repair

repair, amend, fix, mend, patch

这五个词都可表示“修理”“修补”。它们的区别是：

1.fix是口语用词。

2.repair是一般用词,凡是损坏、损伤、故障,尤其是收音机、手表、汽车、炉子等这类的机械装置需要“修理”“维修”时用repair。例如:

We have repaired the motor.我们已经修好了电动机。

Xiao Wang is repairing desks and chairs in the classroom.小王正在教室里修理桌椅。

The puncture has been repaired.那个洞被补上了。

The house must be repaired from top to bottom.这所房子必须彻底进行修理。

3.mend多指修补磨损、穿破、撕毁的简单日常用品,也可用于比喻,指改进行为、修改法律、治愈感情创伤等。例如:

Let me mend the socks for you.让我来给你补袜子。

The child will soon mend if she has enough to eat.这孩子如果有足够的东西吃就会很快恢复健康。

The relations between John and David are mending.约翰与戴维的关系在改善。

It is never too late to mend.改过不嫌晚。

It is not too late to mend the fold even after some of the sheep have been lost.亡羊补牢,犹未为晚。

4.amend是正式用语,含有改造人或法规的缺陷与不足之意。例如:

You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

The thief has amended.这小偷改过自新了。

It's time you amended your ways.是你改过自新的时候了。

The regulations are amended.这些规则被修正了。

5.patch指用一块材料把有洞的地方、有裂痕的地方、被穿破的地方贴起来。例如:

The workman patched the ceiling.工人修补了天花板。

This piece of material is just right to patch the roof.这块材料正好可用来补屋顶。

He patched all the fences near the house.他把靠近房子的围墙全都修了。

repair, maintain

maintain的意思是“维修”,以免不发生故障; repair的意思是“更新”“恢复原状”。

下面三个句子的意思相同：

My watch wants repairs.

My watch wants repairing.

My watch wants to be repaired.

我的手表需要修理了。