breakdown

/ˈbreɪkdaʊn/ (bre, ipa) · [brˈekdˌaʊn] /ˈbreɪkdaʊn/ (ame, ipa) · [brˈekdˌaʊn] /ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n/ (ame, mw)

breakdown — 名詞

  • breakdownsingular
  • breakdownsplural

1. a situation in which a machine, system, discussion, or relationship stops workin

1.名詞B2
釋義

故障；破裂

機器失靈或協商關係失敗

a situation in which a machine, system, discussion, or relationship stops working properly or cannot continue

例句

Salma's car had a breakdown halfway up the mountain road.

Salma 的車在山路半途拋錨，發生了故障。

have a breakdown for a vehicle

The sudden breakdown of talks delayed the peace deal again.

談判突然破裂，再次延後了和平協議。

breakdown of talks

文法句型

have a breakdown

breakdown of + noun

用法筆記

Often follows of when you name the thing that failed, as in breakdown of talks or breakdown of trust. For vehicles and machines, have a breakdown is especially common.

常見錯誤

❌The printer breakdown during class.
✅The printer broke down during class.
💡breakdown is a noun; the verb form is break down.
❌My car was in breakdown on the bridge.
✅My car had a breakdown on the bridge.
💡use have a breakdown for a machine that stops working.

2. a list or explanation that separates information into parts so each part can be

2.名詞C1
釋義

細目；分類

按項目或類別列出的詳情

a list or explanation that separates information into parts so each part can be examined clearly

例句

Ada gave us a breakdown of costs for each school event.

Ada 給了我們每場校內活動費用的細目。

breakdown of costs

The report includes a breakdown by age and income group.

報告列出按年齡與收入分組的分類資料。

breakdown by + category

文法句型

breakdown of + figures

breakdown by + category

用法筆記

Usually follows of or by to name the categories being separated. This sense is about showing detail, unlike sense 5, which is about substances coming apart.

常見錯誤

❌Please send a breakdown about the costs.
✅Please send a breakdown of the costs.
💡breakdown usually takes of before the thing being analyzed.

3. a period when someone cannot manage ordinary life because of severe mental or em

3.名詞B2
釋義

精神崩潰

因壓力而失去正常應對能力

a period when someone cannot manage ordinary life because of severe mental or emotional strain

例句

After months of stress, Manuela suffered a breakdown at work.

連續幾個月的壓力後，Manuela 在工作時精神崩潰了。

suffer a breakdown

Kevin took leave after his breakdown left him exhausted.

Kevin 在那次精神崩潰後請了假，整個人非常疲憊。

文法句型

suffer a breakdown

lead to a breakdown

用法筆記

Usually refers to a serious mental or emotional collapse, not an ordinary bad day. Common with have, suffer, and lead to.

常見錯誤

❌She breakdown after the interview.
✅She broke down after the interview.
💡use break down for the action and breakdown for the noun event.

4. in rugby, the brief contest for the ball that happens after a tackled player goe

4.名詞C2
釋義

爭球階段

橄欖球擒抱後的短暫搶球時段

in rugby, the brief contest for the ball that happens after a tackled player goes to ground

例句

Soraya stole the ball at the breakdown near the try line.

Soraya 在達陣線附近的爭球階段把球搶走了。

at the breakdown

The referee watched the breakdown closely for hands on the ground.

裁判密切注視爭球階段，查看是否有人手碰地。

文法句型

at the breakdown

penalty at the breakdown

用法筆記

Used only in rugby. It names the short phase after a tackle when players fight to keep or win possession.

常見錯誤

❌The coach praised our breakdown play in football.
✅The coach praised our work at the breakdown in rugby.
💡this term belongs to rugby, not general football.

5. the process in which a substance is gradually changed into simpler parts

5.名詞C1
釋義

分解

物質拆成較簡單成分的過程

the process in which a substance is gradually changed into simpler parts

例句

Heat speeds the breakdown of plastic bottles in the sun.

高溫會加快塑膠瓶在陽光下的分解。

breakdown of + substance

Scientists measured the breakdown of sugar during fermentation.

科學家測量了發酵過程中糖的分解。

文法句型

breakdown of + substance

chemical breakdown

用法筆記

Often followed by of plus the substance being changed. Unlike sense 2, this sense describes a physical or chemical process, not a list of details.

常見錯誤

❌The breakdown of the budget took all afternoon.
✅The budget breakdown took all afternoon.
💡this sense is for substances coming apart, not for listing figures.