tool
/tuːl/ (bre, ipa) · /tuːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtül/ (ame, mw)
tool — 名詞
- toolsingular
- toolsplural
1. A handheld object like a hammer, screwdriver, or saw that people use to build, f
工具
手持的作業器具
A handheld object like a hammer, screwdriver, or saw that people use to build, fix, or reshape materials.
Owen picked up a heavy tool and began breaking the old concrete wall.
Owen 拿起一件重型工具，開始打掉舊的水泥牆。
pick up + tool; tool + for physical work
The simplest tool in a carpenter's kit is a tape measure.
木工工具箱裡最簡單的工具就是一把捲尺。
Stefan put his tools away after fixing the bathroom pipe.
Stefan 修好浴室水管後，把工具收好。
Bilal asked the shop assistant which tool works best for cutting metal sheets.
Bilal 問店員哪種工具最適合切割金屬板。
Liang sharpened the blade of his carving tool before starting the wooden figure.
Liang 在開始雕刻木像之前，磨利了雕刻刀的刀刃。
- implement
more formal; often used for farming or specialized manual work
- instrument
suggests precision or scientific use rather than general handwork
- utensil
mainly for kitchen or eating items, not general hand tools
文法句型
a/an + tool
possessive + tool(s)
tool + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Countable noun. Frequently used with a possessive or a descriptive noun (gardening tool, kitchen tool).
常見錯誤
2. Any method, system, or piece of software that helps you achieve a specific resul
手段
幫助達成目標的方法
Any method, system, or piece of software that helps you achieve a specific result or do a type of work more easily.
Valentina uses the dictionary as a tool for learning new languages.
Valentina 把字典當作學習新語言的工具。
tool + for + gerund
The internet is a powerful tool for finding information quickly.
網路是快速查找資訊的強大工具。
Imran said that meditation is the best tool he has for managing stress.
Imran 說冥想是他管理壓力最有效的手段。
Lien found that colour-coding her notes was a useful study tool for exams.
Lien 發現用顏色標記筆記是準備考試很實用的方法。
Sora considers budgeting apps an essential tool for saving money each month.
Sora 認為記帳應用程式是每個月省錢不可或缺的工具。
文法句型
tool + for + noun/gerund
tool + to + infinitive
用法筆記
Subject is often abstract (the internet, language, data). Preposition 'for' introduces the purpose.
常見錯誤
3. The specific equipment, instruments, or skills that a person needs to do their j
行頭
從事職業所需的配備
The specific equipment, instruments, or skills that a person needs to do their job properly.
A good camera and editing software are the basic tools of a photographer's trade.
好的相機和剪輯軟體是攝影師最基本的行頭。
set phrase: tools of the trade
Yael keeps all her sculpting tools in a leather roll for the studio.
Yael 把所有雕刻工具收在一個皮捲裡，放在工作室使用。
Nala bought new ceramic tools before starting her pottery apprenticeship.
Nala 在開始陶藝學徒訓練之前，買了新的陶瓷工具。
Élise explained that patience and steady hands are the key tools for a surgeon.
Élise 解釋說，耐心和穩定的雙手是外科醫生的關鍵工具。
文法句型
tools of the trade
用法筆記
The set phrase 'tools of the trade' can refer to both physical items and abstract skills. The singular form is rare in this sense.
常見錯誤
❌ 'A hammer is a tool of the trade for construction workers.' (correct but too obvious) — This phrase is most natural when listing things that define a profession, especially non-obvious items.
4. A person whose actions are directed by someone else, often used to carry out dis
棋子
被他人操控利用的人
A person whose actions are directed by someone else, often used to carry out dishonest or unpleasant tasks on behalf of that person.
The politician used his assistant as a tool to spread false rumours about the opponent.
那名政治人物利用助理作為散播對手謠言的棋子。
passive: used as a tool
Rania felt like a tool after doing all the dirty work without getting any credit.
Rania 做完所有骯髒事卻沒獲得任何功勞，覺得自己像顆棋子。
The gang leader treated the younger members as disposable tools for his illegal business.
幫派首腦把年輕成員當作他非法生意中用完即丟的棋子。
Christopher was just a tool for the corporation that made him take the blame.
Christopher 只是那家企業的一顆棋子，被推出來承擔責任。
- mastermind
the person who does the controlling, not the one being controlled
文法句型
a tool + of + person/group
be + (just) + a tool
用法筆記
Always pejorative. The person being called a tool is seen as weak or foolish for letting themselves be controlled. Stronger than 'follower' or 'assistant'.
常見錯誤
5. A coarse, vulgar word for the male sexual organ.
陽具
男性生殖器的粗俗說法
A coarse, vulgar word for the male sexual organ.
The crude comedian made too many jokes about his tool on stage last night.
那個低俗的喜劇演員昨晚在台上講了太多關於自己陽具的笑話。
vulgar slang register; third-person reference
Some immature teenagers giggle whenever anyone says the word tool in a biology class.
有些還不成熟的青少年在生物課上只要有人說「陽具」這個字就咯咯笑。
The locker room was full of young athletes shouting rude jokes about their tools.
更衣室裡擠滿了年輕運動員，大聲開著關於他們陽具的粗魯玩笑。
In the rapper's lyrics he kept referring to his tool in a crudely boastful way.
在那個饒舌歌手的歌詞裡，他以粗俗吹噓的方式不斷提到自己的陽具。
文法句型
the/one's + tool
用法筆記
Highly offensive in most contexts. Avoid in formal, academic, or polite conversation. The slang term 'dick' is more common; 'tool' sounds somewhat dated.
常見錯誤
6. A rude word for someone you strongly dislike or think is very stupid.
蠢貨
罵人愚蠢討厭的用語
A rude word for someone you strongly dislike or think is very stupid.
After he accidentally broke the window, the other kids called him a tool.
他不小心打破窗戶之後，其他小孩都罵他是蠢貨。
pattern: call + someone + a tool
Online commenters called the referee a tool for making that bad call.
網友罵裁判是蠢貨，因為他做出了那個糟糕的判決。
Stop acting like a total tool and listen to what the teacher is saying.
別再像個大蠢貨一樣，好好聽老師說話。
The officer dismissed the complaint, deciding the man was just a tool seeking attention.
那名官員認定這個人只是個想引人注意的蠢貨，於是駁回申訴。
文法句型
be + a + tool
call + someone + a + tool
用法筆記
Mildly offensive but common in casual speech among young people. 'Tool' here implies the person is not only stupid but also annoying or socially awkward. Less harsh than 'idiot' but more dismissive than 'fool'.
常見錯誤
tool — 動詞
- toolpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tools3rd person singular
- tooling-ing form
- tooledpast simple
1. To drive or ride in a vehicle, especially without a particular purpose or destin
兜風
開車漫無目的地遊蕩
To drive or ride in a vehicle, especially without a particular purpose or destination, just for pleasure.
On Saturday afternoons the teenagers love tooling around town in their old cars.
星期六下午，青少年們最喜歡開著舊車在城裡兜風。
pattern: tooling around + [place]
Owen and his brother were tooling down the highway with the music turned up loud.
Owen 跟他兄弟開著車在高速公路上兜風，音樂開得很大聲。
The group tooled along the coastal road, stopping whenever they saw a nice beach.
那群人沿著海岸公路兜風，看到漂亮沙灘就停下來。
Christopher tooled his motorcycle into the parking lot and cut the engine.
Christopher 騎著摩托車兜進停車場，然後熄火。
文法句型
tool + around
be + tooling + around + [place]
用法筆記
Almost always used with a directional adverb (around, down, along, into). The continuous form (tooling) is far more common than the simple past. British English speakers rarely use this sense.
常見錯誤
2. To provide a manufacturing plant or workplace with the machines, devices, and ge
裝備
為工廠配置生產設備
To provide a manufacturing plant or workplace with the machines, devices, and gear required for making products.
The company spent millions tooling the new plant with robotic assembly lines.
公司花了數百萬為新廠房配備機器人裝配線。
pattern: tool + [place] + with + [equipment]
The factory was tooled for mass production of electric vehicle batteries.
這間工廠為了大量生產電動車電池而配備了專用設備。
passive: was tooled for
Engineers are retooling the workshop so it can handle smaller custom orders.
工程師們正在重新裝備車間，以便處理較小批量的訂單。
Kabir's job involves tooling the assembly line whenever a new product model launches.
Kabir 的工作是每當有新產品型號上市時，就要為裝配線換裝設備。
- strip
to remove equipment from a factory or workshop
文法句型
tool + [factory/industry] + with + [equipment]
be + tooled + with + [machinery]
用法筆記
Often in the passive voice ('the plant is tooled for…'). The prefixed form 'retool' is more common in business contexts, meaning to equip again or modernise.
常見錯誤
3. To cut, shape, or decorate a material such as leather, metal, wood, or clay usin
雕琢
用手工具雕刻圖案
To cut, shape, or decorate a material such as leather, metal, wood, or clay using a hand tool, often to produce a pattern or finished surface.
The artisan tooled a beautiful floral pattern into the leather belt by hand.
那位工匠用手工在皮帶上雕琢出美麗的花卉圖案。
pattern: tool + [design] + into + [material]
Mizuki carefully tooled the silver bracelet with small bird shapes around the edge.
Mizuki 在銀手環邊緣細心地雕出小鳥造型。
The old book cover was tooled in gold with the title and author's name.
舊書的封面用金字燙印著書名和作者姓名。
Tariro spent the afternoon tooling leather coasters to sell at the weekend market.
Tariro 花了一下午在皮革杯墊上雕花，準備在週末市集出售。
文法句型
tool + [material] + into + [shape]
tool + [design] + onto + [surface]
用法筆記
Passive forms ('was tooled in gold', 'is tooled with patterns') appear more in descriptive texts about craftsmanship than in active speech. The past participle 'tooled' is used adjectivally: 'a tooled leather belt.'