to become confused about where you are or about what you should do next because

4.名詞B2
釋義

迷失方向

失去方向或不知道下一步該做什麼

to become confused about where you are or about what you should do next because you have lost sight of familiar reference points

例句

After the power cut, Jabari lost his bearings in the dark basement.

停電後，Jabari 在漆黑的地下室裡迷失了方向。

phrase: lose (one's) bearings (literal)

The research team lost their bearings when every sand dune looked the same.

研究團隊迷失了方向，因為每座沙丘看起來都一樣。

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

lose (one's) bearings

用法筆記

The opposite of 'get/find your bearings'. Can be literal (not knowing where you are physically) or figurative (feeling mentally or socially lost). The literal meaning is more common.

常見錯誤

❌I losed my bearings.
✅I lost my bearings.
💡'lose' is an irregular verb; past tense is 'lost', not 'losed'.

5. a direction measured in degrees clockwise from north, used in navigation, map-re

5.名詞B2
釋義

方位角；航向

從北方順時針測量的方向度數

a direction measured in degrees clockwise from north, used in navigation, map-reading, and surveying to describe the position of one place relative to another

例句

The campsite is about five miles from here on a bearing of 200 degrees.

露營地距離這裡大約五英里，方位角 200 度。

pattern: on a bearing of [number] degrees

The captain took a bearing on the lighthouse to check the ship's position.

船長以燈塔為基準測量方位，以確認船隻的位置。

phrase: take a bearing on [landmark]

同義詞
  • heading

    the direction a vessel or aircraft is pointed, not necessarily measured clockwise from north

  • azimuth

    technical synonym used in astronomy and surveying

文法句型

a bearing of [number] degrees

take a bearing on [landmark]

用法筆記

Bearings are always given as three-digit numbers (e.g., 045°, 200°). In navigation, 'taking a bearing' means measuring the direction from your position to a visible landmark using a compass.

常見錯誤

❌The bearing is 45 degrees.
✅The bearing is 045 degrees.
💡bearings are written with three digits, including leading zeros.

6. how one thing is connected to or influences something else, especially when this

6.名詞B2
釋義

影響；關聯

對某事的影響或與某事的關係

how one thing is connected to or influences something else, especially when this matters for decisions

例句

The weather will have a significant bearing on whether the outdoor concert goes ahead.

天氣對戶外音樂會能否舉行有重大影響。

phrase: have a bearing on [something]

Camila's finance experience had a direct bearing on her success as a business owner.

Camila 的金融經驗對她創業成功有直接影響。

adjective modifier: direct bearing

同義詞
  • relevance

    how closely something relates to the matter at hand

  • connection

    a more general term for a link between two things

  • impact

    emphasises the effect rather than the relationship

反義詞
  • irrelevance

    the state of having no connection to the matter

文法句型

have a bearing on [something]

用法筆記

Nearly always used in the phrase 'have a bearing on [something]'. The object is typically an abstract thing (a decision, result, question, outcome). Common adjective modifiers: 'direct', 'considerable', 'significant', 'little', 'no'.

常見錯誤

❌This has bearing to our problem.
✅This has a bearing on our problem.
💡the correct preposition is 'on', not 'to', and a determiner ('a', 'no', 'any') is usually needed before 'bearing'.

7. the way a person stands, moves, and conducts themselves, especially when it comm

7.名詞B2
釋義

舉止；風度

站立、走路和行為的整體姿態

the way a person stands, moves, and conducts themselves, especially when it communicates confidence, dignity, or social status

例句

Sirin walked into the room with the calm, confident bearing of an experienced diplomat.

Sirin 以一位資深外交官般沈穩自信的舉止走進房間。

pattern: [adjective] bearing

Heloísa's proud bearing made her stand out even in a crowd of important guests.

Heloísa 高傲的風度即使在滿是貴賓的人群中也顯得與眾不同。

同義詞
  • demeanour

    more common in British English; slightly broader (includes facial expression and attitude)

  • posture

    focuses specifically on the physical position of the body

  • carriage

    refers to how one holds their body while walking or standing

  • presence

    the overall impression of confidence and authority a person gives

文法句型

[adjective] bearing

用法筆記

Formal or literary register. Often modified by an adjective describing character or social class ('proud bearing', 'noble bearing', 'military bearing'). Refers to both physical posture and the overall impression a person gives. Not used in everyday casual conversation.

常見錯誤

❌He has a good bearing today.
✅He has an upright, confident bearing.
💡'bearing' in this sense needs an adjective to be meaningful; it describes observable qualities, not a temporary mood.