negotiate

/nɪˈɡəʊʃieɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /nɪˈɡəʊʃieɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ni-ˈgō-shē-ˌāt nonstandard -sē-/ (ame, mw)

negotiate — 動詞

  • negotiatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • negotiateshe / she / it
  • negotiatedpast simple
  • negotiating-ing form

1. to talk with other people or groups in a formal setting, trying to settle on con

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

協商；談判

透過正式討論達成協議

to talk with other people or groups in a formal setting, trying to settle on conditions that everyone involved can accept.

例句

The union leaders negotiated a new contract with the factory owners after weeks of talks.

經過數週的協商，工會領袖與工廠老闆談判達成了一份新的勞動合約。

negotiate + noun phrase (a contract / a deal / terms)

Ishaan and his partner negotiated for months before agreeing on a fair price.

Ishaan 和他的合夥人協商了好幾個月，才終於同意以合理的價格成交。

同義詞
  • bargain

    more informal and focused on price; often used in markets or small-scale deals

  • haggle

    implies persistent back-and-forth arguing over price, sometimes with a negative tone

  • mediate

    involves a neutral third party helping two sides reach an agreement, rather than being one of the parties

  • confer

    more formal and general; means to discuss or consult without necessarily aiming to settle terms

反義詞
  • dictate

    to impose terms without discussion or compromise

文法句型

negotiate + noun phrase (a contract / a deal / terms)

negotiate + with + someone + over / for + something

agree / refuse to negotiate

用法筆記

Frequently used in business, politics, and legal contexts. The object is normally the thing being settled — a contract, a deal, or terms. Can also be intransitive when the focus is on the discussion itself rather than the outcome.

常見錯誤

❌They spent the whole morning arguing until an agreement was reached.
✅They spent the whole morning negotiating until an agreement was reached.
💡'Argue' suggests conflict and disagreement; 'negotiate' suggests a structured discussion aimed at finding common ground.

2. to move carefully and with skill through a difficult physical path or around an

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

通過；越過

小心通過困難的路線或障礙

to move carefully and with skill through a difficult physical path or around an obstacle, such as a narrow road, a sharp bend, or a rocky trail.

例句

Rin carefully negotiated the narrow mountain path while carrying her hiking gear.

Rin 背著登山裝備，小心翼翼地通過了那條狹窄的山路。

negotiate + a path / a route / a bend

The driver had to negotiate several sharp bends on the icy road.

司機必須在結冰的路上通過好幾個急彎。

同義詞
  • navigate

    similar meaning but broader — can include planning a route, not just physically moving along it

  • get past

    less formal, more conversational

  • clear

    used especially for clearing an obstacle or hurdle

文法句型

negotiate + a path / a route / a bend / an obstacle

用法筆記

The subject is typically a person or vehicle, and the object is always something physical: a road, slope, bend, or obstacle. More formal than everyday alternatives such as 'get around' or 'get past'.

常見錯誤

❌The cat easily negotiated the garden fence.
✅The cat easily jumped over the garden fence.
💡'Negotiate' is too formal for simple everyday actions; use a simpler verb instead.

3. to handle a tricky situation or problem in a capable way, usually requiring skil

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

應付；處理

妥善處理棘手的情況或問題

to handle a tricky situation or problem in a capable way, usually requiring skill, patience, or careful planning to get through it.

例句

Walid had to negotiate several tricky questions during his job interview.

Walid 在求職面試中必須應付好幾個棘手的問題。

negotiate + a difficult situation / problem / question

The project manager negotiated a complex set of rules from different government offices.

專案經理費了一番功夫處理來自不同政府部門的複雜規定。

同義詞
  • handle

    less formal and more general; can apply to both small and large tasks

  • manage

    emphasises organisation and control over a situation

  • deal with

    everyday equivalent; less formal than 'negotiate'

文法句型

negotiate + a problem / a challenge / a crisis / a set of rules

用法筆記

The object is always an abstract difficulty — a problem, challenge, crisis, or complex situation. Similar in meaning to 'handle' or 'deal with' but carries a tone of active effort and resourcefulness.

4. in banking and finance, to transfer a payment document such as a cheque to a ban

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

兌現；轉讓

將支票等票據兌換成現金或轉讓

in banking and finance, to transfer a payment document such as a cheque to a bank in exchange for its cash value, or to pass it to another party as a form of payment.

例句

Selim went to the bank to negotiate the cheque from his grandmother.

Selim 去銀行兌現祖母寄來的支票。

negotiate a cheque (convert to cash)

The company negotiated the payment order through its main bank in Taipei.

該公司透過其在台北的主要銀行轉讓這張付款單據。

同義詞
  • cash

    simpler and more common; 'cash a cheque' is the everyday alternative

  • transfer

    broader meaning; can apply to moving funds or documents between accounts

  • convert

    focuses on changing the form of value, from a document to cash

文法句型

negotiate + a cheque / a bill of exchange / a promissory note

be negotiated at + a bank

用法筆記

Almost always used in banking or financial contexts. The passive form is common: 'The cheque was negotiated at the bank.' Not used for everyday cash withdrawals from a personal account.

常見錯誤

❌I need to negotiate some cash from the ATM.
✅I need to get some cash from the ATM.
💡'Negotiate' in the financial sense only applies to cheques and other transferable documents, not to personal cash withdrawals.