contracted
contracted — 動詞
1. to become smaller in size, width, or length, or to cause something to become sma
收縮；縮小
體積、長度或寬度變小
to become smaller in size, width, or length, or to cause something to become smaller — for example, muscles when they tighten, or metal as it cools.
The metal contracted as it cooled down overnight.
金屬在夜間冷卻時收縮了。
intransitive: substance + contracts + when/as condition
When Dewi stepped into the bright sunlight, her pupils contracted.
Dewi 走到明亮的陽光下時，她的瞳孔收縮了。
intransitive: body part + contracts + when/then
Ari's wool sweater contracted after he washed it in hot water.
Ari 的羊毛毛衣用熱水洗過後縮水了。
The muscle in Finn's leg contracted suddenly, causing a sharp pain.
Finn 腿上的肌肉突然收縮，引發一陣劇痛。
The company contracted its workforce by offering early retirement packages.
該公司透過提供提早退休方案來縮減人力。
文法句型
something contracts
someone contracts something
用法筆記
When used transitively with an organizational subject, the object is typically a noun like 'workforce,' 'operations,' or 'spending.' The intransitive use is more common for muscles, materials, and body parts.
常見錯誤
2. to become smaller in amount, value, or activity — used especially about economic
萎縮；縮減
經濟指標的數量或規模變小
to become smaller in amount, value, or activity — used especially about economic measures such as a country's total production or total spending.
The national economy contracted by three percent during the recession.
該國經濟在經濟衰退期間萎縮了百分之三。
economy + contracts + by [percentage]
Hotel bookings in the region contracted sharply after the earthquake.
地震過後，該地區的飯店訂房量急遽縮減。
industry/activity + contracts + adverb (sharply/steadily)
Retail sales contracted for the third month in a row.
零售額連續第三個月萎縮。
As the cost of living rose, spending on entertainment contracted noticeably.
隨著生活成本上漲，娛樂支出明顯縮減了。
- grow
to increase in amount or activity
文法句型
something contracts (in/by amount)
用法筆記
Subject is usually an economic indicator (economy, market, industry, sales, spending). Often followed by a prepositional phrase with 'by' for the amount of decrease.
常見錯誤
3. to become infected with a disease or illness — more formal and serious in tone t
感染
罹患（疾病）
to become infected with a disease or illness — more formal and serious in tone than 'catch'.
Sofia contracted a serious lung infection while volunteering abroad.
Sofia 在國外當志工時感染了嚴重的肺部疾病。
formal register: person + contracts + specific disease
The nurse contracted the virus despite wearing protective equipment at all times.
儘管全程穿戴防護裝備，那位護理師還是感染了病毒。
Tariq contracted pneumonia after falling into the freezing lake.
Tariq 掉進冰冷的湖裡後感染了肺炎。
Many villagers contracted malaria during the unusually wet rainy season.
許多村民在異常潮濕的雨季期間感染了瘧疾。
Chen contracted a rare skin disease after traveling through the jungle.
Chen 穿越叢林後感染了一種罕見的皮膚病。
文法句型
someone contracts [disease]
用法筆記
More formal than 'catch'; preferred in medical writing and news reports. Object is always a disease, illness, or infection. Never used with common minor illnesses like 'a cold' in everyday speech — 'catch' is more natural for those.
常見錯誤
4. to make a formal written agreement with a person or company to do work, or to ha
簽約；承包
訂立法律合約委託工作
to make a formal written agreement with a person or company to do work, or to have work done for you in exchange for payment.
The school contracted a local construction firm to build a new library.
學校與一家當地建築公司簽約，委託興建新圖書館。
transitive: institution + contracts + company + to-infinitive
Kavya's band contracted with a booking agency to arrange their national tour.
Kavya 的樂團與一家經紀公司簽約，委託安排全國巡迴演出。
intransitive: person + contracts with + company + to-infinitive
The city government contracted out its garbage collection to a private company.
市政府將垃圾收集工作外包給一家私人公司。
Dewi contracted with a publishing house to write a series of science textbooks.
Dewi 與一家出版社簽約，編寫一系列科學教科書。
The factory contracted a cleaning service to maintain the work areas.
那家工廠與一家清潔公司簽約，委託維護工作區域。
- hire
less formal; used for employing people for any kind of work
- employ
suggests a longer-term working relationship
- commission
specifically for creating artwork, writing, or design work
文法句型
someone contracts [someone] to do [something]
someone contracts with [someone] to do [something]
用法筆記
The phrasal verb 'contract out' means to arrange for an outside company to do work that employees used to do. The subject can be either the hiring party or (with 'with') the service provider.
常見錯誤
contracted — 名詞
1. a written document that states the terms of a formal legal agreement between two
合約
具有法律效力的協議文件
a written document that states the terms of a formal legal agreement between two or more people, companies, or groups, which can be enforced by law; also refers to the arrangement or period of employment or service under such an agreement.
Sofia signed a two-year contract with a publishing company in Taipei.
Sofia 與台北的一家出版公司簽了兩年合約。
collocation: sign + a [duration] + contract + with [company]
Before buying the house, Chen asked a lawyer to carefully check the contract.
買房子之前，Chen 請律師仔細檢查了合約。
The football player's contract with the club was worth three million dollars.
那位足球員與球團的合約價值三百萬美元。
Both parties must sign the contract before the renovation work can begin.
雙方必須在合約上簽名，裝修工程才能開始。
The rental contract clearly states that tenants must pay by the fifth of each month.
租約上清楚註明，房客必須在每月五號前繳納租金。
Dewi is on a six-month contract at the city hospital.
Dewi 在市立醫院有六個月的合約。
After her contract ended, Zuri decided to look for a permanent teaching position.
合約結束後，Zuri 決定尋找一份穩定的教職。
文法句型
sign a contract
under contract
on a [duration] contract
用法筆記
Common types: 'employment contract' (work agreement), 'rental/lease contract' (property), 'sales contract' (goods). In employment contexts, common phrases include 'on contract,' 'under contract,' and 'contract ends/expires' to describe the arrangement or period of work rather than just the document itself.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Sign the contract and give it to me.' (when you mean a simple written note) — 'Contract' must involve a legally binding agreement, not just any piece of paper.
contracted — 形容詞
1. describes workers or services that are hired through a legal agreement for a spe
外聘的
按合約僱用的
describes workers or services that are hired through a legal agreement for a specific job, rather than being permanent employees of the same company.
The factory hired contracted drivers to deliver goods across the country.
工廠僱用外聘司機將貨物運送到全國各地。
attributive use: contracted + profession/role
Contracted staff receive the same safety training as regular employees.
外聘人員與正職員工接受相同的安全訓練。
The construction site used contracted electricians for the wiring work.
建築工地聘請外聘電工負責配線工作。
Many of the teachers at the language school are contracted workers paid by the hour.
那間語言學校的許多老師都是按時計酬的外聘人員。
- freelance
self-employed; not tied to one employer
- temporary
focuses on limited duration rather than legal arrangement
- outsourced
work given to an outside company rather than done in-house
- permanent
describes an ongoing employment relationship
文法句型
contracted + noun
用法筆記
Can also describe services: 'contracted services,' 'contracted work.' Often appears in news reports about employment practices. The opposite is 'permanent' or 'in-house.'
常見錯誤
2. reduced in size or pulled tight, especially describing a body part or material t
收縮的
體積變小或拉緊的
reduced in size or pulled tight, especially describing a body part or material that has become smaller or tighter than its normal state.
The patient's contracted muscles required months of physical therapy.
病人收縮的肌肉需要長達數月的物理治療。
attributive: contracted + body part
Finn's contracted fingers made it difficult for him to hold a pen.
Finn 收縮的手指使他難以握住筆。
The doctor examined the contracted tendon and recommended surgery.
醫生檢查了那條收縮的肌腱，建議進行手術。
The contracted position of her shoulder caused Sofia constant pain.
Sofia 肩膀的收縮姿勢讓她持續感到疼痛。
- tight
general; does not specify reduced size
- stiff
describes lack of flexibility rather than size reduction
- constricted
implies being squeezed or restricted from outside
- relaxed
describes muscles returning to a normal, loose state
文法句型
contracted + body part / material
用法筆記
Less common than the verb form for describing physical shrinking. Tends to appear in medical texts and biology writing. More ordinary alternatives: 'tight,' 'stiff,' 'pulled tight.'