establish
/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈsta-blish/ (ame, mw)
establish — 動詞
- establishpresent simple I / you / we / they
- establisheshe / she / it
- establishedpast simple
- establishing-ing form
1. To create and set up a business, institution, or system so that it continues to
創立；設立
創建能長期運作的組織或體系
To create and set up a business, institution, or system so that it continues to exist and operate over time — for example, opening a new school, founding a company, or launching a government programme.
Joon established a small bakery in Taipei after years of training in France.
Joon 在台北創立了一家小型麵包店，他在法國學藝多年。
establish + [business/organisation] as direct object
The University of Tokyo was established in 1877 and is one of Asia's oldest schools.
東京大學創立於 1877 年，是亞洲最古老的學校之一。
passive: be established + [date/year] for founding
Élise established a support network for new mothers in her neighbourhood.
Élise 在她的社區裡設立了一個新手媽媽支持網絡。
The government established a task force to investigate the cause of the floods.
政府成立了一個專案小組來調查水災的原因。
- found
more formal and precise for creating cities, universities, or institutions; 'found' emphasises the very beginning, while 'establish' can also imply building up over time
- set up
more informal; used for everyday situations like starting a small business or system ('set up a blog', 'set up a meeting')
- create
broader in meaning; implies bringing something into existence but does not carry the sense of long-term continuity
- close down
to stop operating a business or organisation permanently
- abolish
to officially end a system, law, or institution
文法句型
establish + noun (business / organisation / system)
常見錯誤
2. To start a formal connection — such as a working relationship or diplomatic ties
建立（關係）
開始與他人或組織的正式往來
To start a formal connection — such as a working relationship or diplomatic ties — between yourself and another person, organisation, or country, for example by opening talks or making contact with a new business partner.
Tara established a close working relationship with the Japanese supplier.
Tara 與那家日本供應商建立了緊密的合作關係。
establish + relationship / connection
The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992 after years of conflict.
這兩個國家歷經多年衝突後，於 1992 年建立了外交關係。
Hamza established contact with a local charity through a mutual friend.
Hamza 透過一位共同朋友與當地慈善機構建立了聯繫。
Before launching the project, the team established strong links with community leaders.
在展開計畫之前，團隊與社區領袖建立了穩固的連結。
- set up
less formal; 'set up a meeting' vs 'establish contact'; 'set up' works for practical arrangements, 'establish' for durable relationships
- forge
stronger connotation of effort and difficulty; 'forge an alliance' implies overcoming obstacles
- form
neutral and broad; 'form a partnership' can be used anywhere 'establish a partnership' appears, but sounds less official
文法句型
establish + noun (relationship / ties / contact / links)
用法筆記
Common objects include relationship, contact, ties, links, and communication — always referring to the beginning point of the connection. Once a relationship is established, you maintain or strengthen it, not re-establish it (unless it was broken first).
常見錯誤
3. To cause yourself, an idea, a rule, or a practice to become recognised, accepted
確立；站穩
使某人或某事被認可接納
To cause yourself, an idea, a rule, or a practice to become recognised, accepted, and respected by others in a particular setting — for example, proving your reliability to colleagues, or making a habit widely followed within a group.
It took Ilan several months to establish himself as a reliable member of the team.
Ilan 花了幾個月的時間才確立自己在團隊中作為可靠成員的地位。
establish + reflexive pronoun + as [role]
The coach established a tradition of team breakfasts before every match.
那位教練建立了每場比賽前全隊一起吃早餐的傳統。
Esteban established the company's reputation for fair trade by treating workers well.
Esteban 善待員工，為公司樹立了公平貿易的聲譽。
The language teacher established a routine of daily conversation practice in her class.
那位語言老師在她的課堂上建立了每日會話練習的常規。
- build
emphasises the gradual process; 'build a reputation' suggests step-by-step effort, while 'establish a reputation' emphasises the final result of being accepted
- secure
suggests gaining something after effort or competition; 'secure someone's trust' implies it was not easy to earn
- earn
focuses on deserving recognition through one's actions; 'earn respect' is more personal and less formal than 'establish oneself as a respected figure'
文法句型
establish + reflexive pronoun + as + noun
establish + noun + as + complement
用法筆記
Frequently used with reflexive pronouns (establish yourself/himself/oneself etc.) followed by as to indicate a role or position that the person has earned recognition for. When the object is an abstract thing (reputation, rule, custom), the implication is that it became standard through consistent effort over time.
常見錯誤
4. To reach and keep a stable, successful position in a particular setting, profess
立足
在長期努力後達到穩固成功地位
To reach and keep a stable, successful position in a particular setting, profession, or market after investing time and effort — for example, a new restaurant winning regular customers, or a professional gaining respect in their field over years of work.
After five years of hard work, the restaurant had established itself as a local favourite.
經過五年的努力，那家餐廳已成為當地人最愛的去處。
establish + itself + as [achieved position]
Pim established himself among the top chess players in the country.
Pim 躋身全國頂尖西洋棋選手之列。
The brand has established a strong presence in the European market.
該品牌已在歐洲市場建立了強大的立足點。
Kwame moved to Canada and worked hard to establish himself in his new profession.
Kwame 移居加拿大，努力在新的行業中站穩腳跟。
- secure
focuses on gaining a position firmly; 'secure a foothold in the market' emphasises protecting what you gained, not just reaching it
- settle
softer and less ambitious; 'settle into a new job' implies comfort, not necessarily competitive success
- entrench
stronger and can sound negative; 'entrenched interests' implies a position so fixed it resists change
文法句型
establish + reflexive pronoun + as + noun (position)
establish + itself
用法筆記
Almost always used with a reflexive pronoun (itself, yourself, himself, etc.) or a reference to position (presence, foothold, standing). Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 is about being accepted as a certain kind of person; sense 4 is about occupying a successful position, often competitively.
5. To prove that something is true by discovering facts, evidence, or reasons that
證實；查明
透過證據證明某事為真
To prove that something is true by discovering facts, evidence, or reasons that confirm it beyond reasonable doubt — for example, detectives showing who committed a crime, or researchers demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship through experiments.
Police established that the suspect was at the scene during the robbery.
警方證實該名嫌犯搶案發生時身在現場。
establish + that-clause for proving facts
Scientists have established a clear connection between air pollution and respiratory illness.
科學家已證實空氣污染與呼吸道疾病之間的明確關聯。
An investigation established the cause of the fire as faulty electrical wiring.
調查證實火災原因是電線故障。
Medical researchers established that regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease.
醫學研究證實規律運動可降低心臟病的風險。
- prove
the closest synonym; 'prove' is less formal and more common in everyday speech; 'establish' implies a more thorough, systematic verification
- determine
focuses on the investigative process of finding the answer; 'determine the cause' suggests careful analysis rather than providing proof to others
- confirm
implies that something was already suspected or partially known; 'confirm the results' means checking that what you expected is true
- verify
focuses on checking accuracy against a standard; 'verify an identity' means checking documents match the person
文法句型
establish + that-clause
establish + noun + as + complement
用法筆記
The only sense that regularly takes a that-clause to state the conclusion reached. This sense is formal and typical of legal, scientific, and journalistic contexts. In everyday conversation, 'prove' or 'find out' are more natural substitutes.