engage
engage — 動詞
1. to formally arrange for a person or organisation to carry out a specific task, u
聘僱
正式付費僱用某人或機構
to formally arrange for a person or organisation to carry out a specific task, usually in exchange for payment
The museum engaged a local artist to paint a mural for the new gallery wing.
博物館聘僱了一位本地藝術家為新展廳繪製壁畫。
engage + person + to-infinitive for hiring
Bilal's company engaged a law firm to handle the contract negotiations.
Bilal 的公司聘僱了一家律師事務所處理合約談判事宜。
The school board voted to engage a consultant to review the science curriculum.
校董會投票決定聘僱一名顧問來檢視科學課程。
We engaged a guide who could lead the hiking tour in both Mandarin and English.
我們聘僱了一位能用中英文帶領登山團的嚮導。
The orchestra engaged three guest musicians for the summer concert series.
該樂團聘僱了三位客座音樂家參加夏季音樂會系列。
文法句型
engage + person/company + to-infinitive
engage + person/company + as + role
用法筆記
This sense is more formal than 'hire'. Use it for professional services (lawyers, consultants, artists) rather than hourly or casual workers.
常見錯誤
2. to catch and hold someone's interest or attention so that they keep thinking abo
吸引
引起興趣並使人專注
to catch and hold someone's interest or attention so that they keep thinking about or focusing on something
The teacher's hands-on science experiment engaged every student in the room.
老師親手操作的自然實驗吸引了在場每一位學生。
engage + audience group
Rodrigo found that the novel's opening chapter engaged him immediately.
Rodrigo 發現那本小說的開頭章節立刻吸引了他。
Good educational apps manage to engage children while they are learning new skills.
好的教育應用程式能在小朋友學習新技能時吸引他們。
The documentary about ocean pollution engaged viewers of all ages.
那部關於海洋污染的紀錄片吸引了各個年齡層的觀眾。
Speakers who tell personal stories engage an audience better than those who only list facts.
講個人故事的演講者比只列舉事實的人更能吸引聽眾。
- bore
to fail to hold attention; to make someone lose interest
文法句型
engage + someone
be engaged by + something
用法筆記
Commonly used in passive form: 'I was completely engaged by the performance.' Objects are usually mental activities: audience, readers, students, viewers.
常見錯誤
3. to take part in an activity or to actively connect with a person, group, or topi
參與；投入
積極加入活動或接觸人事物
to take part in an activity or to actively connect with a person, group, or topic
Students who engage in classroom discussions usually understand the material better.
參與課堂討論的學生通常對教材理解得更好。
engage in + activity
Devika tries to engage with colleagues who hold very different opinions from hers.
Devika 試著與意見截然不同的同事交流互動。
engage with + person
The charity works hard to engage with communities that lack access to basic services.
該慈善機構努力接觸缺乏基本服務的社區。
Scientists must engage with new findings to keep their research relevant and accurate.
科學家必須接觸新發現，才能保持研究的前沿性與正確性。
The politician promised to engage more directly with young voters ahead of the election.
那名政治家承諾在選舉前更直接地與年輕選民對話。
- participate in
more neutral; can replace 'engage in' in most contexts
- get involved in
less formal; suggests personal commitment
- interact with
focuses on two-way communication
文法句型
engage in + activity
engage with + person/topic
用法筆記
Unlike CAPTURE ATTENTION (sense 2), this sense is usually intransitive and requires a preposition ('engage in' for activities; 'engage with' for people or ideas). 'Engage in' can sound formal — 'take part in' is simpler.
常見錯誤
4. to cause mechanical parts to fit together and begin moving together, or for part
嚙合；接合
機械零件互相卡合運轉
to cause mechanical parts to fit together and begin moving together, or for parts to fit together in this way
Otis pushed the lever forward and the gears engaged with a smooth click.
Otis 向前推動操縱桿，齒輪順暢地嚙合，發出清脆的咔嗒聲。
The mechanic listened carefully to hear whether the engine parts were engaging properly.
技師仔細聆聽引擎零件是否正確嚙合。
intransitive: parts engage
When you press the clutch pedal, the gear teeth separate before engaging again.
踩下離合器踏板時，齒輪的牙齒會分開，然後再次嚙合。
Erik carefully engaged the parking brake before getting out of the truck.
Erik 在離開卡車前仔細接合了駐車煞車。
The bicycle chain must engage properly with both sprockets for the bike to run smoothly.
腳踏車鏈條必須正確地與兩個鏈輪嚙合，才能順暢運轉。
- disengage
to separate mechanical parts so they stop moving together
文法句型
engage + mechanical part
part + engages (intransitive)
engage + a/the + gear/clutch/brake
用法筆記
The antonym is 'disengage'. This sense belongs almost exclusively to machinery contexts — do not use for people or abstract concepts.
常見錯誤
5. to start fighting an opposing military force, or to enter into combat with an en
交戰
與敵對軍事力量開始戰鬥
to start fighting an opposing military force, or to enter into combat with an enemy
The general ordered the ground troops to engage the enemy before sunrise.
將軍下令地面部隊在日出前與敵人交戰。
transitive: engage + enemy
The two armies engaged in fierce combat just outside the capital city.
兩支軍隊就在首都城外展開了激烈的交戰。
intransitive: engage in + combat
Naval warships were sent to engage the pirate vessels near the coast of Somalia.
海軍軍艦被派往索馬利亞海岸附近與海盜船隻交戰。
Jabari's unit had strict orders not to engage unless attacked directly.
Jabari 的部隊收到嚴格命令，不得在遭受直接攻擊前交戰。
The patrol engaged with hostile fighters on three separate occasions during the deployment.
巡邏隊在任務期間曾三次與敵方戰鬥人員交火。
- fight
everyday alternative; broader in usage
- clash with
often used in news reports; suggests a shorter, more intense encounter
- do battle with
more formal or literary tone
文法句型
engage + enemy/force (transitive)
engage in + combat/battle (intransitive)
用法筆記
Restricted to military or combat contexts. In sports or arguments, use 'face' or 'take on' instead — 'engage' would sound unnatural.
常見錯誤
6. to keep someone occupied with an activity, or to teach a group of people (especi
使忙碌；教導
安排活動讓人有事做或教導一群孩子們
to keep someone occupied with an activity, or to teach a group of people (especially children) by having them actively participate
The summer camp engaged the children in art projects, music, and outdoor games.
夏令營安排孩子們參與美術、音樂和戶外遊戲等活動。
engage + someone + in + activity
Anong engaged her literature class in a lively debate about the novel's main themes.
Anong 帶領她的文學課學生針對小說的主題進行了一場熱烈的辯論。
The babysitter engaged the toddler with building blocks and simple puzzles.
保母用積木和簡單的拼圖讓學步兒有事可做。
Teachers need strategies that engage students throughout the entire lesson.
老師需要一些策略來讓學生在整堂課中都保持投入。
Benjamin engaged his younger brother in building a model spaceship out of cardboard boxes.
Benjamin 帶著弟弟用紙箱一起製作一艘模型太空船。
- idle
to do nothing; be inactive (though rarely transitive)
文法句型
engage + someone + in + activity
用法筆記
Overlaps with sense 2 (CAPTURE ATTENTION) but focuses on DOING an activity rather than just thinking about it. 'Engage the children in painting' means occupy them with painting, not just interest them in it.
常見錯誤
engage — 形容詞
1. strongly interested in and actively involved with political or social issues, es
社會參與的
對政治社會議題積極關心
strongly interested in and actively involved with political or social issues, especially describing creative professionals such as writers, musicians, or artists
The poet was widely regarded as a deeply engaged writer who protested injustice.
這位詩人被普遍視為一位深度關懷社會的作家，經常公開反對不公義。
deeply/highly/politically engaged
Many engaged musicians use their concert tours to raise awareness about poverty.
許多關懷社會的音樂家利用巡迴演唱會提高人們對貧窮問題的關注。
The gallery featured the work of engaged artists from across Latin America.
該畫廊展出了來自拉丁美洲各地關懷社會的藝術家的作品。
An engaged filmmaker often chooses topics that challenge the audience politically.
一位關懷社會的電影導演常挑選能夠在政治上挑戰觀眾的題材。
Christopher admired the novelist as an engaged intellectual who spoke on urgent issues.
Christopher 敬佩那位小說家作為一位關懷社會的知識分子，敢於就緊迫的議題發聲。
- committed
broader; can apply to any cause, not just politics
- active
simpler and more general; 'politically active' is the everyday synonym
- politically involved
explicitly names the political dimension
- apolitical
not interested in or concerned with politics
- detached
emotionally or intellectually uninvolved
文法句型
engaged + noun (writer/artist/citizen)
deeply/highly/politically engaged
用法筆記
This sense is borrowed from French (engagé) and is most common in discussions of art and culture. It always implies a deliberate, public stance, not just private interest.