switch
switch — 名詞
1. A small piece of hardware, typically fixed to a wall or built into a device, tha
開關
控制電源啟動或停止的小裝置
A small piece of hardware, typically fixed to a wall or built into a device, that you push or slide to make an electrical appliance start or stop working.
Liang walked into the dark room and felt for the switch on the wall.
Liang 走進漆黑的房間,伸手去摸牆上的開關。
collocation: switch on the wall
Noa pressed the light switch as she left the kitchen.
Noa 離開廚房時按下了電燈開關。
This old desk lamp has a small switch built into its base.
這盞舊桌燈的開關是內建在底座上的。
Ravindra asked the children not to play with the bathroom light switch.
Ravindra 叫孩子們不要玩浴室裡的電燈開關。
A dimmer switch lets you adjust how bright the room feels.
調光開關可以讓你調整房間的明亮程度。
文法句型
adjective + switch (light switch, dimmer switch, wall switch)
switch + verb (the switch controls...)
用法筆記
In British English, a wall-mounted electrical switch is usually called just a switch; in American English, light switch or wall switch is more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. A set of movable rails at a track junction that directs a moving train onto a di
轉轍器
讓火車變換軌道的活動裝置
A set of movable rails at a track junction that directs a moving train onto a different parallel route.
The driver pulled the lever to operate the switch, sending the train onto a side track.
駕駛員拉動操作桿讓轉轍器運作,將火車引導到側線軌道上。
Kian noticed the railway switch move just before the express train changed tracks.
Kian 在特快列車變換軌道之前,注意到轉轍器移動了。
verb: railway switch move
Workers inspect each railroad switch every morning to prevent accidents.
工人每天早上檢查每個鐵路轉轍器,以預防事故發生。
A frozen switch caused the freight train to stop on the wrong line.
轉轍器結凍導致貨運列車停錯了軌道。
文法句型
railway switch / railroad switch
switch + verb (the switch directs...)
用法筆記
This sense is also called a set of points in British English. The term switch by itself is more common in American English for railway contexts.
3. A moment when one thing stops and a different thing starts in its place, often h
轉變;調換
突然或完全的改變
A moment when one thing stops and a different thing starts in its place, often happening quickly or completely.
His switch from city life to farming surprised all his friends.
他從都市生活轉變為務農,讓所有的朋友都感到驚訝。
pattern: switch from A to B
The company announced a switch in its marketing strategy after the bad quarter.
公司在業績不佳的那一季之後,宣布調整行銷策略。
Mayumi made a switch to a plant-based diet and felt healthier within weeks.
Mayumi 改吃植物性飲食,幾週內就感覺更健康了。
A sudden switch in the wind direction forced the sailors to change course.
風向突然轉變,迫使水手們改變航線。
Élise noticed a switch in her colleague's attitude after the team meeting.
Élise 注意到同事在團隊會議後的態度有了轉變。
文法句型
a switch + in + noun (a switch in policy)
a switch + from + noun + to + noun (a switch from A to B)
make a switch
用法筆記
Unlike change, a switch often emphasizes that the two options are clearly separate and the move from one to the other is deliberate or abrupt.
常見錯誤
switch — 動詞
1. To press or move a switch so that a piece of equipment starts working or stops w
打開;關掉
按動開關使電器啟動或停止
To press or move a switch so that a piece of equipment starts working or stops working.
Christopher switched on the reading lamp and opened his textbook.
Christopher 打開閱讀燈,翻開了課本。
phrasal verb: switch on + direct object
The lights switch off automatically when nobody is in the room.
房間裡沒人時,電燈會自動關閉。
intransitive use: lights switch off automatically
Chiara switched the fan off before leaving the house for work.
Chiara 出門上班前把風扇關掉了。
Nellie asked her brother to switch the television on for the evening news.
Nellie 請她哥哥打開電視看晚間新聞。
- turn on/off
interchangeable with 'switch on/off'; 'turn' is slightly more generic and not limited to physical switches
- flip
flip is more informal and suggests a quick, light movement with a finger
文法句型
switch + device (switch the light)
switch + device + on/off (switch the TV on)
switch on/off + device (switch off the fan)
用法筆記
With on and off as separable phrasal verbs: the object can go between switch and the particle (switch the light on) or after the particle (switch on the light). When the object is a pronoun, it must go between (switch it on, NOT switch on it).
常見錯誤
2. To stop using one thing and start using a different one, or to give something to
更換;交換
停止使用某物並開始使用另一物
To stop using one thing and start using a different one, or to give something to someone else and receive their thing in return.
Amani switched from coffee to green tea for health reasons.
Amani 為了健康原因,從咖啡換成了綠茶。
pattern: switch from A to B
João switched his major from engineering to graphic design last year.
João 去年從工程系轉到了視覺傳達設計系。
switch + direct object + from A + to B
Rachel and Tara switched seats so Rachel could sit by the window.
Rachel 和 Tara 交換了座位,這樣 Rachel 就能坐在窗邊。
The two nurses agreed to switch shifts for the weekend schedule.
兩位護士同意在週末調班。
Mira switched her phone provider after the contract ended last month.
Mira 在合約到期後更換了手機電信業者。
Remember to switch your phone to silent mode before the movie starts.
記得在電影開始前把你的手機切換成靜音模式。
- keep
to keep something means not to replace or exchange it
文法句型
switch + to + new thing
switch + from + old thing + to + new thing
switch + something + with + someone
switch roles/places/seats
用法筆記
When followed by with (switch with someone), the meaning is always a mutual exchange. When followed by to, the change is one-directional: you stop one thing and start another.