1. to give food or drinks to someone
提供食物或飲料給某人
The waiter will serve our dinner soon.
服務生很快就會為我們上菜。
Could you serve the tea, please?
請你幫忙倒茶好嗎？
Serve Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
serve
verb
快速理解
What does "Serve" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Serve"?
「serve」主要指提供服務、食物或履行職責，在法律和體育中也有特定用法。
- 1
提供服務
EN: to provide a service or help
翻譯: 提供服務或幫助
- 2
端上食物
EN: to give food or drink to someone
翻譯: 為某人提供食物或飲料
- 3
履行職責
EN: to perform duties for an organization or country
翻譯: 為組織或國家履行職責
- 4
發球 / 服刑
EN: to start play in tennis / to spend a period of time in prison
翻譯: 在網球中開始發球 / 在監獄中服刑一段時間
小提醒：注意「serve time」不是指「服務時間」，而是指「服刑」。在餐廳說「I'll serve you」聽起來像你是服務生，顧客通常說「We're ready to order」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Serve" in English）
How to pronounce "Serve" in English?"Serve" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Serve" from YouTube Videos
Michael Seibel: How do you decide what to build next?
Y Combinator
“if you have a process that can rip out things quickly and then only iterate the things that are working, that'll serve you far better.”
(1 out of 54)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Serve"?How does "Serve" change by context?
2. to work for or help a person, organization, or country
為個人、組織或國家工作或提供幫助
He served in the army for five years.
他在軍隊服役了五年。
She serves on the school board.
她在學校董事會任職。
3. to be useful or suitable for a particular purpose
對特定目的有用或合適
This old box can serve as a temporary table.
這個舊箱子可以暫時當桌子用。
The meeting served to clarify our goals.
這次會議有助於釐清我們的目標。
4. to spend a period of time in prison
在監獄服刑一段時間
He served ten years for armed robbery.
他因武裝搶劫服刑十年。
5. to start play in tennis, volleyball, etc. by hitting the ball
在網球、排球等運動中發球
It's your turn to serve.
輪到你發球了。
She served an ace to win the match.
她發出一記愛司球贏得了比賽。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Serve"?How to make natural sentences with "Serve"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| serve + noun | 提供（食物、飲料等） | The waiter will serve the main course soon. (服務員很快就會上主菜。) |
| serve + as + noun | 擔任；作為 | This room also serves as my home office. (這個房間也兼作我的家庭辦公室。) |
| serve + person/group | 為…服務；為…效力 | She has served the company for over twenty years. (她已為這家公司效力超過二十年。) |
| serve + time/sentence | 服刑 | He served five years in prison. (他服了五年刑期。) |
| serve + on + committee/board | 在（委員會等）任職 | He was asked to serve on the advisory board. (他被邀請在顧問委員會任職。) |
| serve + a purpose/need | 滿足目的／需求 | This old tool still serves a useful purpose. (這個舊工具仍然很有用處。) |
| serve + up + noun | 端上（食物）；提出（資訊等） | The chef served up a delicious feast. (主廚端上了一桌美味佳餚。) |
| serve + under + person | 在…手下任職 | He served under three different captains during his career. (他的職業生涯中曾在三位不同的隊長手下任職。) |
| It serves + person + right | …活該；…罪有應得 | It serves him right for being so careless. (他這麼粗心，活該。) |
用法說明
How is "Serve" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Serve"?
serve + object vs serve to + verb
- serve + object 表示「提供某物」或「為某人服務」，後面直接接名詞或代詞作為受詞。
- serve to + verb 表示「有助於…」、「足以…」，用於說明某個行動或情況所產生的效果或目的。
- 在正式或書面語中，
serve to + verb常用來強調功能或結果。 - 被動語態
be served to + verb也常見，表示「被用來…」。 EN: A good example can serve a clear purpose in the presentation. 翻譯: 一個好例子能在簡報中發揮明確的作用。
EN:A good example can serve to clarify the main point of the presentation.
翻譯:一個好例子有助於闡明簡報的要點。
EN:This policy serves the company's long-term interests.
翻譯:這項政策服務於公司的長期利益。
EN:This policy serves to protect the company's long-term interests.
翻譯:這項政策旨在保護公司的長期利益。
總結建議
當強調「功能或目的」時，使用 serve to + verb；當強調「提供或服務的對象」時，則使用 serve + object。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Serve" and similar words?How to choose "Serve" vs alternatives?
serve vs provide
「serve」強調履行職責或提供服務，常帶有正式或商業性質；「provide」則側重於供應具體的物品或資源。
serve vs work
「serve」指為特定對象、組織或目的服務，帶有奉獻或職責意味；「work」泛指一般性的工作或勞動。
serve vs help
「serve」較正式，指履行職責或提供專業服務；「help」較口語通用，指給予幫助或協助解決問題。
口語用法
How is "Serve" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Serve"?
引述
在轉述他人的話或想法時，用來表示「為...服務」或「對...有用」的意圖。 EN: He said the new policy would serve the community's best interests. 翻譯: 他說新政策將會為社區的最大利益服務。
EN:She always tells me that my skills should serve a greater purpose.
翻譯:她總是告訴我，我的技能應該為更偉大的目標服務。
語氣強調
在口語中，透過重讀或特定語境來強調「滿足需求」或「達到目的」的意味。 EN: This old tool still serves me perfectly well. 翻譯: 這把舊工具依然能完美地滿足我的需求。
EN:That excuse won't serve you here. You need a better reason.
翻譯:那個藉口在這裡對你沒用。你需要一個更好的理由。
停頓填充
在思考如何接續句子時，用作短暫的填充詞，常見於「serve as...」或「serve to...」的結構開頭。 EN: The committee's main role is to, well, serve as a bridge between departments. 翻譯: 委員會的主要角色是，嗯，作為各部門之間的橋樑。
EN:His comments didn't really... serve to clarify the situation at all.
翻譯:他的評論並沒有真的...起到釐清情況的作用。
正式寫作注意：在正式書面語中，應避免使用口語中的停頓填充（如「well」、「really」），並將「serve」的用法以更精確、結構完整的句子呈現。例如，將口語的「serve as a bridge」在正式文件中寫為「fulfills the function of facilitating inter-departmental communication」。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Serve"?What fixed phrases with "Serve" should I remember?
serve as
serve as [noun]
充當，作為
serve on
serve on [committee/board/jury]
在（委員會/董事會/陪審團）任職
serve time
serve time
服刑
serve someone right
serve [pronoun] right
某人活該，罪有應得
serve a purpose
serve a [useful/important] purpose
有用處，發揮作用
serve notice
serve notice (on/that)
發出通知（尤指正式或法律上的）
serve up
serve up [food/dish]
端上（食物），提供
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Serve"?Which "Serve" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He served for the company for 10 years.
✓He served the company for 10 years.
當 'serve' 表示「為...工作/服務」時，是及物動詞，後面直接接受詞（公司、組織等），不需要介系詞 'for'。
×This dish serves to four people.
✓This dish serves four people.
當 'serve' 表示「（食物）足夠...人食用」時，是及物動詞，後面直接接人數，不需要 'to'。
×The old computer still serves me good.
✓The old computer still serves me well.
修飾動詞 'serve' 應該使用副詞 'well'，而不是形容詞 'good'。'good' 是形容詞，用來修飾名詞。
×He served as the manager in the sales department.
✓He served as manager in the sales department.
在 'serve as + 職位' 的片語中，職位名稱前通常不加冠詞（如 'the', 'a'），除非職位名稱是特定或唯一的。
×This incident served for a warning to everyone.
✓This incident served as a warning to everyone.
表示「作為...之用」或「起到...作用」時，固定使用片語 'serve as'，而不是 'serve for'。
×The waiter will serve us the drinks soon.
✓The waiter will serve us the drinks soon. (正確，但語意模糊) / The waiter will serve the drinks to us soon. (更常見)
'serve' 可以接雙賓語（serve + 人 + 物），但當直接受詞（物）較長或需要強調時，更常用 'serve + 物 + to + 人' 的結構，以避免混淆。原句文法正確但較不自然。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Serve"?What are tense/participle forms of "Serve"?
serves(3rd_singular)serving(present_participle)served(past)served(past_participle)