shift
/ʃɪft/ (bre, ipa) · /ʃɪft/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshift/ (ame, mw)
shift — 動詞
- shiftpresent simple I / you / we / they
- shifts3rd person singular
- shifting-ing form
- shiftedpast simple
1. to move an object or part of your body from one place or angle to another, usual
移動；挪動
改變位置或方向，通常幅度不大
to move an object or part of your body from one place or angle to another, usually by a short distance — for example, shifting a sofa a few centimetres, or shifting your weight from one foot to the other.
Ari shifted the sofa a few centimetres left so it would fit against the wall.
Ari 把沙發往左挪了幾公分，這樣才能靠牆放好。
shift + object + prepositional phrase
The driver shifted his weight from foot to foot while waiting for the bus.
司機在等公車時，把身體重心從一隻腳移到另一隻腳上。
shift + possessive + body-part noun
As the storm moved closer, the wind began to shift direction.
暴風雨接近時，風開始改變方向。
Xiu carefully shifted the pile of books onto the lower shelf.
Xiu 小心地把那疊書移到下層書架上。
The patient shifted uncomfortably in the hospital bed, trying to find a better position.
病人在病床上不舒服地挪動身體，想找到更舒服的姿勢。
- move
more general; can describe any distance
- adjust
emphasises fine-tuning position
- reposition
more formal; changing to a better position
文法句型
shift + object + adverb/preposition
shift + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs of direction (left, right, forward, back) or degree (slightly, a little). Unlike move, shift suggests a small or incremental change rather than a large relocation.
常見錯誤
2. of opinions, attention, attitudes, or policies to change from one thing to anoth
轉變；轉移
意見、關注等從一事物轉到另一事物
of opinions, attention, attitudes, or policies to change from one thing to another — for example, shifting public opinion, shifting focus to a new topic, or shifting strategy from one approach to another.
Public opinion shifted dramatically after the new evidence was made public.
新證據公開後，民意急遽轉變。
intransitive: subject (abstract) + shift + adverb
Yael shifted her attention from the computer screen to the door when someone knocked.
有人敲門時，Yael 把注意力從電腦螢幕轉向門口。
transitive: shift + possessive + abstract object
The company shifted its strategy toward online sales after the lockdown.
封城之後，這家公司將策略轉向線上銷售。
As the conversation deepened, the focus shifted from work problems to personal hopes.
隨著談話深入，焦點從工作問題轉向了個人願望。
The government has shifted its position on climate change several times this year.
今年政府對氣候變遷的立場已經轉變了好幾次。
文法句型
shift + from + noun + to + noun
shift + object + from + noun + to + noun
shift toward + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually abstract: opinion, focus, attention, attitude, policy, strategy. Often followed by from … to … or toward.
常見錯誤
3. to change the gear position in a car, truck, or other vehicle so that the engine
換檔
操作汽車變速器改變速度
to change the gear position in a car, truck, or other vehicle so that the engine runs at a different speed.
Kabir shifted into third gear as the road flattened out ahead of them.
路面變平之後，Kabir 排入三檔。
shift + into + gear number
The driving instructor told Yuki to shift down before reaching the sharp bend.
駕訓教練叫 Yuki 在到達急彎之前降檔。
shift + up/down for gear change direction
Rodrigo shifted gears smoothly and the old truck climbed the hill without trouble.
Rodrigo 流暢地換檔，老卡車順利爬上了山坡。
On steep mountain roads, drivers need to shift to a lower gear to stay safe.
在陡峭的山路上，駕駛需要換到較低檔位以策安全。
- change gear
more common in British English
- change gears
more common in American English
文法句型
shift + into + gear
shift + up/down
shift + gear
用法筆記
Commonly paired with up (to go faster) or down (to go slower). In automatic cars, the verb shift is less common; drivers say the car changes gear by itself.
4. to leave one house or apartment and settle into another one somewhere else.
搬家
離開原居所搬到新的地方
to leave one house or apartment and settle into another one somewhere else.
The Watanabe family shifted to a larger flat after their third child was born.
第三個孩子出生後，渡邊家搬到一間更大的公寓。
shift + to + new location
Imani shifted from Taipei to Kaohsiung when she accepted a new job there.
Imani 找到高雄的新工作後，就從台北搬了過去。
We shifted house twice last year, and the children had to change schools each time.
去年我們搬了兩次家，孩子們每次都得轉學。
The Ito family shifted to the countryside after Mr. Ito retired from his city job.
Ito 先生在都市的工作退休後，全家搬到了鄉下。
- stay
to remain in the same home
文法句型
shift + to/from + place
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, move is almost always used instead. The expression shift house (without the article) is a fixed collocation in British and Australian English.
常見錯誤
5. to dispose of unwanted possessions or surplus items by selling them, particularl
清除；拋售
處理掉不需要的物品或難賣的貨物
to dispose of unwanted possessions or surplus items by selling them, particularly when they are hard to find a buyer for.
The owner shifted the old farming equipment at the market for a very low price.
農場主人在市場上以很低的價格賣掉了舊農具。
shift + object + for + price
Anna decided to shift some of her winter clothes through an online second-hand shop.
Anna 決定透過網路二手商店出清一些冬衣。
The warehouse needs to shift its remaining stock before the new shipment arrives.
倉庫必須在新貨送達前清掉庫存。
The second-hand shop shifted most of its furniture within the first week of the sale.
那家二手商店在促銷的第一週就賣掉了大部分家具。
- sell off
implies selling at a reduced price
- offload
emphasises removing a burden
- dispose of
more formal; getting rid of something
文法句型
shift + object (goods, stock, products)
用法筆記
Object is typically something the seller wants to be free of: unwanted stock, old merchandise, surplus goods. Not used for ordinary shopping transactions.
常見錯誤
shift — 名詞
- shiftsingular
- shiftsplural
1. one of the scheduled blocks of time into which a working day is divided, with on
輪班；班次
工作時段或輪班人員
one of the scheduled blocks of time into which a working day is divided, with one team taking over from another when the block ends; also, the team of workers assigned to that block.
Eve works the hospital night shift, from eleven at night until seven.
Eve 在醫院上大夜班，從晚上十一點到早上七點。
work the + [time] + shift
The morning shift finishes at three, and then the afternoon crew takes over.
早班三點下班，然後下午班的人員來接班。
the + [time] + shift (referring to the group of workers)
Rania's manager asked if she could cover an extra shift this weekend.
Rania 的主管問她這個週末能否代一個額外的班。
Factory workers at the plant often rotate shifts so nobody is stuck with nights forever.
工廠的員工經常輪班，這樣才不會有人永遠上夜班。
The day shift reported fewer accidents than the night shift this month.
本月白班通報的工安事故比夜班少。
- stint
emphasises a fixed period of work at any job
- roster
refers to the schedule or list of workers
- tour of duty
military context; a period of service
文法句型
the + time + shift
work/do + a/the + shift
cover + a shift
用法筆記
Can refer either to the time period (a twelve-hour shift) or to the group of people (The night shift is arriving). With a collective noun, both singular and plural verb forms are possible: The shift is/are meeting at noon.
常見錯誤
2. a change in the position, direction, focus, attitude, or policy of something.
轉變；轉向
方向、政策或態度的變化
a change in the position, direction, focus, attitude, or policy of something.
There has been a noticeable shift in public attitudes toward renewable energy since the blackouts.
停電之後，大眾對再生能源的態度有了明顯的轉變。
shift + in + abstract noun
A sudden shift in the wind forced the sailors to change course immediately.
風向突然轉變，船員們只得立即改變航線。
A major shift in policy now lets employees work from home twice a week.
公司政策有了重大轉變，現在員工每週可以居家辦公兩天。
The teacher welcomed the positive shift in Quinn's attitude after the summer break.
暑假過後，老師注意到 Quinn 的態度有了正面的轉變。
- change
broader; any kind of difference over time
- transition
suggests a process of moving from one state to another
- turn
a change of direction, often more sudden
- stability
the state of staying the same
- continuity
lack of interruption or change
文法句型
shift + in + noun
shift + from + noun + to + noun
dramatic/sudden/major + shift
用法筆記
Typically followed by in + noun (shift in policy, shift in attitude, shift in emphasis) or from … to … (a shift from cars to trains). Often modified by adjectives like dramatic, gradual, fundamental, subtle.
常見錯誤
3. a woman's or girl's dress cut in a straight, loose shape that falls from the sho
直筒連衣裙
寬鬆無腰身的連身裙
a woman's or girl's dress cut in a straight, loose shape that falls from the shoulders to the hem, with no tight waistline or belt.
Anna wore a soft cotton shift in pale blue to the company summer picnic.
Anna 穿了一件淺藍色的柔軟棉質直筒連衣裙去參加公司的夏日野餐。
fabric + shift + colour description
The shop sells linen shifts that are perfect for hot and humid weather.
這家店賣的亞麻直筒連衣裙非常適合潮濕炎熱的天氣。
Yuki bought a simple black shift for the office Christmas party.
Yuki 買了一件簡單的黑色直筒連衣裙去參加辦公室的聖誕派對。
The bride wore a plain white shift dress for the beach wedding ceremony.
新娘穿了一件樸素的白色直筒連衣裙參加海灘婚禮。
- shift dress
the full name for this style
- sheath dress
similar but more fitted through the body
用法筆記
Also called a shift dress. It differs from a fitted dress by having no defined waistline — the fabric hangs straight down from the shoulders to the hem.
4. a keyboard key used to produce capital letters or the second symbol printed on a
Shift鍵
鍵盤上切換大小寫的按鍵
a keyboard key used to produce capital letters or the second symbol printed on a key, for instance the symbol printed above a number.
Hold down the Shift key while pressing letter A to type a capital A.
按住 Shift 鍵再按字母 A，就能打出大寫的 A。
hold down + Shift key + while + action
To type the at symbol, press Shift and the number two at the same time.
要打 @ 符號，同時按下 Shift 鍵和數字 2。
The Shift key on my laptop is smaller than the one on my desktop keyboard.
我筆電上的 Shift 鍵比桌上型鍵盤的 Shift 鍵小。
A stuck Shift key may cause you to type everything in capital letters.
如果 Shift 鍵卡住，你可能會不小心打出全大寫的文字。
文法句型
the Shift key
hold down/press + Shift
用法筆記
Capitalised when referring to the specific labelled key (the Shift key). When referring to the action, shift can be lowercased: press shift and the letter a. Often simply called Shift.