Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #14058
tinker
摆弄；鼓捣
to fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend, or improve it, often in an experimental or unskilled way
常指不熟练地摆弄或尝试修理。
- 1.
To work as a tinker.
以补锅为业；当补锅匠。
- 2.
To fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.
胡乱摆弄某物以试图修理、修补或改进,尤指以实验性或不熟练的方式进行。
当补锅匠；做流动修补匠；以补锅为业；当补锅匠。；胡乱摆弄某物以试图修理、修补或改进,尤指以实验性或不熟练的方式进行。；做焊锅匠；笨拙的修补
In use
Grandpa likes to tinker with old clocks in his spare time.
She tinkered with the computer for hours but could not fix the problem.
He is tinkering with the engine, hoping to make it run more smoothly.
tinker with sth
He enjoys tinkering with electronics.
他喜欢修补电子产品。
tinker on sth
She tinkered on the bicycle for an hour.
她在自行车上修补了一个小时。
tinker away at sth
强调持续不断地修补
They tinkered away at the code all night.
Connections
Collocations
- tinker with the engine
- 摆弄发动机
- He spent the afternoon tinkering with the engine.他花了一下午摆弄发动机。
- tinker with the settings
- 随意调整设置
- Don't tinker with the settings unless you know what you're doing.除非你知道自己在做什么，否则不要随意调整设置。
- tinker around with electronics
- 摆弄电子设备
- She likes to tinker around with old electronics.她喜欢摆弄旧电子设备。
- tinker in the garage
- 在车库里鼓捣
- My dad tinkers in the garage every weekend.我爸爸每个周末都在车库里鼓捣。
Idioms & figurative uses
- tinker with
- 摆弄；小修He spent the afternoon tinkering with his bicycle.他花了一个下午摆弄他的自行车。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
tinker 音似“听客”，想象一个听客蹲在一边，敲敲打打、锲而不舍地瞎鼓捣，试图把东西修好。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：home repair、computer/software、hobby projects 该义项（tinker with sth）指“尝试性、有时笨拙地摆弄或修补”，多用于非正式口语或随意书面语境，如修理小物件、调试电脑设置等；正式文体中较少使用，常改用 adjust、modify 等词。
Grammar Note
作为不及物动词时，常与with连用，表示‘随意修补’。
Pronunciation & Spelling
tinker、thinker、winker、sinker、pinker 都以 /ɪŋkɚ/ 结尾，彼此押韵；但 tanker 和 banker 拼写与 tinker 相似，实际读 /æŋkɚ/，并不与 tinker 押韵。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from AI_FALLBACK, ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.