ministry
ministry — 名詞
1. a top-level section of national government — found especially in the UK and Comm
政府部門
部長領導的政府單位
a top-level section of national government — found especially in the UK and Commonwealth states — responsible for a single policy area such as education, defence, or health, overseen by a senior government figure known as a minister
The Ministry of Education has introduced new guidelines for primary school assessments.
教育部已針對小學評量方式推出新的指導方針。
capitalised name: the Ministry of [area]
Haruto spent six years as a policy analyst at the Ministry of Health before moving to the private sector.
Haruto 在衛生部擔任了六年的政策分析師，後來才轉往私部門任職。
working at the Ministry of [area]
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence refused to confirm the details of the arms deal.
國防部發言人拒絕證實這筆軍售案的細節。
Sivan was appointed deputy director of the Ministry of Culture last spring.
Sivan 去年春天獲任命為文化部副司長。
Obi filed a formal complaint with the Ministry of Housing about the slow repair work.
Obi 因修繕工程進度緩慢，向住房部提出了正式申訴。
- department
more common in the US and for non-ministerial bodies
- office
can refer to a subdivision within a ministry or a smaller government body
文法句型
the Ministry of [area/function]
用法筆記
In the United States, equivalent bodies are usually called 'departments' (e.g., Department of Defense) rather than 'ministries.' In Commonwealth countries, 'ministry' is standard.
常見錯誤
2. the professional work and duties of a Christian minister or pastor, which includ
牧師工作
擔任基督教牧師的職務
the professional work and duties of a Christian minister or pastor, which includes leading worship services, preaching, offering spiritual guidance, and caring for the members of a church community
Christopher began his ministry at a small Baptist church in rural Louisiana right after seminary.
Christopher 在神學院畢業後，便開始在路易斯安那州鄉間的一間小浸信會教會從事牧師工作。
began [possessive] ministry + location
The pastor's ministry included weekly home visits to elderly members who could not attend services.
這位牧師的牧職工作包括每週到無法參加禮拜的年長教友家中探訪。
Sana devoted nearly forty years to Christian ministry, serving congregations in three different countries.
Sana 奉獻了近四十年的時間從事基督教牧職工作，先後在三國服事不同的會眾。
Trinity Church runs a popular youth ministry that holds sports events and music workshops each summer.
三一教會的青少年事工每年夏天舉辦體育活動與音樂工作坊，非常受歡迎。
Lien wrote about the history of women in ministry across European Protestant churches for her doctorate.
Lien 的博士論文以歐洲新教教會女性參與牧職工作的歷史為主題。
- pastorate
more specific to Protestant church leadership; slightly less common
- pastoral care
focuses on the caring aspect of the work rather than the full range of duties
文法句型
[possessive] + ministry
in + ministry
用法筆記
Often used with a possessive (e.g., 'her ministry,' 'his ministry') to describe an individual pastor's period or style of service. Broader than sense 3 — this sense covers all Christian denominations, not only Catholic or Orthodox traditions.
常見錯誤
3. the lifelong religious vocation of serving as a priest, especially in the Cathol
神職工作
擔任神父的聖職身份
the lifelong religious vocation of serving as a priest, especially in the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican traditions, which involves administering sacraments, celebrating Mass or Divine Liturgy, and providing spiritual leadership to a parish
Father Vikram felt called to the ministry while working at a Catholic mission in Mumbai.
Vikram 神父年輕時在孟買的一間天主教傳教機構服務時，感受到擔任神職的呼召。
called to [the] ministry (religious vocation)
The bishop emphasised the importance of humility for anyone preparing for ordained ministry.
主教強調，任何準備接受聖職的人都必須懷抱謙卑的心。
Élise spent five years in silent discernment before deciding to enter priestly ministry.
Élise 花了五年時間靜心分辨，才決定進入神職工作。
The Vatican reaffirmed the celibacy requirement for those in priestly ministry within the Latin Rite.
梵蒂岡重申拉丁禮儀教會中擔任司鐸聖職者須守獨身的規定。
Liam spent his first year in ordained ministry serving a small parish in the Scottish Highlands.
Liam 擔任聖職的第一年，是在蘇格蘭高地的一個小教區服事。
- priesthood
more specific; refers exclusively to the office of a priest
- holy orders
formal theological term for the sacrament of ordination
文法句型
enter + [the] + ministry
serve in + [the] + ministry
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 specifically refers to the ordained priesthood with sacramental duties, whereas sense 2 covers the work of ministers and pastors across all Christian denominations. 'Enter the ministry' in this sense means being ordained as a priest.
4. the large office building where the staff and officials of a government ministry
部會大樓
政府部門的辦公建築
the large office building where the staff and officials of a government ministry work, usually located in or near a capital city
The old Ministry of Agriculture building near the river has been converted into a museum.
河邊那棟舊農業部大樓已改建為現代藝術博物館。
the [name] Ministry + building (physical location)
Protesters gathered outside the Ministry of the Interior while officials held an emergency meeting inside.
抗議群眾聚集在內政部大樓外，同時官員們正在大樓內召開緊急會議。
Daichi visited three different ministries to collect the stamps for his work visa.
Daichi 為了湊齊工作簽證所需的印章與簽名，跑了三個不同的部會。
Visitors must show photo ID before entering any ministry building in the capital.
訪客進入首都的任何部會大樓都必須出示附照片的身份證件。
The Ministry of Trade building has a spacious public cafeteria on its ground floor.
貿易部大樓的地面層設有寬敞的公共餐廳。
- government building
broader term that includes all types of government offices, not only ministries
文法句型
the + [name] + ministry
at + the + ministry
用法筆記
This sense is always countable and refers to a physical structure. Context usually makes it clear whether 'ministry' means the department (sense 1) or the building (sense 4) — if people are visiting or gathered outside, it is the building.
5. all ordained religious ministers considered together as a group, especially with
神職人員
聖職人員的總稱
all ordained religious ministers considered together as a group, especially within a particular Christian church or denomination
The assembled ministry of the diocese voted unanimously to support the new community outreach programme.
該教區全體神職人員一致投票支持新的社區外展計畫。
the ministry of [region/denomination] (collective body)
Constanza's family has served in the ministry for four generations, from her great-grandfather to her cousin.
Constanza 的家族從她的曾祖父到她的表兄弟，已經連續四代從事神職工作。
A 2022 report examined the declining numbers in the ordained ministry across the Anglican Communion.
2022 年一份報告調查了聖公會在冊神職人員人數下滑的趨勢。
A growing number of women are joining the ordained ministry in Anglican churches around the world.
全球聖公會中，加入聖職行列的女性人數正在增加。
The retired bishop continued to write influential books even after leaving the active ministry.
這位退休主教即使離開了在職神職工作，仍持續撰寫具影響力的著作。
- clergy
the most common term for ordained religious leaders as a group
- clergypersons
gender-neutral alternative; less common
- laity
the ordinary members of a church who are not ordained
文法句型
the + ministry + of [denomination/region]
用法筆記
When used collectively, 'the ministry' takes a singular verb in British English ('the ministry is divided on the issue'). This sense differs from sense 2 and 3: it refers to the group as an institution rather than an individual's work or vocation.