operatives

IPA/ˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv/
KK[ˈɑpɚətɪvz]IPA/ˈɑː.pɚ.ə.t̬ɪv/

operatives — 名詞

  • operativessingular
  • operativesesplural

1. people who work with their hands in a skilled trade, such as machinery operators

1.名詞B1
釋義

技工；技術員

靠手藝或技術工作的勞工

people who work with their hands in a skilled trade, such as machinery operators, factory workers, or craftspersons whose job requires technical training rather than academic qualifications.

例句

The factory operatives walked out when management cut their bonuses before the holiday season.

工廠的技工們因為管理層在假期前削減他們的獎金而罷工。

plural subject + possessive 'their'

All operatives at the textile mill must wear safety goggles and thick gloves.

紡織廠的全體技術人員必須佩戴安全護目鏡和厚手套。

collocation: 'operatives at [workplace]'

同義詞
  • workers

    broader term; includes any employed person, not just hands-on trades

  • craftspersons

    focuses on skilled artistic or traditional trades, narrower than 'operative'

  • technicians

    implies specialised technical training, often in repair or maintenance

文法句型

plural noun as subject/object

用法筆記

In this sense, the singular form 'operative' is also used, but the plural 'operatives' commonly refers to a group of manual or technical workers in industrial settings.

常見錯誤

❌The operatives in the office used computers all day.
✅The operatives on the factory floor ran the assembly line.
💡'Operatives' in this sense is used for manual/technical workers, not general office staff.

2. people employed by a government, political group, or private organisation to car

2.名詞B2
釋義

特工；密探

受僱執行秘密任務的人員

people employed by a government, political group, or private organisation to carry out undercover work such as gathering secret information, infiltrating groups, or conducting covert missions.

例句

Government operatives were sent to gather intelligence on the rebel camps across the border.

政府特工被派往邊境對岸收集有關叛軍營地的情報。

collocation: 'government operatives' gathering intelligence

The undercover operatives spent eighteen months infiltrating the drug smuggling ring before making arrests.

那名臥底特工花了一年半時間滲入販毒集團，之後才實施逮捕。

同義詞
  • agents

    slightly broader; can include non-secret representatives

  • spies

    specifically means someone who steals secrets; more dramatic in tone

  • assets

    intelligence jargon for a source of information, not a field agent

文法句型

plural noun as subject/object

用法筆記

This sense is common in news and crime fiction. 'Operatives' can refer to agents working for governments (CIA, MI6), political campaigns, or criminal organisations. The term avoids specifying the type of secret work.

常見錯誤

❌The spy agency sent an operative to spy on the target.
✅The agency sent an operative to monitor the target.
💡'Spy' is a narrower label; 'operative' covers any undercover role.

operatives — 形容詞