convenience
/kənˈviːniəns/ (bre, ipa) · [kənvˈinjəns] /kənˈviːniəns/ (ame, ipa) · [kənvˈinjəns] /kən-ˈvēn-yən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
convenience — 名詞
- conveniencesingular
- conveniencesplural
1. the quality that makes something easy, suitable, or useful for a purpose, saving
便利
方便省時的特質
the quality that makes something easy, suitable, or useful for a purpose, saving time and effort
Nadia enjoys the convenience of paying her bills online instead of going to the bank.
Nadia 很享受在網路上繳費的便利，不用親自跑銀行。
uncountable noun + of + gerund
For the convenience of guests, the hotel offers a free shuttle service to the airport.
為了客人的便利，飯店提供免費接駁車到機場。
for the convenience of [person]
The convenience of a ground-floor grocery store saved the family many long trips.
一樓就有雜貨店的便利，讓這家人省去了很多長途採買。
Ryo chose the apartment for its convenience since the station was a three-minute walk away.
Ryo 選擇這間公寓是因為它很方便，車站走路三分鐘就到。
Ritu valued the convenience of a washer-dryer that finished the laundry while she slept.
Ritu 很看重洗衣乾衣機的便利，在她睡覺的時候就把衣服洗好烘乾了。
- ease
focuses on lack of difficulty rather than time-saving
- handiness
informal; emphasises physical accessibility
- practicality
stresses usefulness in real situations
- inconvenience
the opposite quality of being difficult or unsuitable
2. a time that works well for someone’s schedule and does not cause any difficulty
方便
合適的時間或安排
a time that works well for someone’s schedule and does not cause any difficulty
Please call me back at your convenience — any evening after six works well for me.
請在您方便的時候回電給我——晚上六點之後的任何時間都可以。
at your convenience
The plumber said he would come at a time of our convenience to fix the broken tap.
水電工說他會在我們方便的時間過來修理壞掉的水龍頭。
at a time of [possessive] convenience
We scheduled the interview at the candidate’s convenience since she was flying in from Japan.
我們把面試安排在應徵者方便的時段，因為她要從日本飛過來。
Let me know at your convenience for a short video call to discuss the new project.
請在您方便的時候告訴我，我們可以開個簡短的視訊會議討論新專案。
- suitability
more formal, focuses on how well something fits a situation
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase “at [possessive] convenience” or “at a time of [possessive] convenience.”
常見錯誤
3. a polite way of asking someone to do something as soon as they are able, used in
儘快
在方便時儘早處理
a polite way of asking someone to do something as soon as they are able, used in letters, emails, and official requests
Please submit your application form at your earliest convenience to secure your place on the course.
請儘快提交您的申請表，以確保您在課程中的名額。
at your earliest convenience
The landlord asked the tenant to pay the overdue rent at his earliest convenience.
房東要求房客儘快繳納逾期的租金。
Kindly return the signed contract at your earliest convenience so we can process your order.
敬請儘快簽署合約寄回，以便我們處理您的訂單。
The school requests that parents complete the permission form at their earliest convenience.
學校請求家長儘快填寫同意書。
- as soon as possible
less formal and more direct; can also be used in everyday speech
用法筆記
This is a fixed formula used only in formal written communication. In casual speech, “as soon as you can” is more natural.
常見錯誤
4. a machine, piece of equipment, or service that makes everyday tasks easier and q
便利設施
省時省力的設備或服務
a machine, piece of equipment, or service that makes everyday tasks easier and quicker to do, saving time and effort
The rice cooker is one of the most popular conveniences in a modern Taiwanese kitchen.
電子鍋是現代台灣廚房裡最受歡迎的便利設備之一。
countable: a convenience / modern conveniences
Modern conveniences like the microwave and dishwasher have changed how families cook and clean.
微波爐和洗碗機等現代便利設備，改變了家庭煮飯和打掃的方式。
The new apartment was equipped with every convenience, including a smart thermostat and a video doorbell.
新公寓配備了各種便利設施，包括智慧恆溫器和影像門鈴。
Kenji bought a robot vacuum cleaner, a small convenience that saved him thirty minutes of sweeping each day.
Kenji 買了一台掃地機器人，這個小便利設備每天幫他省下三十分鐘的掃地時間。
5. a room with a toilet in a public area like a park, station, or shopping centre t
公廁
公共場所設置的廁所
a room with a toilet in a public area like a park, station, or shopping centre that anyone can use
The public conveniences near the train station were clean and well maintained.
火車站附近的公廁乾淨且維護良好。
British formal: public conveniences
Tamar asked the shop assistant whether there were any public conveniences nearby.
Tamar 問店員附近有沒有公廁。
The park has a row of public conveniences next to the children’s playground.
公園裡兒童遊戲區旁邊有一排公廁。
The city council voted to keep the public conveniences open for twenty-four hours a day.
市議會投票決定讓公廁二十四小時開放。
- restroom
American English; more common in daily use
- public toilet
more neutral and widely understood across dialects
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used in British English. In American English, “restroom” or “public restroom” is far more common.
常見錯誤
convenience — 形容詞
- conveniencepositive
- more conveniencecomparative
- most conveniencesuperlative
1. describes food or products that are prepared or packaged so they can be used, co
便利的
快速簡便、即食即用
describes food or products that are prepared or packaged so they can be used, cooked, or eaten quickly with very little effort
Heather bought a bag of convenience rice that cooks in just two minutes in the microwave.
Heather 買了一包便利米，微波爐加熱兩分鐘就能吃。
attributive: convenience + noun (food/products)
Convenience foods like frozen dumplings are popular among students who have little time to cook.
像冷凍水餃這類便利食品，在沒時間煮飯的學生族群中很受歡迎。
The supermarket has a whole aisle devoted to convenience meals and instant noodles.
超市裡有一整排貨架都是便利餐點和泡麵。
Although convenience soup is quicker to make, Liam prefers the taste of homemade broth.
雖然便利湯包煮起來更快，但 Liam 還是比較喜歡在家熬的高湯。
- instant
specifically means something can be prepared immediately by adding water or heating
- prepackaged
focuses on the packaging rather than the ease of preparation
- homemade
made from scratch at home, requiring more effort and time
用法筆記
This adjective is always used before a noun (e.g. “convenience food,” “convenience store”) and does not appear after a linking verb.