Explanation at your level:
Service is when someone helps you. If you go to a shop, the person who sells you food gives you service. It is good when they are nice!
When you pay for something, you get a service. For example, a waiter in a restaurant provides service by bringing your food. It means doing work for other people.
Service is a very common word in business. We often talk about 'customer service,' which means how a company treats its customers. If you are happy with the help you received, you say the service was excellent.
The term service is quite broad. It can refer to professional assistance, like legal services, or public utilities provided by the state. The nuance often lies in the quality—we evaluate services based on efficiency, politeness, and reliability.
Beyond the transactional definition, service can imply a sense of duty or devotion, such as 'military service' or 'public service.' It is often used in abstract contexts to describe the contribution one makes to society or an organization. Understanding the distinction between 'a service' (countable) and 'service' (uncountable) is key to mastery.
Etymologically, service bridges the gap between servitude and professional excellence. In high-level discourse, it can refer to the ritualistic aspects of life, such as a 'memorial service,' or the technical infrastructure of a digital platform (e.g., 'cloud services'). Its usage reflects the societal shift from feudal obligation to the modern service-based economy.
30秒词汇
- Service is the act of helping.
- It is often used in business.
- It can be countable or uncountable.
- It has a deep historical root.
Think of service as the invisible glue that keeps our daily lives running smoothly. Whether it is a waiter bringing you a hot meal or a mechanic fixing your car, you are experiencing service. It is essentially the act of doing work for someone else.
In a professional context, service is often about the quality of the interaction. If you go to a shop and the staff is rude, you might say the service was poor. If they are helpful and fast, you have received great service. It is a very versatile word that covers everything from personal favors to massive government systems.
The word service has a long and noble history. It traces back to the Latin word servitium, which literally meant 'slavery' or 'the condition of a slave.' Over time, the word evolved in Old French to servise, shifting from a term about bondage to one about duty and helpful work.
By the time it entered Middle English, it had become a standard way to describe religious duties, military service, and domestic work. It is fascinating how a word that once implied a lack of freedom transformed into a modern business term that we now associate with hospitality, excellence, and professional care.
You will hear service used in almost every industry. In the hospitality sector, we talk about 'customer service.' In government, we talk about 'public services' like police or trash collection. It is a highly flexible noun that fits into both casual and formal registers.
Common collocations include provide a service, excellent service, and service industry. Use it when you want to highlight that work is being performed for a specific purpose or for a client. Remember that it is usually an uncountable noun when referring to the general act, but countable when referring to specific ceremonies or departments.
Idioms help us express complex ideas about work and help. Lip service means saying you support something without actually doing anything. At your service is a polite way of saying you are ready to help someone. Service with a smile describes someone who helps you while being very friendly.
We also use do someone a service, which means to perform a helpful act for them. Finally, in the service of is a formal way of saying you are working for a cause or a person. These phrases make your English sound much more natural and expressive.
Pronounced /ˈsɜːrvɪs/, the stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like nervous (sort of) or surface. In the UK and US, the pronunciation is very similar, though the 'r' is often more pronounced in American English.
Grammatically, service is usually an uncountable noun (e.g., 'The service was great'). However, it becomes countable when referring to specific events like a 'church service' or 'a secret service.' It is a standard noun that does not change form in the plural unless you are talking about distinct types of services.
Fun Fact
It evolved from a word for bondage to a word for high-quality professional help.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'r' sound, soft 's' at the end.
Slightly more rhotic 'r' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'c' as a 'k'
- Dropping the 'r'
- Stress on the second syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Countable vs Uncountable
The service (uncountable) vs A service (countable).
Collocations
Provide a service.
Articles
The service.
Examples by Level
The service is good.
The help is good.
Uncountable noun
I like this service.
I like this help.
Direct object
He works in service.
He works in helping.
General field
The service is fast.
The help is quick.
Adjective usage
Thanks for the service.
Thanks for the help.
Expression of thanks
Is the service free?
Is the help free?
Question form
We need more service.
We need more help.
Need + noun
The service was bad.
The help was bad.
Past tense
The hotel service is excellent.
They provide a great service.
I am waiting for the bus service.
The customer service was very helpful.
He has been in the service for years.
Do you offer a delivery service?
The internet service is down.
Thank you for your service.
The airline is known for its high-quality service.
Public services are funded by taxes.
I need to take my car in for a service.
The waiter provided prompt and friendly service.
He dedicated his life to the service of the poor.
Our company offers a wide range of services.
The postal service is reliable here.
She is currently in the diplomatic service.
The hotel prides itself on its impeccable service.
We are looking to outsource our IT services.
The church held a special service for the holidays.
Customer service is the backbone of our business.
They provide a valuable service to the community.
The secret service protected the president.
He was honored for his long service to the firm.
The service charge is included in the bill.
The government is restructuring its social service programs.
His service to the arts has been widely recognized.
The company is transitioning to a service-oriented model.
The memorial service was a somber and moving event.
They provide an essential service to the local economy.
The software-as-a-service market is growing rapidly.
She performed a great service by exposing the truth.
The military service requirements have changed recently.
The concept of service has evolved significantly since the feudal era.
His life was a testament to the service of humanity.
The diplomatic service requires immense tact and patience.
They offer a bespoke service tailored to each client.
The service of the writ was handled by the bailiff.
We must consider the serviceability of these older machines.
The ceremony was a traditional service of thanksgiving.
He rendered a great service to the cause of peace.
近义词
反义词
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"lip service"
saying you support something without doing it
They only pay lip service to the idea of change.
neutral"at your service"
ready to help
I am at your service, sir.
formal"service with a smile"
helping while being friendly
The staff always provides service with a smile.
neutral"do someone a service"
perform a helpful act
You did me a great service by telling me that.
neutral"in the service of"
working for a cause
He spent his life in the service of science.
formal"render a service"
to perform a service
He rendered a valuable service to the team.
formalEasily Confused
similar root
servant is a person, service is the act
The servant provided the service.
same root
serving is a portion of food or the act of giving
One serving of cake.
same root
servitude is a state of slavery
He was in servitude.
verb form
servicing is the act of maintaining
He is servicing the car.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + provide + service
They provide excellent service.
Subject + be + at your service
I am at your service.
Subject + receive + service
We received great service.
Noun + of + service
Years of service.
Service + verb
The service was delayed.
词族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
相关
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
常见错误
Service is often an uncountable noun.
Service is the act; servant is the person.
Usually requires 'the' when referring to a specific instance.
It means to maintain, not just help.
Always ends in -ice.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a waiter serving you a drink.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to talk about businesses.
Cultural Insight
In the US, 'service' is a huge part of the economy.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'provide' with service.
Say It Right
Stress the first syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'a service' when you mean the general act.
Did You Know?
It comes from the Latin word for slave.
Study Smart
Keep a list of 'service' collocations.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
SERVE + ICE = Service (Imagine serving ice to a guest).
Visual Association
A waiter holding a tray with a smile.
Word Web
挑战
Try to say 'at your service' to a friend today.
词源
Latin
Original meaning: Slavery or condition of a slave
文化背景
None, though historically linked to servitude.
Highly valued in customer-centric cultures like the USA.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at a restaurant
- The service was slow.
- Great service!
- Service charge included?
at work
- Customer service department.
- Provide a service.
- Service level agreement.
travel
- Bus service.
- Airline service.
- Room service.
government
- Public service.
- Secret service.
- Military service.
Conversation Starters
"How do you define good service?"
"Have you ever received bad service?"
"What is the best service you have ever had?"
"Do you think the service industry is changing?"
"What does 'at your service' mean to you?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you received excellent service.
Why is customer service important to you?
Write about a service you use every day.
How would you improve the service in your local area?
常见问题
8 个问题It can be both, depending on the context.
To service something means to perform maintenance.
SUR-vis.
No, it is a standard professional term.
It means saying you support something without doing it.
Yes, a church service.
Similar, but 'service' is more professional.
A company that gives you a service, like internet.
自我测试
The ___ at the hotel was excellent.
Service is the noun for the help received.
Which phrase is correct?
Provide a service is a common collocation.
Service is always an uncountable noun.
It can be countable when referring to specific types of services.
Word
意思
These are common idioms.
The service was excellent.
得分： /5
Summary
Service is the professional or helpful act of doing work for others.
- Service is the act of helping.
- It is often used in business.
- It can be countable or uncountable.
- It has a deep historical root.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a waiter serving you a drink.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it to talk about businesses.
Cultural Insight
In the US, 'service' is a huge part of the economy.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'provide' with service.
例句
The service in this restaurant is very fast and the waiters are kind.
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