「work」無所不在：Out、Up、Through、Around

動詞 work 本來就有一份全職工作。它可以表示勞動、正常運作、產生效果，或付出努力。然後英文遞給它幾個介副詞，要它加班：work out、work up、work through、work around、work on、work in。突然之間，一個小動詞能解決問題、醞釀情緒、面對傷痛、繞過障礙，還能把一個約塞進忙碌的一天。

好消息是：這個家族比乍看之下更有邏輯。

快速解答

work 的核心是「產生移動、運作或結果的努力」。在 phrasal verbs 裡，這份努力可以朝向解答、穿過困難、繞過障礙，或擠進行程。

• work out：健身、計算、解決，或有好結果
• work up：醞釀情緒、食慾或勇氣
• work through：一步一步處理
• work around：另闢蹊徑避開障礙
• work on：努力改善或修理
• work in：把某樣東西塞進行程、文字或空間

關鍵是努力加上方向：這份努力正往哪裡去？

核心概念

把 work 想成一台想要前進的機器，或一個努力中的人。有時機器在運轉："The printer works."；有時人在出力："She works hard." 加上介副詞，這份努力就有了路徑。

Out 常指向結果：問題被解開、計畫成功，或身體把能量運動出去。Up 累積強度：勇氣、興奮、怒氣、食慾。Through 從困難的一邊走到另一邊。Around 繞過阻礙。On 把注意力持續放在改善上。In 把某樣東西塞進有限的空間。

這個家族特別有用，因為它出現在日常生活的每個角落：健身房、辦公室、人際關係、行程表和個人目標。

Work Out：健身、解決、計算、有好結果

Work out 是這個家族的明星。

• I work out three times a week.
• We need to work out the total cost before Friday.
• They finally worked out a fair agreement.
• I was worried at first, but everything worked out.

健身的意思夠字面：身體在運作，能量被釋放出去。解決問題的意思，是努力導向結果。「有好結果」的意思沒有受詞：情況自己化解了。

比較：

• "I worked out the answer." = 我解出來了。
• "The answer worked out." = 較少見；指方案或情況最後還不錯。
• "It worked out." = 事情圓滿收場。

當 work out 表示解決或計算時，可分：

• We worked out the details.
• We worked the details out.
• We worked them out.

但表示健身時通常沒有受詞："I worked out after dinner."

Work Up：醞釀情緒或食慾

work up 某樣東西，是逐漸把它累積起來。

• The long walk worked up an appetite.
• She finally worked up the courage to ask for a raise.
• He got himself worked up over a small mistake.
• The speech worked up the crowd.

這個片語常和情緒或身體感受有關：食慾、勇氣、怒氣、興奮、焦慮。重點是「不是瞬間的」：某樣東西透過努力、活動或反覆思量慢慢長出來。

常見句型：

• work up the courage to do something
• get worked up about／over something

當形容詞用的 "worked up" 通常表示情緒激動或心煩：

• Don't get so worked up. We can fix it.

Work Through：一步一步處理

Work through 表示踏實地走過一個問題、感受、流程或一堆任務。

• The class worked through the practice questions together.
• They are working through some trust issues.
• I need an hour to work through these emails.
• Let's work through the contract line by line.

介副詞 through 給了你畫面：你從困難的一邊出發，持續前進，直到抵達另一邊。這個片語聽起來有耐心、有條理，它不保證速度。

它在實務和情感情境都好用。你可以 work through 一份試算表、一場歧見、一段回憶，或一個技術 bug。

Work Around：另闢蹊徑

如果直路被擋住了，你就 work around 這個問題。

• The main road was closed, so we worked around it.
• The software has a bug, but we found a way to work around it.
• She worked around her class schedule by taking evening shifts.

寫成一個字的 workaround 是名詞：

• The bug is not fixed yet, but there is a simple workaround.

這個片語不表示解決根本問題，而是避開阻塞、讓事情繼續走。這個差別很重要：workaround 可以很聰明，但可能只是暫時的。

Work On：改善、修理、開發

Work on 表示投入心力改善、修理或開發某樣東西。

• I'm working on my pronunciation.
• The mechanic is working on my car.
• They're working on a new feature.
• We need to work on listening more carefully.

它不可分，因為 on 的作用像介系詞：

• I am working on it.
• 不能說 "I am working it on."

這個片語友善又靈活，可以描述一個弱點、一項專案、一台機器、一個習慣，或一段關係。

Work In：塞進有限的空間

Work in 表示在空間或時間有限時，把某樣東西安插進去。

• The doctor can work you in at 4:30.
• Try to work in one example from your own experience.
• The designer worked a small logo in near the bottom.

它常表示「排進行程」或「自然地放進去」。受詞可以拆開：

• Can you work in a short break?
• Can you work a short break in?
• Can you work it in?

常見錯誤

• "I worked out with the math problem." → "I worked out the math problem." · Work out 表示解題時不需要 with。
• "Everything worked out good." → "Everything worked out well." · 要用副詞 well。
• "She worked up courage asking." → "She worked up the courage to ask." · 常見句型是 the courage to do something。
• "We worked around the issue, so it is fixed." → 未必。 · Workaround 是繞過問題，不一定把它修好。
• "I am working my English on." → "I am working on my English." · Work on 不可分。

小練習

1. I go to the gym to _____ _____ after work.
2. We need to _____ _____ how much the trip will cost.
3. She finally _____ _____ the courage to apologize.
4. The login page is broken, but we can _____ _____ it for now.
5. He is _____ _____ his timing before the next presentation.

解答

1. work out — 健身是 work out。
2. work out — 計算或解決也是 work out。
3. worked up — 鼓起勇氣是 work up the courage。
4. work around — 用別的方法繞過阻礙是 work around。
5. working on — 精進技巧是 work on。

小結

遇到 work 片語，找出努力的路徑。它是朝結果而出、朝強度而上、穿過困難、繞過阻礙、盯著目標，還是擠進狹小的空間？那條路徑通常就是意思所在。

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