work,job這兩個詞雖然都有“工作”的意思,但卻是近義詞.
work 作名詞,有體力或腦力勞動的意思(在這一意義上的同義詞有l(wèi)abour,toil),又有作為職業(yè)概念的“工作”的意思(在這一意義上的同義詞有employment,occupation,calling).
I like garden too,but I don't like hard work.
我也喜歡花園,但是我不喜歡辛苦的勞動.
You have done a day's work in three hours.
你在三個小時內(nèi)完成了一天的工作.
The children were at school,my husband was at work and the house was quiet.
孩子們上學(xué)去了,我丈夫去上班了,所以家里很安靜.
Work on it had begun before my sister left.
這座房子的工程在我姐姐離開之前就已經(jīng)開始了.
He is finding his new work far more exciting.
他現(xiàn)在發(fā)覺自己的新工作更加令人興奮.
He is now out of work.
他現(xiàn)在失業(yè)了.
job 作為“工作”解,其實有兩層含義：一個是“干活”的“活”,一個作為職業(yè)的“事”.job作“干活”的“活”解時的同義詞有task,duty,assignment等；job作為職業(yè)的“事”解時有如下的同義詞：position,place,situation,post等.
When you start a job,you must stick to it.
一旦你開始了一件工作,他就得持之以恒.
It was his job to repair bicycles and at that time he used to work fourteen hours a day.
修理自行車就是他的話,而且常常是一天要干14個小時.
I'm not going to wash the dishes,that's your job.
我不洗那些盤子,那是你的事.
He then asked me how my brother was and whether I liked my new job in London.
然后,他問我的兄弟可好,又問我是否喜歡在倫敦的新工作.
Alf's wife has never discovered that she married a dustman and she never will,for Alf has just found another job.
阿爾夫的妻子從來沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)自己嫁給了一個清潔工,而且她再也不能發(fā)現(xiàn)自己丈夫是清潔工了,因為阿爾夫剛剛找到一種別的工作.
He is out of a job.
他現(xiàn)在失業(yè)了.
注：用英語表達“失業(yè)”,work和job這兩個詞都可以用,但是如果用job就必須用不定冠詞a,如果用work,則不用不定冠詞.
work,labour,toil這組名詞的一般含義為“工作”或“勞動”.
work 可以指體力勞動、腦力勞動或機器干的活.從最廣義上講,它可以指大自然活動的任何結(jié)果.
I like gardens too,but I do not like hard work.
我也喜歡花園,但是我不喜歡艱苦的勞動.
But in an old man who has known human joys and sorrows,and has achieved whatever work it was in him to do,the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble.
然而,作為一個老年人,他經(jīng)歷過人生的歡樂和憂傷,而且完成了他份內(nèi)要做的一切工作,怕死就有點兒卑鄙和不光彩了.
labour 指人類體力、腦力的勞動,但更強調(diào)吃力、費勁或努力.此外,labour創(chuàng)造人類賴以生存的物質(zhì)和精神財富.
Labour is doing what we must.
勞動就是做必需做的事.
The majority of men there earn their living by manual labour.
那里絕大多數(shù)人靠體力勞動謀生.
The computer is a typical labour-saving machine.
計算機是一種典型的節(jié)省勞動力的機器.
toil 強調(diào)長時間的而且令人感到非常疲勞的辛苦勞動,但未必一概指體力勞動.
The farmer's toil was rewarded with good crops.
那個農(nóng)夫以辛勤的勞動換得了好收成.
work,employment,occupation,calling,pursuit這組同義詞的一般概念是“職業(yè)”.work是最普通的詞,沒有什么特色,似乎可以代替本組詞中的任何一個.
Even so,people are going to find it difficult to get to work.
即使如此,人們將仍然感到上班很難.
He is finding his new work far more exciting.
他現(xiàn)在覺得自己的新工作更加令人興奮.
employment所表示的“職業(yè)”總含有為了謀生或掙工資、薪水而被雇用的意思,雇主可以是工業(yè)、企業(yè)或任何行業(yè)的老板,也可以是主仆概念的主人
The workman went from town to town,working when he could find employment.
那個工人從一個城鎮(zhèn)流浪到另一個城鎮(zhèn),找到職業(yè)時就干點活.
occupation可以表示employment的含義,但employment不能表示occupation的一切含義,因為occupation所表示的“職業(yè)”可以不含有為掙工資、薪水而工作的意思,也不包含雇用的意思.例如：老板的occupation是為了利潤而工作.此外,occupation所指的“職業(yè)”可以是簡單勞動也可以是復(fù)雜勞動
He wanted to look for occupation suited to his abilities.
他想找個適合自己才能的職業(yè)
He is a factory director by occupation.
他的職業(yè)是做廠長.
calling和occupation的差異僅在于：calling是應(yīng)上帝的召喚而去工作,也可以是出于本人的天性或情趣而去工作.pursuit與occupation的含義最接近,但偏向于從事trade,craft和profession等“行業(yè)”的人的“職業(yè)”.
Teaching is an honourable calling.
教書是光榮的職業(yè).
His calling is that of a doctor.
他的職業(yè)是行醫(yī).
What's your pursuit?
你是做什么工作的?
He has been engaged in literary pursuits.
他從事了文學(xué)生涯.