take your time
take your time — 慣用語
1. used to tell someone they do not need to hurry, or to encourage them to go at a
慢慢來
不必趕，放輕鬆做就好
used to tell someone they do not need to hurry, or to encourage them to go at a relaxed pace
Minho told the new chef to take his time with the complicated order.
Minho 告訴新來的廚師處理那份複雜訂單慢慢來就好。
take your time + with + task
Take your time filling out the form — there is no line behind you.
慢慢填寫那份表格——你後面沒有人排隊。
take your time + -ing verb
Mr. Chidi asked the students to take their time on the final essay.
Chidi 先生請學生們慢慢寫期末論文。
The dentist told Mira to take her time getting up from the chair.
牙醫請 Mira 慢慢從椅子上起來。
There is no deadline, so please take your time reviewing the documents.
沒有截止期限，所以請你慢慢審閱那些文件。
- there's no rush
a more casual way to tell someone not to hurry
- whenever you're ready
polite and patient; often used in service settings
- hurry up
the direct opposite — urging someone to go faster
用法筆記
Often used as a gentle imperative to reassure someone. The possessive pronoun changes to match the subject (take your time / take his time / take their time).
常見錯誤
2. to spend more time on a task than is reasonable or expected, often causing frust
慢吞吞
花太多時間，比正常慢很多
to spend more time on a task than is reasonable or expected, often causing frustration for others
The plumber took his time fixing the leak while water soaked the kitchen floor.
水電工慢吞吞地修漏水，任由水淹了廚房地板。
negative sense: took his time + -ing
Talia took her time packing and they nearly missed the last train home.
Talia 慢吞吞地收拾行李，他們差點錯過末班火車。
took her time + -ing, negative consequence
Hugo took his time responding to the urgent request from his manager.
Hugo 慢吞吞地回覆主管的緊急要求。
The delivery driver took his time and every pizza arrived cold and soggy.
外送員慢吞吞地送，每片披薩送到時都又冷又溼軟。
Reema took her time in the shower and left no hot water for anyone else.
Reema 慢吞吞地洗澡，沒留半點熱水給其他人。
- dawdle
more informal and clearly negative; suggests aimless slowness
- drag one's feet
implies deliberate delay, often to avoid doing something
- rush through
to do something quickly, possibly carelessly
用法筆記
Carries a tone of mild criticism or annoyance. Distinguish from sense 1 (DON'T RUSH), which is friendly and encouraging.
常見錯誤
3. to require a long period to finish or to produce a result, especially when waiti
費時
需要長時間才能完成或有結果
to require a long period to finish or to produce a result, especially when waiting feels difficult
Good sourdough bread takes its time — you cannot rush the rising process.
好的酸種麵包就是費時——你沒辦法催發酵過程。
takes its time: subject is a thing, not a person
The medicine will take its time to work; do not expect results by morning.
藥需要時間才會見效，別期待隔天就有結果。
Learning to play the violin takes its time, but daily practice pays off.
學拉小提琴就是費時，但每天練習會有回報。
The paint needs to take its time drying before you hang the wallpaper.
油漆需要時間乾透，才能貼壁紙。
A broken bone takes its time to heal, no matter how fit you are.
骨折需要時間癒合，不管你身體多健康都一樣。
- be time-consuming
neutral and factual; often used in formal or technical contexts
- take a while
more casual; implies a shorter wait than 'take your time'
- be instant
happens immediately, with no waiting at all
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (BE TOO SLOW): sense 3 describes an objective fact about how long something needs, without criticism. The subject is usually a process, task, or thing, not a person.