underpay

/ˌʌndəˈpeɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚpˈe] /ˌʌndərˈpeɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚpˈe] /ˌən-dər-ˈpā How to pronounce underpay (audio)/ (ame, mw)

underpay — 動詞

  • underpaypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • underpayshe / she / it
  • underpaidpast simple
  • underpaying-ing form

1. to give a worker or employee less money than what is fair, agreed upon, or legal

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

少付薪資

給付低於公平或法定標準的薪資

to give a worker or employee less money than what is fair, agreed upon, or legally required in exchange for their labor

例句

The hotel chain was accused of underpaying its housekeeping staff for several years.

這家連鎖飯店被指控多年來一直低薪給付房務人員。

passive: be accused of underpaying [group]

Elena discovered she had been underpaid by roughly three hundred dollars each month.

Elena 發現自己每個月被少付了大約三百美元。

underpay + person + by + amount

同義詞
  • undercompensate

    more formal and broader — includes benefits and non-monetary compensation, not just salary

  • under-reward

    emphasises that the pay does not match the effort or value of the work done

反義詞
  • overpay

    the direct opposite — to pay more than is fair or necessary

  • compensate fairly

    phrase-level antonym; what employers should do instead

文法句型

underpay + person/group

be/get underpaid + for [work]

underpay + person + by + amount

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive voice (be/get underpaid). The direct object is always the person or group, never the salary amount — the amount is introduced by 'by' (e.g., underpaid by $200). Distinguish from 'undercharge', which means to ask for too little payment for a product or service, not for labour.

常見錯誤

❌The company underpaid the salary by $200.
✅The company underpaid her by $200.
💡'underpay' takes the person as object, not the amount of money.
❌The waiter underpaid me for the meal.
✅The waiter undercharged me for the meal.
💡'underpay' is for labour; 'undercharge' is for too low a price on goods or services.