minister

/ˈmɪnɪstə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪnɪstər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmi-nə-stər/ (ame, mw)

minister — 名詞

  • ministersingular
  • ministersplural

1. a politician who leads a specific government department, such as education, heal

1.名詞B1
釋義

部長

政府部門的最高負責人

a politician who leads a specific government department, such as education, health, or defence

例句

The education minister announced a new plan to build more libraries across the country.

教育部長宣布一項新計劃，要在全國各地興建更多圖書館。

minister + [department] as title

Henrik was appointed minister of trade after working as an economic advisor for eight years.

Henrik 在擔任經濟顧問八年後，被任命為貿易部長。

appointed minister of [department]

同義詞
  • secretary

    used in the US and some other countries instead of 'minister' for department heads

  • cabinet member

    a broader term for any high-ranking official who sits in the cabinet, not just department heads

文法句型

minister + of + [department]

minister + for + [department]

用法筆記

In many countries, the head of a government department may also be called 'Secretary' or 'Secretary of State'. The term 'minister' is standard in parliamentary systems such as the UK, Canada, and Japan.

常見錯誤

❌The minister of education visited our school.' (when referring to a country without that title)
✅The education secretary visited our school.
💡In some countries (e.g. the US), the head of education is called 'Secretary of Education', not 'Minister of Education'.

2. a person who leads worship services and provides spiritual care for members of a

2.名詞B1
釋義

牧師

基督教中主持禮拜的領袖

a person who leads worship services and provides spiritual care for members of a Christian church

例句

The minister welcomed everyone to the Sunday service at the small village church.

牧師在鄉間小教堂歡迎大家參加主日禮拜。

minister + Sunday service + church

Megan spoke with her minister about organising a food drive for families in need.

Megan 與她的牧師討論為弱勢家庭籌辦食物捐贈活動的事。

同義詞
  • priest

    used in Catholic and Orthodox traditions; performs similar duties but belongs to a different church hierarchy

  • pastor

    a minister who leads a specific local church, common in evangelical Protestant traditions

  • clergyman

    a more formal, gender-neutral term for any person ordained for religious duties

用法筆記

Used primarily in Protestant denominations; the equivalent role in the Catholic Church is 'priest'.

常見錯誤

❌The Catholic minister gave a blessing.
✅The Catholic priest gave a blessing.
💡In Catholicism the title is 'priest'; 'minister' is used mainly in Protestant churches.

3. a senior diplomatic officer who acts on behalf of their government in another na

3.名詞B2
釋義

公使

次於大使的外交官員

a senior diplomatic officer who acts on behalf of their government in another nation, with a rank one step below an ambassador

例句

Aarav was appointed minister to the Indian embassy in Berlin after years of diplomatic service.

Aarav 在外交領域服務多年後，被任命為駐柏林印度大使館的公使。

minister to [country/embassy]

The Chinese minister met local officials to discuss trade agreements between the two nations.

中國公使與當地官員會面，討論兩國之間的貿易協定。

同義詞
  • envoy

    a diplomatic agent sent on a specific mission, not necessarily a permanent representative

  • chargé d'affaires

    someone who acts as the head of a diplomatic mission when the ambassador is absent

文法句型

minister + to + [country]

用法筆記

Distinguish from 'ambassador', who holds the highest diplomatic rank. A minister often acts as the deputy to an ambassador or serves in smaller missions where no ambassador is posted.

常見錯誤

❌The Japanese minister to France is the highest-ranking diplomat there.
✅The Japanese ambassador to France is the highest-ranking diplomat there.
💡If the diplomat is the head of the mission, the correct title is 'ambassador', not 'minister'.

minister — 動詞