mistress
mistress — 名詞
1. a woman in a secret romantic relationship with someone who is married to another
情婦
與已婚男性有持續性關係的女性
a woman in a secret romantic relationship with someone who is married to another person
The newspaper reported that the wealthy businessman had kept a mistress in a city apartment for years.
報紙報導這位富有的商人多年來在城裡一間公寓裡包養了一名情婦。
collocation: keep a mistress
Bilal's aunt was devastated when she discovered that her husband of twenty years had a secret mistress.
Bilal 的阿姨發現結婚二十年的丈夫在外面有祕密情婦時，心碎不已。
In the novel, the main character leaves her husband after finding out about his mistress in another town.
在這本小說中，主角在發現丈夫在另一個城市有情婦後離開了丈夫。
Anjali argued that the media should stop using the word mistress and instead describe the relationship more neutrally.
Anjali 主張媒體應該停止使用「情婦」這個詞，改用更中立的說法來描述這類關係。
- lover
more neutral term that does not imply marriage or secrecy on either side
- paramour
formal or literary term, avoids moral judgment but sounds dated
- girlfriend
casual and modern, but implies an acknowledged rather than secret relationship
- wife
the married woman in the legally recognised relationship
文法句型
[married man]'s mistress
has a mistress
keeps a mistress
用法筆記
This is the most common meaning of 'mistress' in modern English. The word carries a strong moral judgment about the arrangement and can be seen as shaming the woman involved. There is no common male equivalent; 'master' in this context is not used. More neutral alternatives include 'lover' or 'partner'.
常見錯誤
2. a female person who holds authority over a household, directs staff, or oversees
女主人；主管
掌管家庭、員工或某領域的女性
a female person who holds authority over a household, directs staff, or oversees a particular area of activity
Nia's great-grandmother was the mistress of a large country estate in the Scottish Highlands.
Nia 的曾祖母是蘇格蘭高地一座大型鄉村莊園的女主人。
collocation: mistress of [place/property]
Élise served as mistress of ceremonies for the annual charity dinner and auction.
Élise 在年度慈善晚宴暨拍賣會上擔任主持人。
fixed phrase: mistress of ceremonies
In the old manor house, the mistress decided which rooms the visiting guests would use.
在那棟古老的莊園宅邸裡，由女主人決定訪客要使用哪些房間。
Hui was considered a true mistress of the art of Japanese calligraphy by her teachers.
Hui 的老師們認為她是日本書道藝術真正的大師。
- head
modern, gender-neutral term for a person in charge of an organization or household
- proprietress
specifically a woman who owns a business or property, more formal
- matriarch
focuses on the woman's role as the head of a family or community
- servant
a person employed to work in another person's household, under the mistress's authority
文法句型
mistress + of + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
This sense is now uncommon in everyday conversation. It survives mainly in fixed phrases like 'mistress of ceremonies' and in historical accounts of wealthy households with servants. The 'mastery' subsense (mistress of a skill) is literary or formal.
常見錯誤
3. a woman who teaches children at a school, particularly a private or boarding sch
女教師
在學校教書的女性，尤指私校
a woman who teaches children at a school, particularly a private or boarding school in the British educational system
Reema's grandmother worked as the music mistress at a girls' boarding school for forty years.
Reema 的祖母在一所女子寄宿學校擔任音樂老師長達四十年。
The new history mistress at Christopher's school organised a field trip to the local castle ruins.
Christopher 學校新來的**歷史**老師組織了一趟前往當地古堡遺址的校外教學。
pattern: [subject] mistress — specific school subject
Hannah remembered her form mistress as strict but always willing to listen to students' problems.
Hannah 記得她的班導師雖然嚴格，但總是願意傾聽學生的問題。
Selim's mother was appointed headmistress of a private academy in the north of England.
Selim 的母親被任命為英格蘭北部一所私立學校的校長。
- teacher
standard modern term, gender-neutral and used in all school contexts
- instructor
more formal, often used for specialised or adult education
- governess
historically a woman who taught children in their own home, not in a school
文法句型
[subject] mistress
the [subject] mistress
用法筆記
Chiefly British English, used mainly in the context of private or boarding schools (e.g. 'form mistress', 'games mistress'). In modern British state schools, 'teacher' is the standard term. 'Headmistress' is still used for the female head of some independent schools, though 'headteacher' is increasingly common.
常見錯誤
4. a female person looking after a pet animal, most commonly used for dogs in forma
女狗主
飼養狗或其他寵物的女性
a female person looking after a pet animal, most commonly used for dogs in formal or competitive settings
Felix watched the border collie run straight back to its mistress whenever he called its name.
Felix 看著那隻邊境牧羊犬只要男主人一叫名字，就立刻跑回他身邊。
possessive: [dog]'s mistress
The registration form for the dog show required the name and address of each dog's mistress or master.
狗展的報名表需要填寫每隻狗的飼主姓名和地址。
João noticed that the frightened puppy would only calm down when its mistress knelt beside its crate.
João 注意到那隻受驚的小狗只有在女主人跪在牠的運輸籠旁時才會冷靜下來。
At the veterinary clinic, the receptionist asked Zayd whether he was the dog's master or the dog's mistress.
在獸醫診所，櫃檯人員問 Zayd 他是這隻狗的男主人還是女主人。
- owner
standard modern term, gender-neutral, used in all contexts
- pet parent
informal, modern term emphasising care rather than ownership
文法句型
[dog]'s mistress
the dog's mistress
用法筆記
A technical or formal term used in dog breeding, canine competitions, and veterinary documentation. In everyday speech, 'owner' is used regardless of gender. This sense is much rarer than the 'lover' or 'teacher' senses and may sound old-fashioned to many speakers.