file
file — 名詞
1. a folder, box, or cabinet that holds papers, letters, and documents so they stay
檔案夾
存放紙本文件的容器
a folder, box, or cabinet that holds papers, letters, and documents so they stay tidy and can be found easily, common in offices and homes
Gabriel pulled a red file from the shelf and took out the contract.
Gabriel 從架上抽出一個紅色檔案夾，取出合約。
collocation: pull/take a file from [place]
The office assistant put the invoices into a blue cardboard file.
辦公室助理把發票放進一個藍色紙板檔案夾裡。
collocation: put into a file
Each employee has a personal file stored in the locked cabinet.
每位員工的個人檔案夾都存放在上鎖的櫃子裡。
The doctor's file for patient records sits on the desk near the window.
醫生放病歷的檔案夾放在窗邊的桌子上。
常見錯誤
2. information and documents that are collected and stored as a record, often relat
檔案記錄
關於某人或某事的書面記錄
information and documents that are collected and stored as a record, often relating to one specific person, topic, or event, whether on paper or in digital form
The police keep a file on all known suspects in the area.
警方對該區域所有已知嫌疑人都有建檔記錄。
collocation: keep a file on [someone/something]
Mert asked to see his medical file before the appointment.
Mert 要求在預約前查閱自己的病歷檔案。
The journalist checked the company's public file for past court cases.
記者查閱了該公司的公開檔案，尋找過去的訴訟案件。
Our school keeps a file of every student's grades and attendance.
我們學校保存每位學生的成績與出缺席記錄。
The insurance company said the information was already on file.
保險公司說這項資料已經存檔了。
用法筆記
Frequently used in the phrase 'on file' meaning 'stored as part of the official records'. The uncountable form appears in the phrase 'on file' and in general references.
3. a piece of digital content, such as a document, picture, or program, that a comp
電腦檔案
電腦中單一名稱儲存的資料
a piece of digital content, such as a document, picture, or program, that a computer stores under a single name and reads as one unit
Kasia double-clicked the file to open the spreadsheet.
Kasia 雙擊檔案，打開了試算表。
collocation: open a file / click a file
Make sure you save the file before you close the program.
關閉程式之前，一定要先儲存檔案。
collocation: save a file
Daniel renamed the image file to something easier to find.
Daniel 把圖檔重新命名，讓它更容易找到。
The attachment was a PDF file that took a while to download.
附件是一個 PDF 檔案，下載花了一些時間。
Eve deleted the old spreadsheet file to free up space on her laptop.
Eve 刪除了舊的試算表檔案，以釋放筆電的空間。
用法筆記
File names typically include a period and an extension (e.g., .docx, .jpg, .pdf) that tells the computer what kind of data it is.
常見錯誤
4. a straight formation where each person, vehicle, or animal follows directly behi
縱列
人或動物排成的一行隊伍
a straight formation where each person, vehicle, or animal follows directly behind the next, also called single file
The children walked in a file behind their teacher through the museum.
孩子們跟在老師後面排成一列走過博物館。
collocation: in a file; walk in file
Visitors formed a single file at the entrance to the temple.
訪客在寺廟入口排成一列縱隊。
common phrase: single file
The soldiers marched in file across the training ground.
士兵們排成縱隊走過訓練場。
Cars moved in single file along the narrow mountain road.
車輛沿著狹窄的山路排成單線行駛。
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'single file' or 'in file'. Rarely used as a standalone countable noun in everyday speech.
5. a hand tool made from a metal bar whose rough face rubs against wood, metal, or
銼刀
金屬製表面粗糙的打磨工具
a hand tool made from a metal bar whose rough face rubs against wood, metal, or fingernails to give a smooth finish or alter their shape
Lakan used a metal file to smooth the rough edge of the pipe.
Lakan 用金屬銼刀磨平了管子的粗糙邊緣。
collocation: metal file
Mei-Lin picked up a nail file from the drawer and tidied her nails.
她從抽屜裡拿起一支指甲銼刀修剪指甲。
collocation: nail file
The carpenter ran a flat file along the wooden surface to remove splinters.
木匠用平銼刀順著木頭表面打磨，去除木刺。
A round file works best for shaping curved holes in metal.
圓銼刀最適合用來修整金屬上的弧形孔洞。
- rasp
a very coarse type of file used on wood; more specialised
- emery board
a thin cardboard strip coated with abrasive, used for nails
用法筆記
Different files have different coarseness levels — a 'rough file' removes material quickly, while a 'fine file' is used for final smoothing. A 'nail file' is a small file specifically for fingernails.
file — 動詞
1. to sort and store papers, documents, or information in a particular place and or
歸檔
將文件整理存放以備查閱
to sort and store papers, documents, or information in a particular place and order so that they can be found later
Camila spent the morning filing the customer orders alphabetically.
Camila 花了一整個早上按字母順序將客戶訂單歸檔。
collocation: file alphabetically
Please file these receipts under the tax folder for this year.
請將這些收據歸檔到今年的稅務資料夾裡。
pattern: file [something] under [category]
The secretary filed away all the signed contracts before lunch.
秘書在午餐前把所有簽好的合約歸檔收好。
Zola files her notes by date so she can always find the right one quickly.
Zola 按照日期將筆記歸檔，這樣她隨時能快速找到需要的資料。
Old medical records are filed in the basement archive once a year.
舊病歷每年會被歸檔到地下室的資料庫中。
- scatter
to spread things without order
文法句型
file + object
file + object + away
用法筆記
Often used with 'away' to emphasise that the items are being stored for future reference. The passive form ('be filed') is common in office contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to send official documents, especially tax returns or legal papers, to a governm
提交
向官方機構遞交文件
to send official documents, especially tax returns or legal papers, to a government office or authority as required by law or regulation
Devika filed her tax return online before the April deadline.
Devika 在四月的截止日前在線上提交了她的報稅單。
collocation: file a tax return
The company must file annual reports with the government by March.
公司必須在三月前向政府提交年度報告。
Mert filed an insurance claim after the storm damaged his roof.
Mert 在暴風雨損壞他的屋頂後提交了保險理賠申請。
You need to file the documents at the city hall reception desk.
你需要在市政廳的服務檯提交這些文件。
Eri helped her parents file their visa application forms online.
Eri 幫她的父母在網路上提交了簽證申請表。
文法句型
file + document/return/claim
用法筆記
This sense is particularly common in tax and administrative contexts. In the US, 'file' alone often implies filing income taxes ('Have you filed yet?').
常見錯誤
3. to officially start a legal process by submitting the necessary documents to a c
提出
向法院提起訴訟或申請
to officially start a legal process by submitting the necessary documents to a court of law
The neighbours filed a complaint against the factory for making too much noise at night.
鄰居們向工廠提出申訴，因為夜間噪音太大。
pattern: file a complaint against [someone]
After months of unpaid rent, the landlord filed a lawsuit to evict the tenant.
在幾個月收不到租金後，房東提起訴訟要求驅逐房客。
collocation: file a lawsuit
The couple decided to file for divorce after years of disagreement.
這對夫妻在多年爭執後決定提出離婚申請。
The company filed for bankruptcy when it could no longer pay its debts.
該公司在無力償還債務時申請了破產。
文法句型
file + lawsuit/complaint
file + for + noun
file + against + person
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about submitting documents to an administrative body (tax, visa), while sense 3 is specifically about initiating a legal action in court. Common objects: lawsuit, complaint, petition, motion, appeal.
4. to send a news report, story, or column back to the office from a remote locatio
發稿
記者從外地將新聞傳回編輯部
to send a news report, story, or column back to the office from a remote location, especially by telephone, email, or satellite connection
The war correspondent filed a live report from the capital city this morning.
戰地記者今天上午從首都發回了現場報導。
collocation: file a report
Élise filed her story about the election just minutes before the newspaper's deadline.
Élise 在報紙截稿前幾分鐘發回了選舉報導。
collocation: file a story
Reporters are expected to file their articles by five o'clock each evening.
記者必須在每天下午五點前發稿。
Lukas filed a short piece from the sports stadium after the final match.
Lukas 在決賽結束後從體育場發回了一則短訊。
文法句型
file + story/report + from + place
file + story/report + to + person
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in journalism and news media. The object is typically a 'story', 'report', 'article', or 'column'.
5. to walk or move one person behind another in a line, often used with a direction
依次前進
排成一列依序行走
to walk or move one person behind another in a line, often used with a direction word such as in, out, or past
The students filed into the classroom quietly and took their seats.
學生們安靜地依次走進教室坐好。
pattern: file into [place]
Guests filed past the birthday cake to admire the decorations.
賓客們魚貫走過生日蛋糕前，欣賞上面的裝飾。
pattern: file past [something]
The audience filed out of the theatre after the final curtain fell.
觀眾在最後一幕落幕後依次走出劇院。
One by one, the jury filed back into the courtroom to deliver their verdict.
陪審團一個接一個地走回法庭，準備宣布裁決。
- scatter
to move apart in different directions
文法句型
file + in/out/past/through
用法筆記
Always used with a directional adverb or preposition (in, out, past, into, through, out of). The verb itself describes the manner of movement, while the preposition gives the direction.
常見錯誤
6. to rub a rough area with a file tool so that the surface becomes smooth, flat, o
銼平
用銼刀打磨使表面光滑
to rub a rough area with a file tool so that the surface becomes smooth, flat, or differently shaped
Gabriel filed down the sharp edges of the metal bracket so no one would get cut.
Gabriel 把金屬支架的銳利邊緣銼平，以免有人被割傷。
phrasal verb: file down
Camila filed her nails into a neat oval shape before painting them.
Camila 在擦指甲油前先把指甲銼成整齊的橢圓形。
The woodworker filed away the splinters on the handle until it felt smooth.
木匠把把手上的木刺銼掉，直到表面光滑為止。
After cutting the pipe, you should file the end until it is completely flat.
切完管子後，你應該把末端銼平直到完全平整。
The jeweller carefully filed the gold ring to adjust its size.
珠寶匠小心翼翼地銼平金戒指以調整尺寸。
- roughen
to make a surface rough
文法句型
file + object + smooth/flat
file + object + down/away
用法筆記
Often used with a particle ('file down', 'file away') to indicate the material being removed. The object can be either the tool's target (file nails) or the unwanted material (file away rough edges).