operate

operate — 動詞

1. if equipment, a system, or a service operates, it does its job; if a person or c

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

運作；營運

指機器能運轉，或操作設備、營運服務

if equipment, a system, or a service operates, it does its job; if a person or company operates one, they run it and keep it going.

例句

This washing machine operates quietly, even during the late-night cycle.

這台洗衣機連夜間行程時都運作得很安靜。

intransitive: machine operates

Nina learned to operate the cash register on her first shift.

Nina 上第一班時就學會操作收銀機了。

operate + machine/equipment

同義詞
  • work

    used when the thing itself functions; not for running a business with an object

  • run

    common for businesses and services; slightly less technical

  • manage

    focuses on directing a business or service, not usually a machine

  • control

    stresses handling how a machine or system behaves

反義詞
  • fail

    for a machine or system that stops working properly

  • shut down

    for a business, service, or machine that is no longer running

文法句型

[machine/system/service] + operates

operate + machine/equipment

operate + business/service

operate from + place

用法筆記

Subject is often a machine, system, business, service, or organization. When a person or company is the subject, the object is usually equipment, a system, or a service they control or run; distinguish from sense 2, which is only about surgery.

常見錯誤

❌Can you operate to this printer?
✅Can you operate this printer?
💡Use a direct object for the machine or device you control.

2. to do surgery on a person, often by opening the body and treating a problem insi

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

開刀；動刀

替病人做外科手術

to do surgery on a person, often by opening the body and treating a problem inside.

例句

Dr. Shah will operate tomorrow morning after the test results arrive.

Dr. Shah 會在檢查結果出來後，於明天早上開刀。

intransitive medical use

The team operated on Leo's knee for nearly three hours.

醫療團隊替 Leo 的膝蓋開刀，花了將近三個小時。

operate on + body part

同義詞
  • do surgery

    everyday wording; less formal than 'operate'

  • perform surgery

    formal medical wording

  • treat

    much broader; only fits when the medical context is already clear

文法句型

operate

operate on + patient/body part

用法筆記

Subject is usually a surgeon or medical team. Often followed by on before the patient or body part, and it can appear without an object when the patient is already understood.

常見錯誤

❌The surgeon operated her knee.
✅The surgeon operated on her knee.
💡Use 'operate on' before the patient or body part.