instructions

instructions — 名詞

1. written or spoken steps that show someone how to use something or complete a tas

1.名詞B1
釋義

說明；步驟

教人完成或使用某物的步驟

written or spoken steps that show someone how to use something or complete a task in the right way.

例句

Roya followed the cake instructions and set the oven to 180 degrees.

Roya 照著蛋糕說明，把烤箱調到一百八十度。

follow instructions to complete a task

The box includes picture instructions for building the wooden shelf.

盒子裡附有組裝木架的圖解步驟。

instructions for + task

同義詞
  • directions

    very close in meaning, especially for practical steps on labels or forms

  • manual

    usually a longer book or booklet, not just the steps themselves

  • guide

    broader; can include advice and background, not only exact steps

文法句型

follow instructions

instructions for + task

instructions on + label/package

用法筆記

Usually plural when you mean the full set of steps for using a product or doing a task. Common with verbs like follow, read, keep, print, and include.

常見錯誤

❌The washing machine came with one instruction in the box.
✅The washing machine came with instructions in the box.
💡When you mean the full set of steps, English usually uses the plural instructions.

2. commands from someone in authority that tell a person what action they must take

2.名詞B2
釋義

指示；命令

要求人照做的命令或吩咐

commands from someone in authority that tell a person what action they must take.

例句

The pilot waited for instructions from the tower during the thick fog.

濃霧中，飛行員等候塔台的指示。

instructions from + authority

Vivek carried out the manager's instructions before the store opened.

Vivek 在商店開門前照著經理的指示完成了工作。

carry out instructions

同義詞
  • orders

    stronger and more military or official in tone

  • commands

    often sounds stricter and more immediate

  • directives

    more formal, often used in business or government contexts

文法句型

instructions from + authority

give instructions

carry out instructions

用法筆記

This sense is about orders that are meant to be obeyed, not neutral help on how to use something. It is common with bosses, officers, coaches, and control rooms.

常見錯誤

❌The guard gave us advice to leave the hall at once.
✅The guard gave us instructions to leave the hall at once.
💡Advice suggests a suggestion, while instructions in this sense are orders to follow.

3. pieces of program code that make a computer or other machine carry out specific

3.名詞C1
釋義

指令

讓電腦執行動作的程式碼

pieces of program code that make a computer or other machine carry out specific actions.

例句

The chip can handle billions of instructions every second.

這顆晶片每秒可以處理數十億條指令。

computing measure: instructions per second

A bug in one line of instructions shut down the ticket machine.

那台售票機因為某一行指令出錯而當機。

line of instructions in a program

同義詞
  • commands

    close in meaning, especially when one action is being issued to a system

  • code

    broader; can refer to the whole written program, not one machine step

  • operations

    names the actions performed, not always the coded command itself

文法句型

execute instructions

machine instructions

instructions per second

用法筆記

This technical sense is about coded commands inside a program or processor, not directions for a human reader. It often appears in discussions of chips, robots, and software performance.

常見錯誤

❌The program sent information to make the printer stop.
✅The program sent instructions to make the printer stop.
💡In computing, instructions are commands that tell the machine what action to perform.