institution
/ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin(t)-stə-ˈtü-shən -ˈtyü-/ (ame, mw)
institution — 名詞
- institutionsingular
- institutionsplural
1. an important organization that serves society by fulfilling a particular public
機構
有特定目標的大型重要組織
an important organization that serves society by fulfilling a particular public role — think of a university educating students, a bank managing money, or a museum showing artworks to the public.
The university has become a respected institution that attracts students from around the world.
那所大學已成為備受尊敬的機構，吸引來自世界各地的學生。
adjective + institution describing a type of organization
Ayana opened her first savings account at the largest financial institution in Taipei.
Ayana 在臺北最大的金融機構開立了她的第一個儲蓄帳戶。
financial institution — common compound noun for banks
Public institutions such as libraries and museums depend on government funding to operate.
圖書館和博物館這類公共機構需要政府資助才能運作。
Asher works for an institution that provides affordable housing for low-income families.
Asher 在一家為低收入家庭提供平價住房的機構工作。
Several international institutions have set up regional offices in Southeast Asia to coordinate disaster relief.
好幾個國際機構已在東南亞設立區域辦公室，以協調災難救援工作。
- organization
broader term; any group of people with a shared purpose, not necessarily large or well-established
- establishment
more formal; emphasizes that the organization is firmly in place
- body
formal term, often used for official or regulatory groups (e.g. 'governing body')
- foundation
focuses on the charitable or grant-making role rather than operational services
文法句型
adjective + institution
institution of + noun
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective that specifies the type (financial, educational, political, cultural). This is the most frequent sense in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. a building or facility where people reside to get medical treatment, personal su
收容機構
收容並照護人們的場所
a building or facility where people reside to get medical treatment, personal support, or supervision — for instance, a nursing home for older adults, a psychiatric hospital, or a correctional centre.
After breaking his hip, Grandfather was placed in an institution where nurses cared for him.
祖父摔傷髖部後，被送到一家有護士照顧他的機構。
The judge sentenced the teenager to twelve months at a correctional institution for young offenders.
法官判那名青少年到少年矯正機構關押十二個月。
correctional institution — formal term for prison
Rania visited her aunt every Sunday at the mental health institution outside the city.
Rania 每個星期日都到市郊的精神病院探望她的阿姨。
Conditions at the institution for elderly people have improved since the new director took charge.
自從新主任上任後，那家老人照護機構的條件改善了不少。
The state-run medical institution offers free dental checkups for children in rural areas.
那家公立的醫療機構為偏鄉地區的兒童提供免費牙科檢查。
- facility
neutral and broad; can describe any type of building designed for a specific purpose
- home
warmer tone; used specifically for residential care (nursing home, care home)
- centre
commonly used for rehabilitation centres or treatment centres
- hospital
specific to medical treatment, not long-term care or confinement
文法句型
adjective + institution
institution for + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense carries a formal or official tone. In everyday conversation, speakers usually use a more specific term such as 'nursing home,' 'prison,' 'psychiatric hospital,' or 'care home.' Can be perceived as impersonal or bureaucratic.
常見錯誤
3. a practice or tradition that a society has treated as important for many generat
習俗；制度
社會中長期存在的傳統或慣例
a practice or tradition that a society has treated as important for many generations and considers a central part of its identity — for instance, the ceremony of a wedding or the custom of celebrating a national holiday.
The institution of marriage in 1960s Japan made Eri live with in-laws and quit work.
在 1960 年代的日本，婚姻制度迫使 Eri 辭去工作並與公婆同住。
institution of marriage — fixed phrase for a long-established social custom
In Japan, the tea ceremony is a cultural institution dating back over four centuries.
在日本，茶道是一項已有四百多年歷史的文化習俗。
cultural institution — tradition viewed as part of a society's identity
Millions voted in South Korea's 1987 election, proving democratic elections had become an institution.
數百萬人在 1987 年的南韓大選中投票，證明了民主選舉已成為一項制度。
In Spain, the afternoon siesta is a long-standing institution that many people still observe.
在西班牙，午後小睡是一項許多人仍保持的悠久傳統。
Sunday family dinners became an institution in the Rodriguez household when the children were young.
在孩子們還小的時候，星期天的家庭晚餐就成了Rodriguez家的一項傳統。
- tradition
more general; emphasises that something has been passed down over time, not necessarily as formalised
- custom
focuses on habitual practice within a group, often less weighty than 'institution'
- practice
neutral term for a repeated way of doing something; can be recent or long-standing
- convention
emphasises accepted social norms, often unwritten
文法句型
institution of + noun (e.g. institution of marriage)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'institution of + [social practice]' (e.g., institution of marriage, institution of democracy). The word can also be applied to a family or group tradition (e.g., 'Sunday brunch became an institution in our house').
常見錯誤
4. the official act or process of beginning something new, especially a law, system
設立；制定
正式開始或創立新法規制度
the official act or process of beginning something new, especially a law, system, policy, or rule — for instance, when a government puts a new healthcare plan into effect or a company starts a fresh set of procedures.
The institution of the new tax law sparked a lot of debate among business owners.
新稅法的制定在企業主之間引發了大量討論。
institution of + law — formal pattern for introducing legislation
Hao supported the institution of a formal complaint system within the company.
Hao 支持在公司內部建立正式的申訴制度。
The institution of paid parental leave was welcomed by working families across the country.
帶薪育嬰假的設立受到了全國上班族家庭的歡迎。
At the conference, scholars debated the institution of democratic reforms in post-war societies.
在研討會上，學者們針對戰後社會實施民主改革的問題進行了辯論。
- introduction
more common in everyday English; broader in use
- establishment
similar formality; emphasises setting up something permanent
- creation
emphasises the act of bringing something into existence
- implementation
focuses on putting a plan or system into action
- abolition
the act of officially ending a law or system
文法句型
institution of + noun (law, system, reform)
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in formal or academic writing. This is an abstract uncountable sense, so it does not take an article (the institution OF social reform, not *an institution of social reform). In everyday language, 'introduction,' 'establishment,' or 'creation' are more natural alternatives.