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。
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。
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。
- 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。
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。
- 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。
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。
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。
- 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。
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。
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。
- 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。
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。
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。
- 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。
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。
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。
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.