master
master — 動詞
- masterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- masters3rd person singular
- mastering-ing form
- masteredpast simple
1. to learn something such as a skill or subject so thoroughly that you can do it w
精通
學會並精通某項技能
to learn something such as a skill or subject so thoroughly that you can do it without difficulty
Gabriela mastered the basics of Spanish in just six months of daily practice.
Gabriela 靠每天練習，六個月就精通了西班牙語的基礎。
master + the basics of [subject] (skill-acquisition pattern)
The young cook mastered the art of making fresh pasta by watching her grandmother.
那位年輕廚師看著祖母示範，精通了製作新鮮義大利麵的手藝。
master + the art of [skill] (idiomatic collocation)
Cyrus spent two years mastering the rules of chess before his first tournament.
Cyrus 花了兩年時間精通西洋棋的規則，才參加了第一場比賽。
Zola wants to master the piano so she can play songs for her family.
Zola 想精通鋼琴，這樣就能彈曲子給家人聽。
Once you master the controls of this drone, flying it becomes surprisingly easy.
一旦你精通這台空拍機的操控，飛起來就會變得非常簡單。
- learn
broader; does not suggest achieving a high level of skill
- get the hang of
informal; suggests basic competence rather than thorough skill
- excel at
focuses on performing well, not the learning process
- struggle with
having difficulty learning something
文法句型
master + noun phrase (skill / subject / technique)
用法筆記
The object is typically a skill, subject, technique, or instrument — an area of knowledge that requires time and practice to learn well.
常見錯誤
2. to stop yourself from letting a strong feeling such as anger, fear, or nervousne
克制
控制強烈情緒不影響行為
to stop yourself from letting a strong feeling such as anger, fear, or nervousness affect what you do
Christopher finally mastered his fear of public speaking after months of therapy.
Christopher 經過數個月的治療，終於克制了對公開演講的恐懼。
master + fear / emotion (direct object for controlled feeling)
Minho took up meditation to master his anger before it caused problems at work.
Minho 開始練習冥想，以克制他的怒氣，免得在工作上惹麻煩。
Sana mastered her nervousness before every big competition by practising deep breathing.
Sana 在每次大賽前都會透過深呼吸來克制自己的緊張情緒。
Ignacio found it hard to master his disappointment when he did not get the job.
Ignacio 發現自己很難克制沒得到那份工作的失望心情。
It took Jude years to master his impatience during long meetings with clients.
Jude 花了多年時間才克制住自己在冗長客戶會議上的不耐煩。
- give in to
opposite action — letting the feeling win
- lose control of
failure to manage the emotion
文法句型
master + noun phrase (specific emotion or feeling)
用法筆記
The object must name a specific feeling or emotion (fear, anger, nervousness, disappointment, impatience), not a person or situation.
常見錯誤
master — 名詞
- mastersingular
- mastersplural
1. someone who looks after and is responsible for a pet animal, such as a dog or a
主人
飼養與照顧動物的人
someone who looks after and is responsible for a pet animal, such as a dog or a horse
The frightened cat climbed a tall tree and would not come down for its master.
那隻受驚的貓爬上一棵高樹，不肯下來回到主人身邊。
possessive determiner 'its' for animal-owner relationship
A good dog master spends time training the animal every single day.
一個好的狗主人每天都會花時間訓練自己的狗。
collocation: dog master / horse master
When Tendai called, the horse trotted straight over to its master at the fence.
Tendai 一呼叫，那匹馬就立刻跑到圍籬邊的主人旁邊。
The neighbour returned the injured bird to its master.
鄰居把受傷的鳥還給了牠的主人。
- owner
more general, less formal; 'owner' does not imply the same caregiving relationship
- pet
the animal being cared for
文法句型
master + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is most common with domesticated pets (dogs, cats, horses). The object of 'master's' care is typically an animal that lives closely with humans.
2. in past times, a person who employed servants in their home or who kept other pe
雇主；奴隸主
在歷史背景下擁有僕人或奴隸的人
in past times, a person who employed servants in their home or who kept other people as slaves
The servants prepared the master's evening meal and laid out his clothes.
僕人們準備好主人的晚餐，並把他的衣服擺放整齊。
master's + domestic object (meal, clothes, rooms)
In the 18th century, some plantation masters owned hundreds of slaves.
在18世紀，有些種植園主擁有數百名奴隸。
Historical records show that the master of that estate treated his workers severely.
歷史記錄顯示，那處莊園的主人對工人十分嚴厲。
After the rebellion, the frightened masters fled from the island on a small boat.
叛亂發生後，驚慌失措的主人們乘著小船逃離了島嶼。
文法句型
master + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense now carries strong historical connotations. In modern usage it may sound outdated or offensive when applied to employer-employee relationships.
3. someone with the power to direct an organization, group, or situation and decide
主管；負責人
掌管組織或局勢並做決策的人
someone with the power to direct an organization, group, or situation and decide what happens
The project master approved the final budget after reviewing every department's request.
專案負責人在審查各部門的申請後批准了最終預算。
master + of + [organization / domain]
Ari was the master of the entire sales division and reported directly to the CEO.
Ari 掌管整個銷售部門，直接向執行長報告。
The master of the operation gave clear instructions before the team began the rescue.
行動負責人在救援團隊出發前給了明確的指示。
When the fire broke out, everyone looked to the station master for direction.
火災發生時，每個人都看向站長，等他發號施令。
- subordinate
a person under another's authority
文法句型
master + of + organization / situation
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2, this sense has no historical or oppressive connotation — it simply refers to the person who controls an activity or runs an organization.
4. the qualified officer in command of a merchant ship or cargo vessel at sea
船長
貨運船的船長
the qualified officer in command of a merchant ship or cargo vessel at sea
The master of the cargo ship checked the weather report before departing from port.
貨輪的船長在出港前查看了天氣預報。
master of the [ship / vessel] — formal nautical title
Captain Zayd served as master on a container ship for more than twenty years.
Zayd 船長在一艘貨櫃船上擔任船長超過二十年。
A licensed master is required by law to command every merchant vessel at sea.
法律規定每一艘商船必須由持有執照的船長指揮。
The harbour master directed the large tanker safely into the narrow dock.
港務長引導那艘大型油輪安全駛入狹窄的碼頭。
- captain
more common in everyday use; 'master' is the formal title
文法句型
master + of + ship / vessel
用法筆記
Still used as the official job title for the captain of a merchant or cargo ship. 'Harbour master' is a separate role — the person managing port traffic.
5. someone who has an extremely high level of skill in a craft, sport, art, or othe
大師；名家
在某領域技藝極其精湛的人
someone who has an extremely high level of skill in a craft, sport, art, or other activity
Lakshmi became a master of the piano after practising for fifteen years.
Lakshmi 練習了十五年鋼琴後，成為了鋼琴大師。
master of [skill / art form]
The chess master defeated every opponent during the international tournament.
那位西洋棋大師在國際錦標賽中擊敗了所有對手。
Nellie is a master at baking traditional French bread without any written recipe.
Nellie 是烘焙傳統法國麵包的高手，完全不靠食譜。
Romi spent three summers studying under a master calligrapher in Kyoto.
Romi 花了三個暑假在京都市跟隨一位書法大師學習。
文法句型
master + of + [skill / craft]
master + at + [activity]
用法筆記
Often used in compounds: chess master, grand master, master craftsman. The phrase 'a master of [something]' emphasises both deep knowledge and practical skill.
常見錯誤
6. a famous European painter who worked before the 19th century and whose artwork i
古典大師
19世紀前著名的歐洲畫家
a famous European painter who worked before the 19th century and whose artwork is highly valued
The museum displayed three paintings by the Old Master Rembrandt.
該博物館展出了三幅古典大師林布蘭的畫作。
proper noun following 'Old Master' for specific painters
Auction houses in London often sell Old Master paintings for millions of dollars.
倫敦的拍賣行經常以數百萬美元的價格出售古典大師畫作。
Camila wrote her thesis on the use of light in Spanish Old Master works.
Camila 的論文探討了西班牙古典大師作品中的光影運用。
Collectors from around the world flew to Paris for the Old Master exhibition.
來自世界各地的收藏家飛到巴黎參觀古典大師展覽。
- old master
non-capitalised variant; same meaning
文法句型
Old Master + painter / painting
the Old Masters (plural)
用法筆記
Often capitalized as 'Old Master'. The term typically refers to European painters active between the 13th and 18th centuries, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.
7. a man whose job is to teach children in a school, particularly at a private scho
男教師
在學校教書的男性
a man whose job is to teach children in a school, particularly at a private school in the UK
The school hired a new master to teach Latin to the older students.
學校聘請了一位新男教師來教年紀較大的學生拉丁文。
noun phrase: [subject] master
Elena's grandfather was the maths master at a private academy in Edinburgh.
Elena 的祖父是愛丁堡一間私立學校的數學老師。
The English master gave Christopher a signed copy of his favourite novel.
那位英文老師送給 Christopher 一本他簽名的小說。
Reuben remembered his old master who first taught him to love poetry.
Reuben 還記得最早引導他喜愛詩歌的那位老師。
- teacher
general term, no restriction on school type or gender
- instructor
often used for practical subjects or training, not typically for school teaching
- tutor
teaches one student or a small group, often outside the regular school system
- pupil
the person being taught by a master
用法筆記
Now considered somewhat old-fashioned. Still used in the UK for teachers at private or grammar schools, especially in subject titles such as 'Latin master' or 'geography master'.
8. a formal title used in Britain for the person who leads certain schools or a col
院長；校長
英國部分學校或大學學院的負責人
a formal title used in Britain for the person who leads certain schools or a college within a university
The Master of the college welcomed the new students at the opening ceremony.
學院院長在開學典禮上歡迎新生。
capitalised title: the Master of [institution]
Mira wrote to the Master to ask about the scholarship programme.
Mira 寫信給院長詢問獎學金計劃的相關事宜。
Professor Faisal was elected Master of St. Margaret's College last autumn.
Faisal 教授去年秋天獲選為聖瑪格麗特學院的院長。
The Master addressed the whole school during the final assembly of the term.
校長在學期最後一次全校集會上發表演說。
Camila's uncle served as Master of a grammar school in northern England.
Camila 的叔叔曾擔任英格蘭北部一所文法學校的校長。
- headmaster
more widely used term for the head of a school; less specific to certain UK institutions
- principal
the usual term in the US and many non-UK systems
- dean
used for the head of a university faculty or college, not typically for schools
用法筆記
Capitalised when used as a formal title, e.g. 'the Master of Trinity Hall'. The female equivalent is 'Mistress' or, in some institutions, 'President'.
常見錯誤
9. a word placed before a young boy's name in formal writing, used instead of 'Mr'
小少爺
用於男孩姓名前的正式稱呼
a word placed before a young boy's name in formal writing, used instead of 'Mr' for boys who are not yet teenagers
The wedding invitation was addressed to Master Christopher Payne.
婚禮邀請函上寫的是 Christopher Payne 小少爺收。
formal address: Master + first name + surname
Soraya wrote 'Master Niran' on the birthday card for her nephew.
Soraya 在送給姪子的生日卡上寫了「Niran 小少爺」。
The envelope bore the old-fashioned greeting 'Dear Master Reuben'.
信封上用老派的書寫方式寫著「親愛的 Reuben 小少爺」。
Master Omar was only six when he started at the boarding school.
Omar 小少爺才六歲就開始就讀寄宿學校了。
- Mr
used for older boys and adult men
用法筆記
Still used in formal correspondence (envelopes, invitations) in British English for boys up to about age 12. After that age, 'Mr' becomes appropriate. Now less common than in the past.
常見錯誤
10. the original high-quality recording of music, a film, or other media that serves
母帶；原版
可供複製的原始錄音或檔案
the original high-quality recording of music, a film, or other media that serves as the source for producing duplicates
The band kept the master in a locked safe at the studio.
樂團把母帶鎖在錄音室的一個保險箱裡。
collocation: the master / original master
Once the master tape was lost, the label could no longer produce new copies.
母帶一但遺失，唱片公司就無法再製作新唱片了。
collocation: master tape
Camila found the master file for the song on an old hard drive.
Camila 在一顆舊硬碟上找到了那首歌的原版檔案。
The engineer made a digital backup of the master before editing the tracks.
工程師在編輯音軌之前先把母帶做了數位備份。
Without the original master, the sound quality of the later copies slowly worsened.
沒有原始母帶，後來拷貝的版本音質就越來越差了。
- original
more general term; does not specifically imply audio or video production
- source file
digital equivalent, used in computing and media production
- copy
a duplicate made from the master
用法筆記
Common in the music and film industries. The master is the highest-quality version, often stored separately from the copies sold to the public.
常見錯誤
11. someone who has completed a university degree one level above a bachelor's and o
碩士
獲得碩士學位的人
someone who has completed a university degree one level above a bachelor's and one level below a doctorate
Faisal is a master of economics from the University of Cape Town.
Faisal 是開普敦大學的經濟學碩士。
pattern: a Master of [subject]
The programme is open to masters of engineering who want to teach at university.
這個課程開放給想在大學任教的工程碩士。
Sayaka became a master of fine arts after two years of intensive study.
Sayaka 花了兩年的密集學習，取得了藝術碩士學位。
Roya was proud to call herself a master of public health.
Roya 為自己成為公共衛生碩士而感到自豪。
Last June, Priya became a master of chemistry after handing in her master's thesis on catalysts.
去年六月，Priya 提交了催化劑方面的碩士論文後，取得了化學碩士學位。
- postgraduate
broader term for anyone studying beyond a bachelor's degree, not limited to master's completion
- graduate degree holder
more general; could refer to any level of completed degree
- undergraduate
a student who has not yet completed a bachelor's degree
用法筆記
The standard pattern is 'a Master of [field]', often abbreviated (MA, MSc, MFA, etc.). The word 'master' alone can refer to the degree holder, though the full title is more common in formal contexts.
常見錯誤
master — 形容詞
- masterpositive
- masterercomparative
- masterestsuperlative
1. having complete skill and knowledge about a particular job or activity, so that
精湛的
技藝或能力達到最高水準
having complete skill and knowledge about a particular job or activity, so that you can do it better than most people.
Ritu learned wood carving from a master carpenter in Kyoto.
Ritu 在京都向一位技術精湛的木匠學習木雕。
attributive use: master + profession noun
The gallery is showing five paintings by a master painter from Brazil.
這間畫廊正在展出五位巴西大師級畫家的作品。
Diego trained for many years to become a master chef at a famous hotel.
Diego 訓練多年，終於成為一家知名飯店的高明主廚。
Only a master musician could play that difficult piece with such emotion.
只有技藝精湛的音樂家才能把那麼困難的曲子演奏得如此動人。
Niran's grandfather was a master tailor who made suits for important people.
Niran 的祖父是一位手藝精湛的裁縫師，專門為重要人物製作西裝。
- expert
Master implies the highest possible level, while 'expert' can describe anyone with deep knowledge in a field.
- skilled
'Skilled' is a more general term for having ability; 'master' suggests someone at the very top of their profession.
- professional
'Professional' means someone does something as a paid job; 'master' emphasizes exceptional quality rather than payment.
文法句型
master + profession noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun that names a job or profession that requires special training. You cannot say 'The carpenter is master'; you must say 'The carpenter is a master carpenter.'