spying
[spˈaɪɪŋ] /ˈspī/ (ame, mw) · /spaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [spˈaɪɪŋ] /spaɪ/ (ame, ipa)
spying — 名詞
1. the secret work of collecting information for an enemy or rival and passing it b
諜報活動
替敵對陣營祕密蒐情並回報
the secret work of collecting information for an enemy or rival and passing it back, especially between governments or large organizations.
Tariq was jailed for spying for a foreign army during the border conflict.
Tariq 因在邊境衝突期間替外國軍隊從事諜報活動而入獄。
pattern: spying for [nation/army]
Several diplomats were expelled after years of spying inside the defense ministry.
幾名外交官因多年在國防部內從事諜報活動而被驅逐出境。
collocation: years of spying
The novel centers on wartime spying between rival governments in Europe.
這本小說以歐洲敵對政府之間的戰時諜報活動為主軸。
Digital spying on weapons research can threaten a country's national security.
對武器研究進行數位諜報活動可能危及國家安全。
- espionage
more formal term, especially for state or military cases
- intelligence work
broader term that may include legal information gathering
- covert operations
broader and can include actions beyond collecting information
文法句型
spying + for + [nation/organization]
years of spying
wartime spying
用法筆記
Often followed by 'for' to name the side receiving the information ('spying for a foreign power'). Unlike noun sense 2, this sense usually involves an enemy or rival rather than general private observation.
常見錯誤
2. the secret watching of people, places, or organizations to learn private informa
暗中監視
偷偷觀察人或地方以套取資訊
the secret watching of people, places, or organizations to learn private information, especially when the hidden watching itself is the main issue.
Government spying on phone records angered many voters across the country.
政府暗中監視電話紀錄，惹怒了全國許多選民。
collocation: government spying
A company was fined for spying on workers through hidden office cameras.
一家公司因透過隱藏攝影機暗中監視員工而被罰款。
collocation: corporate spying
Neighbours complained about someone spying on families from the empty apartment.
鄰居抱怨有人從那間空公寓暗中監視各個家庭。
The reporter exposed illegal spying by hackers hired to track activists.
那名記者揭露受僱追蹤社運人士的駭客所進行的非法監視。
The case involved spying on union leaders inside the factory.
這起案件牽涉到在工廠內暗中監視工會領袖。
- surveillance
more neutral and often used for legal or official monitoring
- snooping
more informal and often suggests nosy private behavior
- covert monitoring
emphasizes the hidden watching itself
文法句型
spying + on + [target]
illegal spying
government spying
用法筆記
Often followed by 'on' to name the person or place being watched. Unlike noun sense 1, this sense does not require passing secrets to an enemy or rival.
常見錯誤
3. the act of finally seeing or noticing someone or something after searching or pa
瞥見；發現
費力搜尋後終於看到
the act of finally seeing or noticing someone or something after searching or paying close attention.
After hours of searching, the spying of the rare bird thrilled the hikers.
找了好幾個小時後，終於瞥見那隻稀有鳥，讓登山客非常興奮。
pattern: spying of [something sought]
The lookout's spying of the approaching ship gave the crew time to prepare.
瞭望員發現正在接近的船隻，讓船員有時間做好準備。
Heloísa's spying of the error in the contract saved her company thousands of dollars.
Heloísa 發現合約中的錯誤，為她的公司省下了數千美元。
The astronomer's spying of the comet through a small telescope thrilled the class.
那位天文學家透過小型望遠鏡瞥見彗星，讓全班都很興奮。
文法句型
spying + of + [noun]
用法筆記
This sense is rare in modern English and considered somewhat literary or dated. It is formed from verb sense 3 (to manage to see someone or something after looking hard). The structure 'spying of [noun]' is the most common pattern.
spying — 動詞
- spyingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spyings3rd person singular
- spyinging-ing form
- spyingedpast simple
1. to secretly watch a country, organization, or group and report what you learn to
刺探情報
替敵對陣營偷蒐並回報機密
to secretly watch a country, organization, or group and report what you learn to a rival or enemy.
A foreign agent was arrested for spying on the nation's nuclear research facilities.
一名外國特務因刺探該國核能研究設施的情報而被捕。
collocation: spy on [target]
James was accused of spying for a hostile government during the regional conflict.
James 被指控在區域衝突期間替敵對政府刺探情報。
collocation: spy for [nation]
Camille denied spying and said she was only interviewing factory workers.
Camille 否認刺探情報，並說自己只是在採訪工廠工人。
Two phone companies were caught spying on each other's new battery designs.
兩家手機公司被抓到互相刺探對方的新電池設計。
Neighbours saw a man spying on the fenced lab across the street.
鄰居看見一名男子在街對面的圍欄實驗室外刺探情報。
- eavesdrop on
limited to overhearing conversations, not general observation
- infiltrate
to join a group secretly in order to spy on it from the inside
文法句型
spy + on + [target]
spy + for + [nation/group]
spy + against + [nation]
用法筆記
The prepositions carry different meanings: 'spy on' introduces the target under observation, while 'spy for' introduces the party that receives the information. 'Spy against' is less common but emphasizes the adversarial relationship.
常見錯誤
2. to find out details about a place or situation by quietly watching or moving aro
暗中探查
偷偷摸清某地或情勢的細節
to find out details about a place or situation by quietly watching or moving around it without being noticed.
The scout spied the enemy camp from behind a fallen tree near the river.
斥候躲在一棵倒在河邊的樹後，暗中探查敵軍的營地。
pattern: spy + [location] (transitive)
Before the robbery, the gang spent days spying the bank's back entrance.
那幫人行竊前，花了好幾天暗中探查銀行的後門。
Soraya spied the building's layout from a window across the street.
Soraya 從街對面的窗戶暗中探查那棟建築的布局。
Engineers spied the tunnel site before moving heavy equipment there.
工程師們先暗中探查隧道工地，才把重型設備運進去。
- reconnoitre
military term, more formal
- observe
less specific, does not imply secrecy
文法句型
spy + [place]
spy + into + [place/activity]
用法筆記
This sense takes a direct object that names a place or one of its features (camp, layout, site). Distinguish from verb sense 1, which focuses on gathering secrets for a rival rather than scouting the place itself.
常見錯誤
3. to manage to see a person or thing after looking hard, often when they are partl
瞥見；察覺
仔細看後才發現
to manage to see a person or thing after looking hard, often when they are partly hidden or far away.
Jiwoo spied a friend across the crowded train station and waved to get her attention.
Jiwoo 在擁擠的火車站瞥見一位朋友，便揮手引起她的注意。
I spied a small café tucked between two large office buildings near the park.
我瞥見公園附近兩棟大樓之間夾著一家小咖啡館。
The teacher spied a student copying answers during the final exam in June.
老師發現一名學生在六月的期末考試中抄襲答案。
Maja spied a typo in the contract before both sides signed it.
Maja 在雙方簽約前發現了合約中的一個打字錯誤。
From the hill, Lara spied deer drinking from the river below.
Lara 從山坡上瞥見河邊有鹿正在喝水。
- spot
more common in everyday English; 'I spotted a mistake'
- catch sight of
suggests a brief or sudden moment of seeing
- glimpse
implies seeing only partially or for a very short time
- miss
to fail to see or notice
文法句型
spy + [someone/something]
spy + [someone] + [verb]-ing
用法筆記
Unlike verb senses 1 and 2, this sense has no notion of secrecy or hostility. It simply means 'catch sight of after looking deliberately.' It is common with the pattern 'spy + [object] + [verb]-ing' (e.g. 'spied him leaving'). Not passive-friendly: rarely used as 'was spied'.