In this lesson, let's learn about the meaning and use of the phrasal verb ‘break down'.

我們將在這一課學到動詞片語break down的意思和用法

Let's discuss the phrasal verb ‘break down' today.

現在我們來討論動詞片語break down

I know a bit about it. 'Break down' means crying.

我稍微知道一點。Break down有哭泣的意思

You're right. When one is unable to control his emotions he or she may break down in tears.

沒錯，當某個人無法控制情緒時，他可能就崩潰了，哭成了淚人兒

However, ‘break down' can also mean a damage in a machine or a car when it stops working.

然而break down也可以表示機器毀壞、或者汽車拋錨了

Funny you've mentioned it. My car broke down earlier today!

你說得好有趣！我的車今天早些時候拋錨了

Ouch! Sorry about that, Nina. But ‘break down' also means to resolve something, ending a long dispute.

哎喲！抱歉，Nina，但break down也表示解決事情、或結束長久的爭論

For example: ‘Finally the case broke down when Henry agreed to compensate'.

比如說：「這件事在Herry同意賠償後終於解決了」

Yes, ‘break down' means solving a task. This phrasal verb also means an in-depth analysis of something, breaking something else into parts.

是的，break down表示解決一件事。這個動詞片語也意味著對某件事追根究底、抽絲剝繭

Exactly! A complex problem may be solved by breaking it down to a number of smaller steps or parts.

完全正確，藉著將問題分解成若干步驟，複雜的問題也能迎刃而解

Absolutely! It means to divide into smaller parts or to separate.

正是這樣，也就是分割成小部份

But it also means to force someone to give up, to tell a secret or make make someone agree to do something.

但也意謂著強迫別人放棄、洩密、或同意做些什麼事

Yeah! Like breaking up a terrorist group! That's breaking down something. Now, breaking down something also means to destroy or ruin it.

啊，就像裂解恐怖組織、破壞某些事。現在break down也表示摧毀或破壞

So many possibilities! We should listen to some conversations with examples now.

太多可能了。我們該聽些對話的例子

Great idea!

好主意

Ron, why don't you service your car?

Ron，為什麼不保養你的車呢？

I will do it in the evening.

我會在傍晚搞定

It might break down any moment now.

它可能隨時會拋錨

Yeah, I know. My dad finally broke down and gave me some money to get it fixed.

我曉得呀！我爸終於崩潰了，他給我錢去修理

Good for you!

好棒！

Ron, can you look at this math problem?

Ron，看看這題數學

Hmmm...linear algebra. It's always better to break down such problems into smaller steps.

嗯，線性代數，最好將這類的問題分解成小步驟

Wow! You've always been so good in solving problems!

哇，你真會解決問題

I wish I could be so quick with real life problems too. They break me down all the time.

我希望在現實生活中也能這麼快解決問題，這些問題弄得我崩潰了

Don't worry, Ron. These family matters are just a temporary bother.

別煩惱，Ron，家庭瑣事麻煩不了多久的

Why so gloomy today, Candice?

Candice，怎麼這麼憂鬱呢？

Nothing much, I had to lock horns with my brother.

沒什麼，我逼不得已和我兄弟起了爭執

What happened?

怎麼回事？

He broke down the dog house.

他毀了狗屋

Then?

然後呢？

Then what? He ruined it, so I broke down crying.

什麼然後？他毀了狗屋，所以我嚎啕大哭

Sorry to hear it!

我很遺憾！

That's fine. He promised to build a new one today.

沒關係，他保證今天會蓋新狗屋

My car broke down earlier today!

我的車今天早些時候拋錨了

It might break down any moment now.

它現在可能隨時會拋錨

It's always better to break down such problems into smaller steps.

最好將這類的問題分解成小步驟

He broke down the dog house.

他毀了狗屋

so I broke down crying.

所以我嚎啕大哭