interview
interview — noun
1. a formal meeting where an employer or an admissions officer asks a person questi
a formal meeting where an employer or an admissions officer asks a person questions and then decides whether to hire them or let them join a school or university programme.
Hao prepared thoroughly for his job interview at the engineering firm.
collocation: job interview
The interview panel asked Shirin about her experience with project management.
collocation: interview panel
After two rounds of interviews, the company offered Asher the marketing role.
Yael felt confident during the second interview when the questions turned to her previous work.
常見錯誤
2. a conversation, often recorded or broadcast, where a journalist poses questions
a conversation, often recorded or broadcast, where a journalist poses questions to someone about their life, work, or opinions for a newspaper, magazine, radio programme, or television show.
The journalist recorded a one-hour interview with the newly elected mayor.
collocation: interview with [person]
In a radio interview, Dr. Okafor explained the latest climate data in simple language.
collocation: radio interview
Faisal gave an interview to a fashion magazine about his new autumn collection.
Linh watched a television interview where the director described life in rural Cambodia.
- one-on-one
informal; emphasises the private rather than public nature of the conversation
- Q&A
shorter and more structured; often written rather than spoken
常見錯誤
3. a formal session in which police officers question a person who may have been in
a formal session in which police officers question a person who may have been involved in a crime, following legal procedures.
The suspect asked for a lawyer before the police interview began.
collocation: police interview
Detective Chen reviewed the recorded police interview for any new evidence.
Kabir's lawyer advised him to answer only certain questions during the interview at the station.
A police interview must follow strict legal rules to be usable as evidence in court.
- interrogation
more forceful; implies pressure or hostility; often without the suspect's full cooperation
- questioning
more general; can refer to informal or preliminary enquiries
用法筆記
Distinguish from interrogation, which is more aggressive and typically involves a suspect who has not agreed to cooperate voluntarily. A police interview in UK and Taiwanese law must follow guidelines such as the right to legal representation and the right to remain silent.
常見錯誤
interview — verb
1. to ask someone a series of questions in a formal meeting, in order to decide whe
to ask someone a series of questions in a formal meeting, in order to decide whether to hire or admit them, or to gather information for a news report or an investigation.
The hiring committee interviewed twelve candidates for the teaching position.
transitive: interview + candidate
A reporter from the local newspaper interviewed residents about the damage from the storm.
The human resources manager interviewed Christopher for nearly an hour.
Police detectives interviewed several witnesses to find out what had happened that night.
- question
less formal; can be used in police or journalistic contexts without implying a structured meeting
- examine
formal; suggests testing knowledge or skills rather than gathering opinions
- interrogate
stronger; implies a hostile or coercive setting, often with a suspect
文法句型
interview + person
用法筆記
The object is always a person (or group of people), never a thing. Use interview someone FOR a position, not interview a position. In journalism, interview can be followed by about for the topic: 'She interviewed the actor about his new film.'
常見錯誤
2. to take part in a formal meeting where you are asked questions about your skills
to take part in a formal meeting where you are asked questions about your skills and experience, so that an employer or admissions officer can decide whether to offer you a job or a place on a course.
Brooke interviewed for a nursing position at the children's hospital last Tuesday.
pattern: interview for [position]
Isabela interviewed with three different companies before accepting the job offer.
pattern: interview with [organization]
Élise will interview for the research assistant role next Monday morning.
Many graduates interview with several firms before deciding where they want to work.
- be interviewed
passive form, more common in formal writing; 'He was interviewed for the role'
- go for an interview
more explicit about the event; 'She went for an interview at the bank'
文法句型
interview for + position
interview with + organization
用法筆記
This sense is always intransitive — you must use 'interview for' (position) or 'interview with' (organization). The adverb pattern 'interview well' or 'interview badly' describes a person's performance as an interviewee, e.g. 'Obi interviews well even when he is nervous.'