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A1 noun #1,711 最常用 6分钟阅读

desk

前1,711

A desk is a basic word for furniture. It is a table where you study or work. You have a desk at school. You might have a desk in your bedroom. You put your books, pens, and computer on it. It is for one person. You sit in a chair at the desk. It is very simple to understand. Example: 'My desk is blue.'

At the A2 level, you should know that a desk is different from a dining table. A desk is for work. You can find desks in offices and classrooms. Many desks have drawers to keep papers. You can say 'I work at my desk' or 'Put the book on the desk.' It is a common place for a computer. You might also hear about a 'reception desk' at a hotel.

In B1, 'desk' starts to appear in more complex phrases. You might hear about 'desk jobs,' which are jobs where you sit at a desk all day. You also learn about different types of desks, like a 'standing desk' or a 'study desk.' It is important to use the preposition 'at' correctly when talking about working. You might also see 'desk' used in a business context, like a 'help desk.'

At the B2 level, 'desk' can refer to specific departments in a company or news organization. For instance, the 'foreign desk' at a newspaper manages international news. You might encounter the term 'hot-desking,' which is a modern office practice where people don't have their own permanent desk. The word is used to describe professional environments and organizational structures.

In C1, 'desk' is used in idiomatic and metaphorical ways. 'Clear the decks' means to prepare for a big task. A 'desk jockey' is a slightly negative term for someone who does boring office work. You understand the nuances between a 'bureau,' 'escritoire,' and 'workstation.' You can discuss the ergonomics of a desk or the psychological impact of a cluttered desk on productivity.

At the C2 level, 'desk' is fully integrated into professional and literary language. You might analyze the 'desk' as a symbol of bureaucratic power or administrative control. You are comfortable with metonymy, where 'the desk' represents the authority of an editor or a government official. You can use the word in complex academic discussions about office design, historical furniture evolution, or workplace sociology.

开始练习例句笔记与提示

desk 30秒了解

A desk is a functional table used specifically for work, study, or computer tasks.
Commonly found in offices, schools, and homes, often featuring drawers for storage.
Differs from a dining table by its primary purpose of individual productivity.
Can also refer to a department or service point, like a 'help desk'.

A desk is a specialized piece of furniture designed primarily for cognitive tasks such as writing, reading, and operating computer systems. Unlike a dining table, which is designed for communal eating, a desk is typically an individual workstation. It features a flat horizontal surface and often incorporates storage solutions like drawers, cubbies, or shelves to organize stationery, documents, and electronic peripherals. In the modern era, the desk has evolved from a simple wooden stand to complex ergonomic workstations that support dual monitors, cable management, and adjustable heights.

Workstation: The primary area where a person performs professional or academic duties.
Surface Area: The top part of the desk where items are placed for immediate use.

She sat at her desk for eight hours straight finishing the report.

Desks are found in various environments, including corporate offices, classrooms, and home studies. They represent the intersection of productivity and organization. A well-organized desk is often seen as a reflection of a focused mind, though some creative professionals prefer a 'organized chaos' approach. Historically, desks were luxury items made of fine woods like mahogany, but today they are manufactured from a wide range of materials including metal, glass, and composite plastics to suit different aesthetic and functional needs.

The student's desk was covered in textbooks and highlighter pens.

Pedestal: The supporting structure of a desk, often containing drawers.

In contemporary language, 'desk' can also refer to a specific department within an organization, such as the 'news desk' at a newspaper or the 'help desk' for technical support. This metonymy highlights the desk as a hub of specific activity and information processing. Whether it is a standing desk used for health benefits or a roll-top desk for vintage charm, the fundamental purpose remains the same: providing a dedicated space for the mind to work.

Using the word 'desk' correctly involves understanding its role as both a physical object and a functional location. As a noun, it follows standard English grammar rules for countable nouns. You can have one desk or many desks. When describing actions at a desk, we often use the preposition 'at'. For example, 'I am sitting at my desk.' This implies you are positioned in front of it, ready to work. If you say 'I am on the desk,' it literally means you are physically on top of the furniture, which is rarely the intended meaning in a professional context.

Sitting at: The standard way to describe working in front of a desk.

Please leave the documents on my desk before you leave.

Desks are frequently modified by adjectives to specify their type or function. A 'writing desk' is small and elegant, while a 'computer desk' might have a sliding tray for a keyboard. In business, 'hot-desking' is a common verb-derived phrase meaning that employees do not have assigned desks but choose any available one. This reflects a shift toward flexible office environments. When using 'desk' in a sentence, consider if you are referring to the physical piece of furniture or the abstract concept of a workstation.

The manager's desk was made of solid oak.

The word 'desk' is ubiquitous in environments where information is exchanged. In a school setting, you will hear teachers say, 'Please sit at your desks and open your books.' This establishes the desk as the primary site of learning and individual focus. In a corporate environment, the 'front desk' or 'reception desk' is the first point of contact for visitors. Here, the desk serves as a barrier and a greeting point, symbolizing the professional boundary of the company.

Check in at the registration desk upon arrival.

In media and journalism, the 'news desk' is the central hub where stories are gathered and edited. You might hear a news anchor say, 'Let's go to the sports desk for an update.' This usage treats the desk as a department or a specific area of expertise. Similarly, in a hotel, the 'concierge desk' is where you go for assistance with local information. The word carries a sense of authority and service in these contexts.

One of the most common mistakes learners make is confusing 'desk' with 'table'. While all desks are tables, not all tables are desks. A table is a general surface for various activities, while a desk is specifically for work or study. You wouldn't usually say 'I ate dinner at my desk' unless you were working while eating. Another mistake is the prepositional use mentioned earlier: 'on the desk' vs 'at the desk'. If you are working, you are 'at' the desk. If you are standing on it to change a lightbulb, you are 'on' the desk.

Incorrect: I am sitting on my desk to write. Correct: I am sitting at my desk.

Spelling can also be a minor issue; ensure you don't confuse it with 'disk' (a flat circular object). While they sound similar, they have entirely different meanings. In writing, ensure the context makes it clear whether you are referring to the furniture or the department (e.g., 'the help desk'). Using 'desk' as a verb is rare and usually informal, such as 'to desk someone' (meaning to assign them to a desk job), which should be avoided in formal writing.

Several words share semantic space with 'desk', but each has a specific nuance. 'Table' is the most common synonym but lacks the 'work' connotation. 'Workstation' is a more modern, technical term often implying a computer setup. 'Bureau' is a more formal or European term, often referring to a desk with drawers or a specific government department. 'Escritoire' is a very formal, antique term for a small writing desk.

Workstation: Focuses on the equipment and functional setup.
Bureau: Often implies an administrative or heavy wooden style.

He preferred his workstation to a traditional desk.

How Formal Is It?

正式

非正式

难度评级

需要掌握的语法

按水平分级的例句

I have a small desk.

J'ai un petit bureau.

Simple subject-verb-object.

The desk is in my room.

Le bureau est dans ma chambre.

Preposition 'in'.

Sit at your desk, please.

Asseyez-vous à votre bureau, s'il vous plaît.

Imperative mood.

My pen is on the desk.

Mon stylo est sur le bureau.

Preposition 'on'.

Is this your desk?

Est-ce ton bureau ?

Interrogative form.

The desk is white.

Le bureau est blanc.

Adjective 'white'.

I study at my desk.

J'étudie à mon bureau.

Present simple tense.

There is a lamp on the desk.

Il y a une lampe sur le bureau.

'There is' structure.

He put his laptop on the desk.

Il a posé son ordinateur portable sur le bureau.

Past simple tense.

The office has many desks.

Le bureau a beaucoup de bureaux.

Plural 'desks'.

I need a bigger desk for my work.

J'ai besoin d'un plus grand bureau pour mon travail.

Comparative 'bigger'.

She works at the reception desk.

Elle travaille à la réception.

Compound noun 'reception desk'.

The desk has three drawers.

Le bureau a trois tiroirs.

Noun 'drawers'.

Can you clean your desk?

Peux-tu nettoyer ton bureau ?

Modal 'can'.

I bought a new desk yesterday.

J'ai acheté un nouveau bureau hier.

Past tense 'bought'.

The desk is next to the window.

Le bureau est à côté de la fenêtre.

Prepositional phrase 'next to'.

I prefer a standing desk to stay active.

Je préfère un bureau debout pour rester actif.

Infinitive of purpose.

The help desk is available 24/7.

Le service d'assistance est disponible 24h/24 et 7j/7.

Adjective 'available'.

He spent the whole day at his desk.

Il a passé toute la journée à son bureau.

Duration expression.

My desk is always cluttered with papers.

Mon bureau est toujours encombré de papiers.

Passive voice 'is cluttered'.

We need to organize the desks in the classroom.

Nous devons organiser les bureaux dans la salle de classe.

Infinitive 'to organize'.

The desk was made of recycled wood.

Le bureau était fait de bois recyclé.

Passive voice 'was made'.

She has a picture of her family on her desk.

Elle a une photo de sa famille sur son bureau.

Possessive 'her'.

I'll be at my desk if you need me.

Je serai à mon bureau si tu as besoin de moi.

First conditional.

Hot-desking has become common in modern offices.

Le 'hot-desking' est devenu courant dans les bureaux modernes.

Gerund as subject.

The news desk is preparing a special report.

Le bureau de l'information prépare un rapport spécial.

Present continuous.

He was promoted to a desk job after the accident.

Il a été promu à un emploi de bureau après l'accident.

Passive voice 'was promoted'.

The desk officer handled the visa applications.

L'agent de bureau a traité les demandes de visa.

Compound noun 'desk officer'.

I need to clear my desk before the vacation.

Je dois vider mon bureau avant les vacances.

Phrasal verb 'clear (one's) desk'.

The desk's design is both functional and aesthetic.

Le design du bureau est à la fois fonctionnel et esthétique.

Possessive 'desk's'.

They sat across the desk from each other during the interview.

Ils se sont assis l'un en face de l'autre de chaque côté du bureau pendant l'entretien.

Prepositional phrase 'across the desk from'.

The city desk handles all local news stories.

Le service des informations locales traite tous les reportages locaux.

Subject-verb agreement.

The editor-in-chief's desk was a mountain of manuscripts.

Le bureau du rédacteur en chef était une montagne de manuscrits.

Metaphorical use.

He's just a desk jockey with no real-world experience.

C'est juste un gratte-papier sans expérience du monde réel.

Idiomatic expression.

We must clear the decks before starting the new project.

Nous devons faire place nette avant de commencer le nouveau projet.

Idiom 'clear the decks'.

The desk serves as a silent witness to his long hours of toil.

Le bureau sert de témoin silencieux à ses longues heures de labeur.

Personification.

Her desk was an island of order in a sea of chaos.

Son bureau était un îlot d'ordre dans un océan de chaos.

Metaphor.

The desk sergeant took the statement from the witness.

Le sergent de service a pris la déposition du témoin.

Specific professional title.

He sat behind the desk, exuding an air of absolute authority.

Il était assis derrière le bureau, dégageant un air d'autorité absolue.

Participial phrase 'exuding...'.

The transition to a paperless desk has been challenging for some.

La transition vers un bureau sans papier a été difficile pour certains.

Compound adjective 'paperless'.

The desk, a mahogany behemoth, dominated the small study.

Le bureau, un mastodonte d'acajou, dominait le petit cabinet de travail.

Appositive phrase.

Bureaucracy is often criticized for its 'desk-bound' mentality.

La bureaucratie est souvent critiquée pour sa mentalité de bureau.

Compound adjective.

The desk became the locus of all administrative decision-making.

Le bureau est devenu le lieu de toutes les prises de décision administratives.

Academic vocabulary 'locus'.

He felt chained to his desk, a prisoner of his own professional success.

Il se sentait enchaîné à son bureau, prisonnier de sa propre réussite professionnelle.

Metaphorical imagery.

The desk's patina told a story of decades of scholarly pursuit.

La patine du bureau racontait une histoire de décennies de recherche érudite.

Specific vocabulary 'patina'.

In the digital age, the physical desk is increasingly a vestigial organ of the office.

À l'ère numérique, le bureau physique est de plus en plus un organe vestigial de l'entreprise.

Complex analogy.

The foreign desk's autonomy was curtailed by the new editorial policy.

L'autonomie du service étranger a été réduite par la nouvelle politique éditoriale.

Passive voice with 'curtailed'.

He approached the desk with a trepidation born of past failures.

Il s'approcha du bureau avec une trépidation née des échecs passés.

Abstract noun usage.

近义词

workstation table bureau escritoire counter carrel

反义词

chair floor

常见搭配

writing desk

computer desk

front desk

reception desk

office desk

standing desk

desk drawer

desk lamp

desk job

help desk

常用短语

at one's desk

behind the desk

on the desk

clear your desk

desk space

desk bound

hot desking

desk research

desk clerk

desk sergeant

容易混淆的词

desk vs table

desk vs disk

desk vs bureau

习语与表达

容易混淆

desk vs disk

A flat circular object.

desk vs deck

A floor on a ship or outside a house.

desk vs task

A piece of work to be done.

句型

如何使用

distinction

Desk vs Table: Desk is for work; Table is for general use.

preposition

'At' implies working; 'On' implies location.

常见错误

Sitting on the desk.
Eating at the desk.
Confusing desk with disk.
Using 'desk' for a dining table.
Forgetting the 's' in 'desks'.

小贴士

Learn Types

Learn specific types like 'roll-top desk' or 'writing desk' to sound more natural.

Prepositions

Always use 'at' for the activity of working at a desk.

Pronunciation

The 'sk' sound is important. Practice saying 'desks' slowly.

Status

In some cultures, the size of the desk indicates the importance of the person.

Clean Desk

A 'clean desk policy' means you must clear everything off your desk at the end of the day.

Ergonomics

Adjust your desk height to avoid back pain.

Metonymy

Remember that 'the desk' can mean a whole department.

Adjectives

Use descriptive adjectives like 'cluttered', 'sleek', or 'mahogany'.

Context

If you hear 'desk' in a hotel, it almost always means the reception.

Association

Link 'desk' with 'study' to remember its purpose.

记住它

词源

Latin 'discus'

文化背景

Shift toward flexible and ergonomic designs.

Symbol of professional status.

在生活中练习

真实语境

对话开场白

"Is your desk usually messy or clean?"

"Do you prefer a standing desk or a sitting desk?"

"What is the most important item on your desk?"

"How many drawers does your desk have?"

"Do you share a desk at work?"

日记主题

Describe your dream desk setup.

Write about a day in the life of a desk.

How does your desk reflect your personality?

Why is having a dedicated desk important for study?

What would you change about your current desk?

常见问题

10 个问题

A desk is specifically designed for tasks like writing or using a computer, often featuring drawers. A table is a general-purpose surface used for eating, playing games, or holding objects.

No, you should say 'I am at my desk' if you are sitting in front of it to work, or 'I am on my desk' if you are physically on top of it.

A front desk is a counter or table in the entrance of a building, like a hotel or office, where a receptionist greets visitors.

Hot-desking is an office system where employees do not have their own fixed desk and can sit at any available desk.

It is rarely used as a verb. Usually, it is a noun. In some specific contexts, it might mean to assign someone to a desk, but this is uncommon.

A standing desk is a desk that is high enough for you to work while standing up, which is often considered healthier than sitting all day.

A desk job is a job where you spend most of your time sitting at a desk, usually in an office.

The plural of desk is 'desks'. Be careful to pronounce the 's' after the 'k'.

A help desk is a department that provides assistance and information, usually for electronic or computer problems.

Yes, modern desks are often made of glass, metal, or wood.