trouble
trouble — 名詞
1. The difficulties or worries that someone faces in everyday life or when dealing
麻煩；困難
生活中遇到的各類問題或難處
The difficulties or worries that someone faces in everyday life or when dealing with a particular task or situation.
Jiwoo had trouble finding the right street because the road signs were missing.
Jiwoo 因為路標不見了，所以很難找到正確的街道。
have trouble + verb-ing
Samir's old car caused him trouble almost every weekend.
Samir 的老車幾乎每個週末都給他帶來麻煩。
cause + person + trouble
Salma is having trouble with the new computer system at work.
Salma 在工作上用新的電腦系統遇到了困難。
When the power went out, every household in the neighbourhood was in trouble.
停電的時候，附近每一戶人家都陷入了困境。
Élise always asks her brother for help when she has trouble at school.
Élise 在學校遇到困難時總是請哥哥幫忙。
- difficulty
more neutral and slightly more formal; 'trouble' often implies personal inconvenience
- hardship
more severe; refers to sustained suffering rather than everyday problems
- inconvenience
milder; focuses on minor disruption rather than serious difficulty
- ease
a situation without difficulty or effort
- smooth sailing
informal idiom meaning a problem-free experience
文法句型
have trouble + with + noun
have trouble + verb-ing
in trouble
用法筆記
Frequently used in patterns like 'have trouble + gerund' (have trouble sleeping) and 'have trouble with + noun' (have trouble with technology). The noun is nearly always uncountable when referring to difficulties — 'I have a lot of trouble' not 'many troubles'.
常見錯誤
2. A difficult situation that someone has entered because they broke a rule, did so
麻煩（闖禍）
因犯錯或違規而陷入的困境
A difficult situation that someone has entered because they broke a rule, did something illegal, or made a serious mistake that someone else will be angry about.
Mateo got into trouble at school for drawing on the classroom walls.
Mateo 因為在教室牆上亂畫而在學校惹了麻煩。
get into trouble for + noun/gerund
Shanti knew she would be in trouble if her mother saw the broken vase.
Shanti 知道如果媽媽看到那個破花瓶，她就倒楣了。
be in trouble if…
The politician stayed out of trouble by not answering questions after the scandal.
那位政治人物在醜聞後不回答問題，以免惹上麻煩。
Brooke's older brother is always getting into trouble with the law.
Brooke 的哥哥老是跟法律惹上麻煩。
Dario warned his younger sister not to get into trouble at the party.
Dario 警告妹妹不要在派對上惹麻煩。
- hot water
informal idiom meaning the same but more emphatic
- a tight spot
informal; focuses on the difficulty of escaping rather than the wrongdoing
- scrape
informal British; a minor trouble caused by one's own actions
文法句型
get into trouble
be in trouble
stay out of trouble
get + someone + into trouble
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in fixed prepositional phrases with 'in' or 'into'. 'Get into trouble' focuses on the action that causes the problem, while 'be in trouble' describes the resulting state. Objects of 'get into trouble' are typically authority figures (parents, teachers, police, the law).
常見錯誤
3. A particular aspect or quality of a person, plan, or thing that makes it unsatis
問題所在
事物令人不滿意的特質
A particular aspect or quality of a person, plan, or thing that makes it unsatisfactory or hard to deal with.
The trouble with this apartment is that the heating never works properly.
這間公寓的問題在於暖氣從來無法正常運作。
the trouble with [noun] is that…
One trouble with living in a small town is the lack of job opportunities.
住在小鎮的一個缺點就是工作機會很少。
trouble with + gerund
Yael thinks the trouble with the plan is that no one checked the budget first.
Yael 認為這個計畫的問題在於沒有人先檢查預算。
The only trouble with Dario's idea is that it takes too much time to set up.
Dario 的想法唯一缺點是準備起來太花時間了。
文法句型
the trouble with + noun + is + that-clause
the only trouble is + that-clause
用法筆記
Always begins with 'the trouble' or 'one trouble' followed by 'with'. The structure 'the trouble with X is that…' is the most common pattern. Unlike sense 1, this sense is typically singular and used to introduce a criticism.
4. A problem with the way a machine, vehicle, or a part of the body works, causing
故障；不適
機器或身體出現的問題
A problem with the way a machine, vehicle, or a part of the body works, causing it to stop functioning normally.
Sade took her car to the mechanic because of engine trouble.
Sade 因為引擎故障把車開去修理廠。
engine trouble — vehicle collocation
Élise has been having back trouble since she lifted the heavy box last week.
Élise 上週搬了那個重箱子之後，背部就一直不舒服。
have + body part + trouble
The old washing machine started giving us trouble again on Monday morning.
星期一早上那台舊洗衣機又開始給我們出問題了。
Shanti's grandmother has heart trouble and needs to see a specialist every month.
Shanti 的祖母有心臟方面的毛病，每個月都需要看專科醫生。
Astrid could not climb the stairs because of her knee trouble.
Astrid 因為膝蓋不舒服而無法爬樓梯。
文法句型
have + [body part] + trouble
have + [machine] + trouble
give + person + trouble
用法筆記
Body-part trouble (back trouble, heart trouble, knee trouble) is an informal way of referring to a chronic or recurring health problem. For machines, 'engine trouble' and 'mechanical trouble' are the most common combinations. More formal alternatives are 'problem with' or 'condition' for health issues.
5. A situation involving angry arguments, noisy behaviour, or physical violence, of
紛爭；騷亂
爭吵或暴力衝突的場面
A situation involving angry arguments, noisy behaviour, or physical violence, often in a public place such as a bar, stadium, or street.
The bar closed early after a group of customers started causing trouble.
那間酒吧因為一群客人開始鬧事而提早打烊。
cause trouble — public disturbance collocation
Maeve's parents told her to stay away from the boys who were looking for trouble.
Maeve 的父母叫她離那些想找麻煩的男生遠一點。
look for trouble — intentionally seeking conflict
Police arrived quickly when trouble broke out at the football stadium.
足球場爆發衝突時，警方迅速趕到現場。
The teacher separated two students who were making trouble in the hallway.
老師把兩個在走廊上搗亂的學生分開。
- conflict
more formal and broader; includes non-physical disagreement
- disturbance
formal; a disruption of public order, often used by police or media
- unrest
more sustained; refers to a series of disturbances, not a single incident
文法句型
cause trouble
make trouble
look for trouble
trouble breaks out
用法筆記
Common in fixed phrases describing deliberate or predictable conflict. 'Looking for trouble' means actively trying to start a fight, while 'trouble breaks out' describes a sudden eruption of violence without implying who started it. Subjects are often places (bars, stadiums, streets) where crowds gather.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He was causing trouble at the party' (ambiguous — could mean misbehaviour or fighting). If you mean violence, be more specific or rely on context.
6. A small amount of extra work or inconvenience that someone does or avoids doing,
工夫；不便
做某事所需的小小額外努力
A small amount of extra work or inconvenience that someone does or avoids doing, often used in polite offers, refusals, or expressions of gratitude.
Thank you for taking the trouble to drive me all the way to the airport.
謝謝你特地開車送我去機場。
take the trouble to + verb
It is no trouble at all — I was going to the station anyway.
一點也不麻煩——反正我本來就要去車站。
it is no trouble — polite reply
Samir went to a lot of trouble to prepare a special dinner for his guests.
Samir 費了好大工夫為客人準備了一頓特別的晚餐。
Please do not go to any trouble on my account — a simple sandwich is fine.
請不要為了我太費事——簡單吃個三明治就好。
Yael spared me the trouble of cooking by bringing takeaway food on her way over.
Yael 順路帶了外賣過來，省了我做飯的工夫。
- effort
broader; not limited to polite expressions
- bother
informal; emphasises the inconvenience rather than the work involved
- inconvenience
more formal; focuses on the disruption to one's plans
文法句型
take the trouble to + verb
go to the trouble of + verb-ing
it is no trouble
spare + person + the trouble
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in fixed expressions. 'Take the trouble to' emphasises deliberate effort, while 'go to the trouble of' focuses on the extent of preparation. 'It's no trouble' is a standard polite response to thanks. The negative form 'don't go to any trouble' is used to politely decline an offered service.
常見錯誤
trouble — 動詞
1. To make someone feel worried, anxious, or upset about something, often because i
使煩惱
讓某人感到擔憂或不安
To make someone feel worried, anxious, or upset about something, often because it keeps coming back into their thoughts.
The strange noise from the car troubled Maeve during the long drive home.
車子奇怪的聲音讓 Maeve 在漫長的回家路上很擔心。
trouble + person (cause worry)
It troubles Jiwoo that her parents are always arguing about money.
Jiwoo 對父母總是為錢吵架感到煩惱。
it troubles + person + that-clause
The thought of the surgery troubled Salma all week before the operation.
手術的想法讓 Salma 在整個手術前一週都焦慮不安。
What troubles the rescue team most is that no one has heard from the hikers for two days.
最讓救援隊感到不安的是已經兩天沒有人聽到那些登山客的消息了。
Élise was deeply troubled by the news of her childhood friend's sudden illness.
Élise 聽到兒時好友突然生病的消息後深感困擾。
文法句型
trouble + person
be troubled by + noun
it troubles + person + that-clause
用法筆記
Often passive ('be troubled by') for describing an ongoing worried state. The active form with a that-clause ('it troubles me that…') is common for expressing moral or emotional concern. The subject is typically a situation, thought, or piece of news, not a person.
常見錯誤
2. To cause someone physical pain, illness, or ongoing difficulty, especially over
折磨；困擾
使某人承受長期的身心痛苦
To cause someone physical pain, illness, or ongoing difficulty, especially over a period of time.
The rural region has been troubled by severe drought for three consecutive years.
這個鄉村地區已經連續三年遭受嚴重乾旱之苦。
passive: be troubled by + disaster/problem
Brooke was troubled by a persistent cough that would not go away after the flu.
Brooke 在流感之後一直咳嗽不止，深受困擾。
Many older residents in the village are troubled by arthritis in their hands and knees.
村裡許多老年居民的手部和膝部都受到關節炎的折磨。
A series of bad harvests troubled the farming community for much of the decade.
一連串的歉收在十年內的大部分時間都困擾著這個農業社區。
文法句型
be troubled by + illness/problem
trouble + body part
用法筆記
More literary and formal than verb sense 1. Most commonly used in the passive voice ('be troubled by'). Typical subjects are illnesses (back trouble, arthritis, cough) or large-scale problems (drought, conflict, poverty). Unlike sense 1, this sense describes actual affliction rather than mental worry, though the boundary can be blurry.
3. To politely ask someone to make a small effort or do something slightly inconven
麻煩（請託）
禮貌請人費心做某事
To politely ask someone to make a small effort or do something slightly inconvenient for you, or to disturb someone when they are busy.
Sorry to trouble you, but could you help me lift this suitcase into the overhead bin?
不好意思麻煩你，可以幫我把這個行李箱抬到 overhead bin 嗎？
sorry to trouble you — polite opener
Samir did not want to trouble his neighbours by playing loud music late at night.
Samir 不想在深夜大聲放音樂打擾鄰居。
Could I trouble you for a glass of water while I wait for my appointment?
可以麻煩你給我一杯水嗎？我在等叫號。
Shanti never troubles anyone with her personal problems, even when she clearly needs help.
Shanti 即使明顯需要幫助，也從來不用自己的私事麻煩別人。
Dario did not want to trouble his boss until he had fixed the mistake himself.
Dario 在自己把錯誤改正之前不想為此去打擾老闆。
- bother
less formal; the closest everyday synonym
- disturb
stronger; implies breaking someone's focus or rest
- inconvenience
more formal; focuses on the disruption rather than the act of asking
文法句型
trouble + person + for + noun
trouble + person + to + verb
sorry to trouble you
trouble + person + about + noun
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in polite requests and apologies for interrupting. 'Sorry to trouble you' is a fixed phrase for starting a request with a stranger or someone in authority. 'Could I trouble you for…?' is formal but friendly. Not normally used in the passive ('I was troubled' would sound like sense 1 or 2).