council
council — 名詞
1. people chosen by vote or appointment who come together to offer recommendations,
委員會
被選出提供建議或管理組織的團體
people chosen by vote or appointment who come together to offer recommendations, set policies, or oversee how an organisation is run — for example a school, business, or professional association
The student council organised a fundraising event for the local library.
學生委員會為當地圖書館舉辦了一場募款活動。
student council + organise (common collocation)
Aarav was elected to the town's arts council to advise on cultural projects.
Aarav 當選為鎮上的藝術委員會成員，負責提供文化活動的建議。
elected to + arts council (advisory role)
Nkechi serves on the research council that reviews grant applications.
Nkechi 在負責審查補助申請的研究委員會任職。
A council of doctors and nurses meets monthly to discuss patient safety.
由醫師和護理師組成的委員會每個月開會討論病人安全議題。
After hours of debate, the council issued a statement supporting the new policy.
經過數小時的辯論後，委員會發布了一份支持新政策的聲明。
- board
more common for corporate or institutional governing bodies (board of directors); council is broader and includes advisory bodies
- committee
usually a subgroup created for a specific purpose and time; council tends to be more permanent and have wider authority
- commission
often implies a body appointed to investigate or regulate a specific area; council is more general
- panel
typically a smaller group convened for a specific discussion or judgment; council suggests a larger, ongoing body
用法筆記
Distinguish from committee: a council typically has broad advisory or governing authority over an organisation, while a committee is usually a smaller subgroup formed for a specific task or area.
常見錯誤
2. the elected body in charge of public services and policy decisions within a spec
地方議會
民選的城鎮管理機關
the elected body in charge of public services and policy decisions within a specific region such as a town, city, or county — handling schools, roads, rubbish collection, and housing
The city council voted to build a new park near the elementary school.
市議會投票通過在小學附近新建一座公園。
city council + vote to [action]
Lisa complained to the council about the broken streetlight outside her house.
Lisa 向議會投訴她家門前的路燈壞了。
complain to the council about [problem]
Council elections take place every four years in this county.
這個郡每四年舉行一次議會選舉。
Jiwoo works for the local council helping families find affordable housing.
Jiwoo 在地方議會工作，協助家庭尋找負擔得起的住房。
The town council has reduced its spending on road repairs this year.
鎮議會今年削減了道路維修的經費。
- municipality
more formal and refers to the administrative area itself rather than the group of people; less common in everyday speech
- local authority
the official term in UK English for the organisation that runs local services; 'council' is the shorter everyday word
- town hall
can refer to the building or be used as a metonym for the local government; less precise than 'council'
用法筆記
In British and Commonwealth English, 'the council' (without a preceding article like 'a' or 'the') often functions as a proper-noun-like reference to the local authority that provides services. In American English, 'city council' or 'town council' is used, but the bare form 'council' typically refers to the internal governing board of an organisation rather than a municipal government.
常見錯誤
council — 形容詞
1. relating to the gatherings, meetings, or traditions of North American Indigenous
部落會議
北美原住民部族議會相關的
relating to the gatherings, meetings, or traditions of North American Indigenous peoples, where leaders and elders come together to discuss community matters or hold ceremonies
The elders lit the council fire to mark the beginning of the ceremony.
長老們點燃了部落會議的營火，以標誌儀式的開始。
council fire (Indigenous ceremonial context)
Council meetings in the Navajo Nation follow traditions that go back centuries.
納瓦霍族的部落會議遵循著傳承數百年的傳統。
council meeting (Indigenous governance)
Henry was invited to speak at a council gathering of the Haudenosaunee people.
Henry 獲邀在豪德諾紹尼族的一場部落會議上發言。
Smoke rose from the council lodge where leaders had gathered since dawn.
煙霧從部落議會廳升起，領袖們從黎明起便聚集在那裡。
- tribal
broader than 'council'; refers to the entire tribe or nation, not specifically to the council as an institution
- ceremonial
focuses on the ritual aspect; council gatherings are often ceremonial but also serve governance functions
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in descriptions of North American Indigenous governance and ceremonial traditions. Common noun phrases include council fire, council house (a traditional meeting building), council lodge, and council gathering. Do not confuse with the UK sense of 'council house' meaning government-provided housing.
常見錯誤
2. built, owned, or run by the local government of a town or city, especially used
公營
由地方政府興建或管理的
built, owned, or run by the local government of a town or city, especially used to describe housing that is rented to people at below-market rates
Her family moved into a council flat after their house was damaged in the storm.
她的家人在房子被暴風雨損壞後搬進了一間公營公寓。
council flat (government-provided housing)
The council estate was built in the 1960s and renovated last year.
這片公營住宅區建於 1960 年代，去年進行了翻修。
Council housing provides affordable homes for people on low incomes.
公營住宅為低收入民眾提供負擔得起的居住空間。
The council properties in this area are known for their large gardens.
這一區的公營住宅以寬敞的花園聞名。
Mert grew up in a council house on the outskirts of Manchester.
Mert 在曼徹斯特郊區的一棟公營住宅中長大。
- public
used in American English (public housing); broader than 'council' as it covers federal and state programmes
- subsidised
focuses on the financial aspect (below-market rent); 'council' emphasises that the local authority owns the property
- social
used in British English in phrases like 'social housing'; slightly broader than 'council' as it includes housing associations
- private
privately owned or rented housing, as opposed to council-owned
用法筆記
This sense is common in British and Commonwealth English but rare in American English, where 'public housing' or 'government housing' is used instead. The most frequent noun phrases are council house, council flat, council estate, and council housing. 'Council tax' is a related but distinct term — it is a tax paid to the local council, not a type of housing.