retainer
retainer — 名詞
- retainersingular
- retainersplural
1. money that a client gives ahead of time to a professional — for instance, a lawy
聘雇費
預先支付以確保專業人士隨時提供服務的費用
money that a client gives ahead of time to a professional — for instance, a lawyer or adviser — guaranteeing they will make time for you whenever their help is requested.
The company pays Bilal a monthly retainer to handle all their legal matters.
公司每個月付給 Bilal 一筆聘雇費，讓他處理所有法律事務。
collocation: pay + retainer
Elena's family paid a retainer to the law firm to secure help before the trial.
Elena 的家人付了一筆聘雇費給律師事務所，以確保審判前獲得協助。
Many freelance consultants ask for a yearly retainer from their long-term clients.
許多自由顧問會向長期客戶收取年度聘雇費。
Nikos signed a retainer agreement with the accountant to manage his business taxes.
Nikos 與會計師簽了一份聘雇協議，由對方管理他的營業稅務。
The retainer fee covers up to ten hours of legal advice each month.
這筆聘雇費涵蓋每個月最多十小時的法律諮詢。
- fee
more general; a retainer is a specific type of advance or ongoing fee
- advance payment
emphasises the upfront nature; less specific to professional services
- deposit
used for holding an item or service; not strictly for professional availability
文法句型
pay (someone) a retainer
retainer fee
retainer agreement
用法筆記
Commonly used in legal and business contexts. The retainer may be a flat monthly fee or a deposit that gets drawn down as work is performed.
常見錯誤
2. a removable plastic or wire device worn inside the mouth that stops teeth from s
矯正維持器
牙齒矯正後用來固定牙齒位置的裝置
a removable plastic or wire device worn inside the mouth that stops teeth from shifting after braces have been taken off.
Nia wears her retainer every night to keep her teeth from moving back.
Nia 每晚戴著矯正維持器，防止牙齒移位。
pattern: wear + retainer + time frequency
After two years of braces, David's dentist gave him a clear plastic retainer.
戴了兩年牙套之後，David 的牙醫給了他一個透明的矯正維持器。
adjective: clear plastic retainer
The orthodontist told Bao to clean his retainer with a soft toothbrush daily.
矯正醫師告訴 Bao 每天要用軟毛牙刷清潔他的矯正維持器。
If you stop wearing your retainer, your teeth may slowly shift out of place.
如果停止戴矯正維持器，牙齒可能會慢慢跑回原來的位置。
Iker forgot his retainer in a lunch bag and had to get a replacement made.
Iker 把矯正維持器忘在午餐袋裡，只好去做一個新的。
- orthodontic retainer
the full technical term
- teeth retainer
more explanatory but less common
文法句型
wear a retainer
retainer + verb (holds / keeps)
用法筆記
Dentists and orthodontists usually recommend wearing a retainer every night for several years after braces are removed. This sense is countable: 'a retainer', 'my retainers'.
常見錯誤
3. a worker employed inside a private home — often one who has served the same hous
老僕
長期在同一家族服務的佣人
a worker employed inside a private home — often one who has served the same household across many years or even generations.
The family's loyal retainer had worked for three generations of the household.
這家忠心耿耿的老僕人已經服務了三代家人。
collocation: loyal retainer
In classic mystery novels, the retainer is often a character who knows every family secret.
在經典推理小說裡，老僕人往往是知道所有家族秘密的角色。
The elderly retainer greeted guests at the door and showed them into the sitting room.
年邁的老僕人替客人開了門，帶他們進客廳。
Lord Ashworth trusted his retainer more than he trusted any of his business partners.
Lord Ashworth 信任他的老僕人，勝過信任任何合夥人。
The old retainer retired after fifty years and moved into a cottage on the estate.
那位老僕人服務了五十年後退休，搬到莊園裡的一間小屋居住。
文法句型
family retainer
faithful retainer
loyal retainer
用法筆記
This sense is historical or literary in modern English. It is rarely used in everyday conversation and is most often encountered in fiction, historical writing, or period dramas.