workings
/ˈwɜː.kɪŋz/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɚkɪŋz] /ˈwɝː.kɪŋz/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɚkɪŋz] /ˈwər-kiŋ How to pronounce working (audio)/ (ame, mw)
workings — 名詞
1. The tunnels, shafts, and passages dug under the ground to extract valuable miner
礦坑
地下開採礦物所挖掘的坑道
The tunnels, shafts, and passages dug under the ground to extract valuable minerals, coal, or stone from the earth.
The old tin workings near the village were abandoned in the 1950s.
村子附近那座舊錫礦坑在一九五○年代就廢棄了。
collocation: old + [mineral] + workings
Samir led the team deep into the limestone workings to inspect the roof supports.
Samir 帶領團隊深入石灰岩礦坑，檢查頂部支撐結構。
proper noun location adjective + workings
Heavy rain had flooded the lower level of the copper workings near the river.
河水氾濫，淹沒了河邊銅礦坑的下層區域。
The mining company sealed the entrance to the old gold workings after the collapse.
坍塌事件後，礦業公司封閉了舊金礦坑的入口。
- mine
broader term that includes the whole operation, not just the tunnels
- diggings
more informal; less common in modern use
- excavation
more general; can refer to any hole dug, not just for minerals
文法句型
always plural
often preceded by 'the' or a location adjective
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form. 'Workings' in this sense typically refers to the physical excavation itself, not the mining company or operation.
常見錯誤
2. The written steps and intermediate results that a person produces on paper while
計算過程
解題時逐步寫下的算式
The written steps and intermediate results that a person produces on paper while solving a mathematical problem.
Jisoo checked her workings twice before handing in the maths test.
Jisoo 交了數學考卷前，把自己的計算過程檢查了兩遍。
collocation: check + workings
The teacher asked the students to show all their workings for each problem.
老師要求學生把每道題的計算過程都寫出來。
collocation: show + workings
Otis made a small error in his workings and ended up with the wrong total.
Otis 的計算過程裡有個小錯誤，結果總數就算錯了。
Valentina's workings were so clear that the examiner followed every step easily.
Valentina 的計算過程寫得很清楚，閱卷老師每個步驟都看得懂。
- calculations
more general; can refer to mental or electronic computation
- figures
informal; emphasises the numbers rather than the method
- working (singular)
used as a mass noun in American English ('show your work')
文法句型
always plural
often 'show your workings'
用法筆記
Predominantly British English. In American English, 'work' or 'calculations' is more common. Frequently used in school exam instructions ('show your workings').
常見錯誤
3. The way the parts of a system, a device, an organisation, or a natural process i
運作方式
系統、組織或機器的運作機制
The way the parts of a system, a device, an organisation, or a natural process interact and operate together to produce a result.
Pedro spent months learning the inner workings of the hospital's billing system.
Pedro 花了幾個月才學會醫院帳務系統的內部運作方式。
common set phrase: inner workings
The clockmaker patiently explained the workings of the antique grandfather clock.
鐘錶師傅耐心地向孩子們說明那座古董老爺鐘的運作方式。
pattern: the workings of [device]
Defne wanted to understand the workings of local government before the election.
Defne 在選舉前想了解地方政府的運作方式。
The documentary revealed the complex workings of a modern airport control tower.
那部紀錄片揭露了現代機場管制塔台的複雜運作方式。
- operation
more general; can refer to a single action or a process
- functioning
emphasises whether something works properly or not
- mechanics
focuses on the technical or procedural details
- inner workings
set phrase that emphasises hidden or complex details
文法句型
always plural
often 'the workings of [something]'
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the' and followed by 'of' — 'the workings of something'. 'Inner workings' is a very common fixed phrase.
常見錯誤
workings — 形容詞
- workingspositive
- more workingscomparative
- most workingssuperlative
1. Having a paid job; earning money by doing a job or providing a service.
有工作的
受僱用、正在就業的
Having a paid job; earning money by doing a job or providing a service.
The new policy provides free after-school care for all working parents in the district.
新政策為學區內所有在職家長提供免費課後照顧。
common collocation: working parents
Every working adult on Maple Drive, including Noor, received a survey about the proposed library.
Maple Drive 上的每一位在職成年人，包括 Noor，都收到了一份關於擬建圖書館的問卷調查。
The charity offers training courses for working professionals who want to change careers.
該慈善機構為想轉換跑道的在職專業人士提供培訓課程。
Many working mothers struggle to find affordable childcare near their offices.
許多職業婦女很難在辦公室附近找到負擔得起的托兒服務。
- employed
more formal; can be used predicatively ('she is employed')
- wage-earning
narrows the focus to people paid by wages rather than salary
- unemployed
without a job
- jobless
informal synonym of unemployed
文法句型
usually before a noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — placed before the noun it modifies (e.g. 'working people', NOT 'the people are working' in this sense). Contrasted with 'unemployed'.
常見錯誤
2. In a physical condition that allows a device or system to be used normally and w
可運作的
狀態良好、可供正常使用
In a physical condition that allows a device or system to be used normally and without problems.
The photocopier is old but still in working condition for daily office use.
那台影印機雖然舊了，但運作狀態良好，可供日常辦公室使用。
set phrase: in working condition
The staff checked that all emergency exits were in working order before the concert.
工作人員在演唱會前確認所有緊急出口都處於可運作狀態。
set phrase: in working order
After the motor repair, the elevator at Saint Mary's Hospital remained in working condition.
聖瑪麗醫院的電梯在馬達維修之後，仍然維持可運作狀態。
The landlord confirmed the heating system was in working order before the tenants moved in.
房東在房客入住前確認暖氣系統運作正常。
- functional
more direct synonym; can be used predicatively or attributively
- operable
more formal; used for machinery and medical conditions
- broken
not working at all
- out of order
set phrase for public machines like vending machines or lifts
文法句型
usually in the phrase 'in working [noun]'
用法筆記
Almost always used within the fixed phrases 'in working order' or 'in working condition'. Not used before a noun on its own ('a working system' means something else).
常見錯誤
3. Accepted as a temporary basis for planning, discussion, or further investigation
暫定的
暫定為真以便繼續工作的
Accepted as a temporary basis for planning, discussion, or further investigation, without being confirmed as definitely true or final.
The team used a working title for the novel until the publisher approved the final name.
團隊為那本小說取了一個暫定書名，等到出版社核准最終名稱再說。
common collocation: working title
Dr. Okonkwo's working hypothesis explained most of the data from the experiment.
Okonkwo 博士的暫定假說解釋了實驗中的大部分數據。
common collocation: working hypothesis
The architects created a working budget before the final designs were complete.
建築師在最終設計完成之前先編了一份暫定預算。
The committee adopted a working definition of sustainability for the evaluation phase.
委員會為評估階段採用了永續性的暫定定義。
- tentative
more formal; implies more uncertainty
- provisional
established for now but subject to change
- interim
used for a temporary arrangement pending a final decision
文法句型
always before a noun like hypothesis, title, definition, budget
用法筆記
Only used before a narrow set of nouns: 'hypothesis', 'title', 'definition', 'budget', 'assumption'. Do not extend to general nouns like 'idea' or 'plan'.
常見錯誤
4. Relating to the amount of time that a person spends doing their job, usually mea
工作時間的
與上班時間相關的
Relating to the amount of time that a person spends doing their job, usually measured in hours, days, or years.
The union negotiated a reduction in working hours for all factory employees.
工會經過協商，為所有工廠員工縮減了工作時數。
common collocation: working hours
Jabari's working day starts at seven in the morning and ends at four.
Jabari 的工作日從早上七點開始，下午四點結束。
common collocation: working day
Elena spent her entire working life as a midwife at the district hospital in Taichung.
Elena 在台中的區域醫院擔任助產士，度過了她整個職涯。
The company introduced flexible working hours to improve staff well-being.
公司實施了彈性工時制度，以提升員工福祉。
- work
used as a noun modifier ('work hours', 'work day'); slightly less idiomatic in some contexts
- leisure
relating to free time rather than work
- non-working
e.g., 'non-working hours'
文法句型
always before a time-related noun
用法筆記
Only modifies time-related nouns: 'hours', 'day', 'week', 'life', 'year', 'conditions'. Never modifies people or objects.
常見錯誤
5. Currently functioning or available for practical use, especially of knowledge or
實際可用的
運轉中或可實際運用的
Currently functioning or available for practical use, especially of knowledge or equipment that is adequate for real-world tasks.
Abigail has a working knowledge of Spanish from Madrid but cannot write formal reports in it.
Abigail 在馬德里學到的西班牙文達到實際可用的程度，但還無法用它撰寫正式報告。
common collocation: working knowledge
The museum displayed a working model of a steam engine from the 1800s.
博物館展示了一部十九世紀蒸汽引擎的運轉模型。
common collocation: working model
Candidates for the bookkeeper position at Lin's Hardware need a working understanding of QuickBooks.
應徵 Lin's Hardware 記帳員職位的候選人，需要對 QuickBooks 有實際可用的基本認識。
The prototype was only a concept model, not a working product ready for sale.
那件原型只是概念模型，還不是可以上市銷售的實際產品。
- practical
emphasises usefulness in real situations rather than theory
- functional
focuses on the ability to perform a task
- usable
can be used for practical purposes
- theoretical
based on ideas rather than practical use
- non-functional
not capable of operating
文法句型
always before a noun like knowledge, model, understanding
用法筆記
Used with a limited set of nouns: 'knowledge', 'understanding', 'model', 'product', 'system'. 'Working knowledge' is the most frequent — it means enough to get by, not expert-level.