pay
pay — 動詞
- paypresent simple I / you / we / they
- payshe / she / it
- paidpast simple
- paying-ing form
1. to give someone money because you are buying something, using a service, or sett
付款；支付
付錢購物、付費或還款
to give someone money because you are buying something, using a service, or settling what you owe.
Lena paid cash for the vegetables at the night market.
Lena 在夜市買蔬菜時付了現金。
pay + for + thing bought
We paid the plumber before lunch and kept the receipt.
我們在午餐前支付了水電工費用，並留下收據。
Guests paid at the front desk before entering their rooms.
房客在進房前先到櫃檯付款。
intransitive: pay at + place
Mina paid her neighbor fifty dollars for the old bike.
Mina 花五十美元向鄰居買下那台舊腳踏車。
pay + person + amount + for + thing
Our family pays the gas bill online every month.
我們家每個月都在線上支付瓦斯帳單。
common object: pay a bill
- pay cash
- pay by card
- pay the bill
- pay the rent
- pay for lunch
文法句型
pay + person + amount
pay + amount + for + thing
pay + bill/rent/tax
pay + person + to + verb
用法筆記
With the thing you buy, English usually uses 'pay for'. With the person receiving money, English normally uses 'pay someone'. Distinguish from sense 3, where the money is specifically for a person's work.
常見錯誤
2. A machine, service, or other purchase has paid for itself once its savings or in
回本
省下或賺回原本成本
A machine, service, or other purchase has paid for itself once its savings or income match the original cost.
The solar lights paid for themselves within two dry summers.
那些太陽能燈在兩個乾季內就回本了。
fixed pattern: pay for themselves
After one busy year, the new oven paid for itself.
忙了一整年後，那台新烤箱就回本了。
Cheap train passes can pay for themselves after a few trips.
便宜的火車通行證坐幾趟後就可能回本。
The farm robot paid for itself by cutting repair costs.
那台農場機器人靠著降低維修成本而回本。
result shown by saving money
- quickly pay for itself
- soon pay for itself
- pay for itself in a year
- recoup
more formal; focuses on getting money back
- recover
can be used for getting a cost back, but is less fixed
- break even
focuses on not losing money overall, not only on one item
- lose money
to cost more than it saves or earns
文法句型
pay for itself
pay for themselves
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'for itself' or 'for themselves'. The subject is usually a machine, system, change, or purchase that saves money over time.
常見錯誤
3. to give a worker money for the job they have done, often as wages or salary.
發薪；付薪
付錢給人作為工作報酬
to give a worker money for the job they have done, often as wages or salary.
The restaurant pays new cooks every Friday afternoon.
這家餐廳每週五下午都會發薪給新廚師。
pay + worker + time of payment
Our school paid the band two hundred dollars for the show.
我們學校付了樂團兩百美元作為演出酬勞。
pay + worker + amount + for + work
This company pays drivers well during the holiday season.
這家公司在假期旺季會給司機較高的薪水。
The family paid a local guide to carry the bags.
那家人付錢請一位當地嚮導幫忙提袋子。
pay + person + to + verb
Nurses were paid late after the bank system failed.
銀行系統出問題後，護士們領薪領晚了。
passive: be paid
- pay staff
- pay workers
- pay somebody well
- pay somebody to help
- be paid weekly
- compensate
more formal; common in business or legal contexts
- reward
suggests payment or benefit for effort or success, not regular wages
- remunerate
formal and less common in everyday speech
文法句型
pay + worker + amount
pay + worker + for + work
pay + person + to + verb
be paid + amount
用法筆記
The subject is usually an employer, company, school, or customer. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about paying for goods, services, or bills rather than for someone's work.
常見錯誤
4. If an action or plan pays, it brings profit or some other useful result.
划算；有利
能帶來好處或收益
If an action or plan pays, it brings profit or some other useful result.
The small cafe paid once tourists returned in spring.
遊客在春天回來後，那家小咖啡館終於開始有利可圖。
intransitive: business produces profit
On dark mountain roads, it pays to check the map first.
在昏暗的山路上，先看一下地圖會比較保險。
it pays to + verb
Extra practice paid when Nora won the school race.
Nora 贏得校內賽跑時，額外練習就顯得很值得。
Hard work paid, and Rosa got the promotion.
辛苦工作最後有了回報，Rosa 也升職了。
effort leads to advantage
- it pays to wait
- hard work pays
- careful planning pays
文法句型
it pays to + verb
hard work pays
investment pays
用法筆記
Common subjects are businesses, plans, effort, and risks. The pattern 'it pays to + verb' means doing that action is wise because it helps or saves trouble.
常見錯誤
5. used with certain nouns to mean giving or showing the action they name, especial
致以；表達
以正式方式給予稱讚敬意等
used with certain nouns to mean giving or showing the action they name, especially in formal speech or writing.
During dinner, Maya paid her teacher a warm compliment.
晚餐時，Maya 向老師致以溫暖的稱讚。
pay + person + compliment
The mayor paid tribute to the nurses after the fire.
市長在火災後向護理師們致以敬意。
pay tribute to + person
After the concert, reporters paid the young star a compliment.
演唱會後，記者誇那位年輕明星表現亮眼。
In her talk, the guide paid high praise to the old painter.
在演講中，那位導覽員高度讚揚了那名老畫家。
pay praise to + person
- pay tribute to a leader
- pay somebody a compliment
- pay high praise
- withhold
to choose not to give praise or respect
文法句型
pay + tribute + to + person
pay + compliment + to + person
pay + praise + to + person
用法筆記
This sense appears mostly in fixed combinations such as 'pay tribute', 'pay a compliment', and 'pay praise'. Distinguish from sense 6, where the object is usually 'attention'.
常見錯誤
6. to direct your eyes, ears, or mind carefully to someone or something.
注意
仔細留意人或事物
to direct your eyes, ears, or mind carefully to someone or something.
Please pay attention when the nurse explains the medicine.
護理師說明藥物時，請注意聽。
pay attention when + clause
The dog paid close attention to every sound outside.
那隻狗很注意外面的每一個聲音。
pay close attention to + noun
During the tour, students paid attention to the wall paintings.
導覽期間，學生們注意看牆上的壁畫。
Few drivers paid much attention to the warning sign.
很少有駕駛注意那個警告標誌。
pay much attention to + noun
Eva paid attention as her grandfather fixed the radio.
Eva 一邊看著祖父修收音機，一邊注意每個步驟。
- pay attention to the teacher
- pay close attention
- pay no attention
- pay little attention
文法句型
pay attention to + person/thing
pay close attention to + detail
pay no attention to + person/thing
用法筆記
Usually appears with the noun 'attention', especially in the pattern 'pay attention to'. Distinguish from sense 5, where 'pay' combines with formal nouns such as 'tribute' or 'compliment'.
常見錯誤
7. to go and see someone or somewhere briefly.
拜訪
短時間去看某人或某地
to go and see someone or somewhere briefly.
We paid a quick visit to Grandma after the market.
我們逛完市場後，順道去看阿嬤。
pay a visit to + person
The class paid a visit to the city museum on Friday.
這個班星期五去拜訪了市立博物館。
pay a visit to + place
Dr. Singh paid a short visit before the evening train.
Singh 醫師在搭晚班火車前先過來一趟。
Two reporters paid the village a visit after the flood.
洪水過後，兩名記者造訪了那個村子。
pay + place + a visit
- pay a visit to a friend
- pay a visit to a museum
- pay somebody a visit
- avoid
to stay away instead of going to see someone or somewhere
文法句型
pay a visit to + place
pay + person/place + a visit
用法筆記
Most often used in the noun pattern 'pay a visit to'. It is more formal than the simple verb 'visit', and it usually suggests a brief call rather than a long stay.
常見錯誤
pay back
phrasal verbTo return money that you borrowed from someone.
償還；還錢
Brian promised to pay back the loan by next month.
Can you pay me back the ten dollars you owe?
pay down
phrasal verbTo reduce the amount of a debt by making a payment.
償還部分債務；減少欠款
She used her bonus to pay down her student loans.
We need to pay down the mortgage faster.
pay in
phrasal verbTo deposit money into a bank account.
存入（帳戶）
I need to pay in this check before Friday.
He pays in cash every month.
pay into
phrasal verbTo put money regularly into a fund or account.
存入；繳納（基金等）
She pays into a retirement fund every month.
How much do you pay into your savings account?
pay off
phrasal verbTo finish paying all the money owed on a debt.
還清；付清
Aiden finally paid off his car loan last week.
It took ten years to pay off the mortgage.
pay out
phrasal verbTo give money to someone, especially as a payment or expense.
支付；付出（款項）
The insurance company paid out a large claim after the accident.
We had to pay out thousands for the repairs.
pay up
phrasal verbTo pay all the money that is owed, especially when reluctant.
付清欠款；掏錢
The landlord demanded that the tenant pay up immediately.
If you don't pay up, we'll take legal action.
To spend or be charged a very large amount of money.
花費一大筆錢
Maya paid an arm and a leg for that designer handbag.
Does it really cost an arm and a leg to fix the car?
A lot of trouble or serious consequences will happen.
大麻煩；嚴重後果
If Dad finds out we broke the window, there'll be hell to pay.
The manager warned that there would be the devil to pay if the project failed.
To listen carefully and pay attention to someone or something.
注意；聽從
Sara paid no heed to the warning signs and got lost.
You should take heed of your doctor's advice.
The person who provides the money for something gets to decide how it is used.
出錢的人說了算
Our sponsor funds the event, so he who pays the piper calls the tune.
In business, he who pays the piper calls the tune.
To ignore or give no attention to someone or something.
不理會；不放在心上
Diego kept talking, but I didn't pay him any mind.
She doesn't pay any mind to the gossip about her.
To treat someone with great respect in order to win their favor or support.
討好；奉承
The young politician paid court to the influential senator.
He paid court to the CEO hoping for a promotion.
pay your dues
idiomTo work hard and gain necessary experience before achieving success or respect.
付出努力；累積經驗
As a junior associate, she paid her dues by working long hours.
He paid his dues in small theaters before landing a Broadway role.
pay for itself
idiomTo save enough money over time to cover its original cost.
回本；賺回成本
The solar panels will pay for themselves within five years.
Does this energy-efficient appliance really pay for itself?
To spend a lot of money on something, especially when it is wasted or disappointing.
花大錢（買某物）
I paid good money for this concert ticket, but the show was canceled.
She paid good money for that dress, and now it's torn.
To suffer because of a mistake, bad luck, or one's own actions.
付出代價；承受後果
He paid the price for skipping practice by losing the game.
They are paying the penalty for ignoring safety rules.
To visit or send a message to someone as a sign of respect, often after a death.
致意；弔唁
Many people came to pay their respects at the funeral.
We should pay our respects to the bereaved family.
To pay too much money for something.
付出高價；被敲竹槓
We paid through the nose for tickets to the final match.
Why did you pay through the nose for that old car?
pay its way
idiomTo generate enough income to cover its own operating costs.
收支平衡；自負盈虧
The new cafe is finally paying its way after a slow start.
Does the community center pay its way through donations?
pay your way
idiomTo pay for your own expenses without depending on others.
自付費用；自食其力
She worked part-time to pay her way through college.
I prefer to pay my way rather than borrow money.
To take money from one source to pay a debt to another, often causing a new problem.
拆東牆補西牆
He borrowed from his savings to pay the credit card bill, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Using the education fund to fix the roof is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Used to say that the options are equally good or bad, so the decision is up to you.
花錢買選擇；各取所需
Both hotels are cheap but noisy; you pays your money and you takes your choice.
You can have tea or coffee; you pays your money and you takes your choice.
pay — 名詞
1. money that a person gets regularly for doing their job.
薪資；工資
工作得到的薪水
money that a person gets regularly for doing their job.
Maria's pay arrives in the bank on the last day.
Maria 的薪資會在最後一天匯進銀行。
uncountable noun: pay arrives
Factory workers asked for higher pay after food prices rose.
食物漲價後，工廠工人要求更高的工資。
common modifier: higher pay
Good pay brought more nurses to the mountain town.
不錯的薪資吸引更多護理師來到山城。
Weekly pay kept Ben's family above water that winter.
每週工資讓 Ben 一家人在那個冬天還過得下去。
common modifier: weekly pay
- good pay
- low pay
- weekly pay
- holiday pay
文法句型
good/high/low pay
pay for + job
用法筆記
Usually uncountable and often modified by words such as 'good', 'low', 'weekly', or 'holiday'. 'Pay' is broader than 'salary' because it can include wages for hourly work.
常見錯誤
2. the state of working for a person or group, often in a secret or dishonest way.
受僱於
尤指暗中替某人做事
the state of working for a person or group, often in a secret or dishonest way.
The guard was in the gang's pay for years.
那名守衛多年來都受僱於那個幫派。
fixed phrase: be in somebody's pay
Police found that two clerks were in the dealer's pay.
警方發現兩名店員都受僱於那名毒販。
No judge should be in a company's pay.
任何法官都不該受僱於某家公司。
Rumors said the witness was in the mayor's pay.
傳聞說那名證人受僱於市長。
often suggests corruption or secrecy
- be in the king's pay
- be in a gang's pay
- be in somebody's pay
- employment
much broader and neutral; does not suggest secrecy
- service
can mean working for someone, sometimes with a formal tone
- independence
working or acting without being controlled by the employer
文法句型
be in + somebody's pay
用法筆記
This sense is almost only seen in the pattern 'be in somebody's pay'. It often suggests corruption, spying, or hidden loyalty rather than ordinary employment.
常見錯誤
pay — 形容詞
- paypositive
- payercomparative
- payestsuperlative
1. used for machines, places, or services that you can use only after paying.
付費的
使用前要先付錢的
used for machines, places, or services that you can use only after paying.
The motel room had a pay TV beside the bed.
那間汽車旅館房裡床邊有一台付費電視。
used before noun
Tourists used a pay phone outside the closed station.
遊客在關閉的車站外用了一台投幣電話。
common compound: pay phone
The building still keeps one pay toilet near the bus stop.
那棟建築在公車站附近仍保留一間付費廁所。
A pay parking area opened behind the night market.
夜市後方新開了一處付費停車區。
compound adjective before facility noun
- pay phone
- pay toilet
- pay parking
- pay laundry
- paid
broader; can describe services that require payment, but not the same fixed compounds
- chargeable
formal; often used in notices or business contexts
- free
available without payment
文法句型
pay + phone
pay + toilet
pay + parking
用法筆記
Placed before nouns naming facilities or services. Many compounds with this sense are older, such as 'pay phone', but they are still useful for understanding signs and older texts.