menial
/ˈmiːniəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmiːniəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmē-nē-əl -nyəl/ (ame, mw)
menial — 形容詞
- menialpositive
- more menialcomparative
- most menialsuperlative
1. describing work that needs little training and is treated as low in status or re
低階的
指低技術、乏味且地位低的工作
describing work that needs little training and is treated as low in status or respect
Lea spent her first week on menial office tasks like filing forms.
Lea 第一週都在做低階的辦公雜務，像是整理表格。
menial + office tasks
After college, Ilan refused to stay in a menial hotel job.
大學畢業後，Ilan 不肯一直做低階的飯店工作。
The film shows how menial farm work can leave workers exhausted.
那部電影呈現低階的農場工作如何把工人累壞。
Gita found the filing work menial and asked for bigger tasks.
Gita 覺得整理文件這種工作太低階，便要求做更重要的工作。
- skilled
describes work that needs training or expertise
- senior
focuses on high rank or responsibility rather than task type
- prestigious
adds the idea of public respect or admiration
文法句型
menial job
menial task
find the work menial
用法筆記
Usually describes jobs, tasks, or chores rather than people. Compared with routine, it adds the idea that the work has little status and is often looked down on.
menial — 名詞
1. someone who is given simple, low-status jobs for other people
雜工
做低階雜務的人
someone who is given simple, low-status jobs for other people
The duke treated every kitchen menial as if they were invisible.
公爵把每個廚房雜工都當成不存在的人。
menial = low-ranking worker
In the novel, a menial carries coal to the cold upstairs rooms.
在那本小說裡，一名雜工把煤搬到樓上的冰冷房間。
Jabari began as a menial in the workshop before learning the trade.
Jabari 在學手藝前，先在工坊裡當雜工。
The officer barked at the menials who were sweeping the yard.
軍官對著正在掃院子的雜工們大吼。
- supervisor
someone who directs other workers rather than doing the lowest tasks
- professional
someone with trained skills and recognized standing
文法句型
a menial in the kitchen
begin as a menial
treat someone like a menial
用法筆記
This noun often sounds old-fashioned or dismissive. In present-day everyday English, people usually name the specific job instead of calling someone a menial.