1. to give money for goods or services
為商品或服務付錢
I need to pay for my groceries.
我需要為我買的雜貨付錢。
She paid the taxi driver in cash.
她用現金付錢給計程車司機。
Pay Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
pay
verb
快速理解
What does "Pay" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Pay"?
「pay」主要指為商品、服務或債務而付款，也常用於表達付出時間、努力或關注。
- 1
支付金錢
EN: to give money for goods, services, or to settle a debt
翻譯: 為商品、服務或償還債務而給予金錢
- 2
付出代價
EN: to suffer a negative consequence for something
翻譯: 為某事承受負面後果或付出代價
- 3
給予關注
EN: to give attention, respect, or a compliment
翻譯: 給予關注、尊重或讚美
- 4
有利可圖
EN: to be profitable or worthwhile
翻譯: 有利可圖、值得付出
小提醒：注意「pay attention」是固定搭配，意為「注意」，而非字面上的「支付注意力」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Pay" in English）
How to pronounce "Pay" in English?"Pay" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Pay" from YouTube Videos
Desining from Day One: Artists as Founders: Multiverse (S20) - YC Gaming Tech Talks 2020
Y Combinator
“and you know watching these talks, the budgets are a lot higher and the pay is just simply better in tech.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Pay"?How does "Pay" change by context?
2. to give someone money for work they have done
支付某人工作報酬
The company pays its employees every two weeks.
這家公司每兩週支付員工薪水。
He is paid a good salary for his job.
他的工作薪水不錯。
3. to suffer a negative consequence for something you have done
為所做之事承擔後果、付出代價
He will pay for his mistakes.
他將為自己的錯誤付出代價。
If you break the rules, you'll pay the price.
如果你違反規定，你就要承擔後果。
4. to give attention, respect, or a compliment to someone
給予（注意、尊重、讚美）
Please pay attention to the teacher.
請注意聽老師講課。
He paid her a compliment on her presentation.
他對她的簡報給予了讚美。
5. to be profitable or worthwhile
有利可圖；值得
It pays to be honest in the long run.
從長遠來看，誠實是值得的。
The investment didn't pay as expected.
這項投資沒有如預期般獲利。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Pay"?How to make natural sentences with "Pay"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pay + (person/organization) | 付錢給（某人/機構） | I need to pay the landlord by Friday. (我必須在週五前付錢給房東。) |
| pay + amount + for + thing | 為某物支付某金額 | She paid $50 for the concert ticket. (她花了50美元買那張演唱會門票。) |
| pay + for + thing/service | 為某物/服務付款 | The company will pay for your training. (公司會為你的培訓付費。) |
| pay + in + cash/currency | 以現金/某種貨幣支付 | Can I pay in euros here? (我可以在這裡用歐元支付嗎？) |
| pay + by + method (credit card, check) | 以某種方式支付 | Most customers pay by credit card. (大多數顧客用信用卡支付。) |
| pay + back + (person) | 償還（某人） | I'll pay you back next week. (我下週會還你錢。) |
| pay + off + debt/loan | 還清債務/貸款 | It took them ten years to pay off their mortgage. (他們花了十年才還清房貸。) |
| pay + attention (to) | 注意（某事） | Please pay attention to the safety instructions. (請注意安全指示。) |
| pay + a visit (to) | 拜訪（某人/某地） | We should pay a visit to our grandparents. (我們應該去拜訪祖父母。) |
| pay + the price/bill/check | 付帳單/費用 | Let me pay the bill this time. (這次讓我來付帳。) |
用法說明
How is "Pay" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Pay"?
pay doing vs pay to do
- pay to do 是最常見的結構，表示「付錢去做某事」，強調付款的目的是為了獲得某項服務或進行某個動作。
- pay doing 並非標準用法。在表達「為某事付出代價」時，通常會使用 pay for doing 或 pay the price for doing。
- 在假設或誇張的語境中，常會見到 would pay to + V 的結構，意為「（我）願意付錢去…」，用來強烈表達對某事的渴望或好奇。
對比範例： EN: I had to pay to park my car downtown. 翻譯: 我必須付錢才能在市中心停車。
EN:He paid dearly for ignoring the warning signs.
翻譯:他因忽視警告訊號而付出了慘痛代價。
EN:I would pay to see his reaction when he finds out.
翻譯:我真想付錢看看他發現時的反應。
總結建議
在大多數情況下，應使用「pay to + 動詞原形」來表達付費目的，而「pay for + 動名詞/名詞」則用於表示為某事付出代價或付款。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Pay" and similar words?How to choose "Pay" vs alternatives?
pay vs compensate
「pay」泛指為商品或服務付款，或支付薪水，用法較廣。而「compensate」通常指為損失、傷害或額外工作提供補償或賠償。
pay vs spend
「pay」強調付款的動作，對象是款項的接收方（人或機構）。「spend」強調花費金錢、時間或資源的過程，對象是購買的物品或從事的活動。
pay vs reward
「pay」是為工作或商品支付應得的報酬，屬於常規義務。「reward」是為表揚成就、善行或努力而給予的額外獎勵，並非義務。
口語用法
How is "Pay" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Pay"?
引述
在轉述對話或想法時，常用來表示「付錢」這個動作。 EN: She was like, "I'll pay for dinner, don't worry." 翻譯: 她當時就說：「晚餐我來付，別擔心。」
EN:He goes, "If I pay for the tickets, you get the snacks."
翻譯:他就說：「如果我付票錢，那你就負責買零食。」
語氣強調
透過重複或特定句型來加強「付錢」的意願或義務感。 EN: I said I'd pay, and pay I will. 翻譯: 我說了我會付錢，我就一定會付。
EN:You think I won't pay you back? I always pay my debts.
翻譯:你以為我不會還你錢嗎？我一向有債必還。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，用來填充短暫的停頓，常與其他詞結合。 EN: So, you need to... pay... uh, by the end of the week. 翻譯: 所以，你需要…付…呃，在這個週末前付清。
EN:The plan is to, you know, pay a deposit first and then see.
翻譯:計劃是，你知道的，先付個訂金再看看情況。
注意：以上口語用法（如直接引述、語氣重複、停頓填充）在正式書寫或商業文件中應避免使用，請改用標準、完整的句子結構。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Pay"?What fixed phrases with "Pay" should I remember?
pay attention
pay attention (to somebody/something)
注意，留意
pay a visit
pay a visit (to somebody/somewhere)
拜訪，探訪
pay the price
pay the price (for something)
付出代價
pay in advance
pay (somebody) in advance
預先支付，預付
pay off
pay off (something) / pay (something) off
還清（債務）；取得成功回報
pay one's respects
pay your respects (to somebody)
致意，弔唁
pay cash
pay (in) cash (for something)
付現金
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Pay"?Which "Pay" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I paid the dinner.
✓I paid for the dinner.
當表示為某項具體的物品或服務付款時，通常使用 'pay for + 物品/服務'。直接使用 'pay + 物品' 是錯誤的。
×I paid him the bill.
✓I paid him the money. / I paid the bill (to him).
'Pay' 的雙賓語結構是 'pay + 人 + 錢' (pay someone money)。不能說 'pay someone the bill/invoice'，'bill' 或 'invoice' 是付款的項目，不是付款的金額本身。
×You should pay attention on the details.
✓You should pay attention to the details.
固定搭配是 'pay attention to someone/something'，介系詞用 'to'，不是 'on' 或 'at'。
×I have already payed the fee.
✓I have already paid the fee.
'Pay' 的過去式和過去分詞是 'paid'。'Payed' 是一個罕見的航海術語（意為放鬆繩索），在表示「付款」時使用 'payed' 是錯誤的。
×We will pay a visit our grandparents.
✓We will pay a visit to our grandparents.
片語 'pay a visit' 後面必須接介系詞 'to' 才能連接拜訪的對象。
×How much does it pay?
✓How much does it cost? / How much do I need to pay?
詢問某物價格的標準說法是 'How much does it cost?' 或 'How much is it?'。'How much does it pay?' 的意思是「它支付多少錢？」，通常用於詢問工作薪資或投資回報，不能用於詢問商品價格。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Pay"?What are tense/participle forms of "Pay"?
pays(3rd_singular)paying(present_participle)paid(past)paid(past_participle)