functioning
functioning — 形容詞
1. in a state where it does its job, runs as intended, or stays in good working ord
運作正常的
機器、器官或系統還能正常運作的
in a state where it does its job, runs as intended, or stays in good working order — said of machines, body parts, systems, or services.
The hospital still has a fully functioning generator after the storm hit Manila.
馬尼拉遭風暴襲擊之後，這家醫院仍有一台運作正常的發電機。
attributive: fully functioning + noun
Only one functioning elevator was left in the old apartment block in Lien's neighborhood.
Lien 住的舊公寓裡，最後只剩一台還能運作的電梯。
collocation: functioning elevator / machine
Doctors said that Sora's kidneys were still functioning at about seventy percent.
醫師說 Sora 的腎臟功能還維持在約七成。
predicative use after 'be still'
Judge Soraya argued that a properly functioning court system is essential for a fair society.
Soraya 法官主張，一個運作正常的法院系統，是公平社會不可或缺的基礎。
modifier 'properly' + functioning + noun
Without a functioning postal service, small shops in the village cannot ship orders.
沒有運作正常的郵政服務，村裡的小店根本沒辦法寄貨。
collocation: functioning service / system
- fully functioning
- properly functioning
- functioning system
- functioning democracy
- functioning kidneys
- working
everyday, neutral — covers all the same cases but doesn't suggest a complex system
- operational
more formal; common in news and military / business contexts
- operating
close synonym for machines and services; slightly more technical
- broken
implies physical damage
- out of order
set phrase for public machines and services
文法句型
functioning + noun
用法筆記
Almost always sits in front of a noun (a functioning X) or after 'still / fully / properly'. Rarely used alone after 'be' without a modifier — say 'the radio is working', not 'the radio is functioning'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a person who keeps a normal job, social life, and family life on the
表面正常的
雖染上癮頭，外表生活仍正常運作的人
describing a person who keeps a normal job, social life, and family life on the surface, even though they have a serious problem with alcohol, drugs, or a mental illness.
Valentina's father was a high-functioning alcoholic who never missed a day of work.
Valentina 的父親是位高功能酒癮患者，工作從沒缺席過一天。
compound: high-functioning alcoholic
Madison's brother is a functioning addict who hides his drinking from close friends and his own family.
Madison 的哥哥是個表面正常的成癮者，他連好友和家人都瞞著自己酗酒的事。
noun phrase: functioning addict
Élise had been a functioning depressive for years before she finally asked her doctor for help.
Élise 當了多年的高功能憂鬱症患者，後來才終於去找醫師求助。
extended use: functioning + mental-health term
Dr. Okafor told the workshop that high-functioning patients often delay treatment until a crisis hits.
Okafor 醫師在工作坊上提到，高功能病人往往要等到出現危機才開始接受治療。
collocation: high-functioning patient
- high-functioning alcoholic
- functioning addict
- high-functioning autistic
- functioning depressive
- high-functioning
the more common form; almost always preferred in writing
- non-functioning
rare here; people more often say someone has 'hit rock bottom' or 'lost control'
文法句型
(high-)functioning + alcoholic / addict
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (machines / services): here the noun is always a person with an addiction or mental-health condition. Most natural in the compound 'high-functioning' before words like 'alcoholic', 'addict', 'autistic', 'depressive'.
常見錯誤
functioning — 名詞
1. the way a system, machine, or organization runs in practice — how it does what i
運作方式
系統或機構實際運作的情形
the way a system, machine, or organization runs in practice — how it does what it is supposed to do.
Tariq wrote a short report on the day-to-day functioning of the school library.
Tariq 寫了一份關於學校圖書館日常運作的簡短報告。
the + adjective + functioning of + noun
Engineers must understand the functioning of the engine before they try to fix any fault.
工程師動手修理引擎之前，得先了解它的運作方式。
collocation: the functioning of + machine
A free press is important to the smooth functioning of any democracy.
新聞自由對任何民主體制的順暢運作都至關重要。
collocation: smooth functioning of + system
Wren studies the functioning of small markets in rural parts of West Africa.
Wren 研究的是西非鄉村地區小型市場的運作情形。
academic register: functioning of markets / institutions
Mayor Isabela promised the new rules would not affect the daily functioning of local police stations.
Isabela 市長保證，新規定不會影響地方派出所每日的運作。
collocation: daily functioning of + institution
- smooth functioning
- proper functioning
- day-to-day functioning
- functioning of the system
- functioning of the economy
- breakdown
process of stopping working
- malfunction
specific failure event
文法句型
the functioning of + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually an institution, system, machine, or market — not a single person. Often takes adjectives like 'smooth', 'normal', 'day-to-day', 'daily', 'proper'. Compare with sense 2, which is about a person's body or mind.
常見錯誤
2. how well a person's body or mind can do everyday things — moving around, thinkin
身心機能
人的身體或心智執行日常活動的能力
how well a person's body or mind can do everyday things — moving around, thinking clearly, working, and dealing with other people.
Xiu lost sleep before the exam, and it damaged her memory and cognitive functioning.
Xiu 考前沒睡好，記憶力和認知機能都因此受到了影響。
collocation: cognitive functioning
Doctors checked Tunde's heart and lung functioning before letting him return to football practice.
在讓 Tunde 回去練足球之前，醫師先檢查了他的心肺機能。
collocation: heart / lung functioning
Therapy helped Christopher slowly improve his social functioning after the accident.
在那次意外之後，治療慢慢幫助 Christopher 改善了社交機能。
collocation: social functioning
Romi's grandmother takes a small daily pill to support normal brain functioning.
Romi 的奶奶每天會吃一顆小藥丸，以維持正常的大腦機能。
collocation: brain functioning + medical purpose
Ravindra's long working hours slowly reduced his day-to-day functioning at home and at the office.
Ravindra 長時間工作，使他在家裡和辦公室的日常機能都漸漸下滑。
collocation: day-to-day functioning
- cognitive functioning
- social functioning
- physical functioning
- emotional functioning
- brain functioning
- performance
covers both cognitive and physical sides; broader and less clinical
- capacity
stresses the maximum ability rather than daily output
- ability
everyday word; lacks the clinical sweep
- impairment
clinical term for reduced functioning
- dysfunction
ongoing problem with how something works
文法句型
cognitive / physical / social + functioning
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this one belongs to a person and is usually paired with an adjective naming an area (cognitive, social, physical, emotional, sexual, brain, heart, lung). Common in medical and psychology writing.
常見錯誤
functioning — 動詞
1. (of a machine, body part, system, or service) to do what it is meant to do; to r
運作；運轉
機器或系統正常運轉
(of a machine, body part, system, or service) to do what it is meant to do; to run in a normal way.
Mira's old laptop still functions, but the screen flickers when she opens it.
Mira 那台老筆電還能運作，只是一打開螢幕就會閃爍。
intransitive: thing + functions
After the surgery, Rohan's left knee functions almost as well as before.
手術之後，Rohan 的左膝運作得幾乎和以前一樣好。
collocation: functions + as well as / better / poorly
The lift in our building has not functioned properly since the heavy rain last month.
我們大樓的電梯從上個月那場大雨之後就一直無法正常運作。
negative + functioned properly
A small village school can function with only two teachers and a shared library.
一間小村莊的學校，只要有兩位老師和一個共用的圖書室就能運作。
can function + with + condition
Without clean water, the small clinic in Sofie's village cannot function for very long.
沒有乾淨的水，Sofie 村裡的那家小診所無法長時間運轉下去。
negative condition: cannot function without
- function properly
- function normally
- function well
- still function
- barely function
- fail
stops doing its job
- break down
stops suddenly, often needs repair
文法句型
something functions
function + adverb
用法筆記
More formal than 'work'. Often paired with 'properly', 'normally', 'well', or 'as well as'. Subject is usually a machine, organ, system, or institution — not a person doing a casual task.
常見錯誤
2. to play a certain role or take a certain job, often because nothing else is doin
充當；扮演
兼具或暫時扮演另一種角色
to play a certain role or take a certain job, often because nothing else is doing it — for example, a table functioning as a desk, or a teacher functioning as a counsellor.
During the conference, the old library functioned as a quiet workspace for the delegates.
在那場研討會期間，那座舊圖書館充當了與會代表的安靜工作空間。
function as + role
Niran's spare room functions as both a study and a guest bedroom on weekends.
Niran 的空房週末同時充當書房和客房。
function as + dual role
In small villages, the local teacher often functions as an unofficial doctor and counsellor.
在小村莊裡，當地老師常常還扮演非正式的醫師和輔導員。
function as + social role
In this sentence, the word 'fast' functions as an adverb rather than an adjective.
在這個句子裡，「fast」這個字扮演副詞，而不是形容詞。
academic / grammar register
The big oak tree near Mayumi's house functions as a meeting point for the whole village.
Mayumi 家附近的大橡樹，扮演著整個村子的集合地點。
function as + landmark / meeting point
- function as a
- function as both
- effectively function as
- also function as
- primarily function as
文法句型
function as + noun
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'as + noun'. The subject usually already exists for one purpose but takes on another. Distinct from sense 1 (just running normally) — here, the focus is on what role the thing plays.
常見錯誤
同根字
- function名詞B1
- function動詞B2
- functional形容詞B2
- functionality名詞C1
- dysfunction名詞C1
- malfunction名詞C1
- malfunction動詞C1