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A1 noun #1,616 最常用 7分钟阅读

wage

前1,616

At the A1 level, you should know that 'wage' is money you get for working. It is like 'pay'. You usually hear it when people talk about jobs like working in a shop or a cafe. For example: 'I get a weekly wage.' You should understand that it is different from a 'gift' because you must work to get it. It is a simple word for money from a job. Most A1 learners will use 'pay' or 'money' first, but learning 'wage' helps you talk about jobs more clearly. You might see it on a job poster: 'Wage: $10 per hour.' This tells you how much money you will make for one hour of work. It is important for basic life skills, like looking for a part-time job or understanding a simple work contract. You don't need to know complex economic theories yet, just that 'wage = money for work time.'

At the A2 level, you can start to use 'wage' in more sentences. You should know common phrases like 'minimum wage' and 'hourly wage.' You can compare wages: 'My wage is higher than my brother's wage.' You also learn that 'wages' (with an 's') is very common. You can talk about when you get your wages: 'I receive my wages every Friday.' You should be able to ask about wages in a job interview: 'What is the starting wage for this position?' At this level, you are becoming more comfortable with the idea that different jobs pay different amounts. You might also learn the verb 'earn' to go with it: 'I earn a good wage.' This level is about building confidence in using the word in everyday work-related conversations and understanding simple advertisements for manual or service-oriented jobs.

At the B1 level, you understand the difference between 'wage' and 'salary.' You know that a wage is usually for hourly work and a salary is for a year of work. You can discuss 'wage increases' or 'wage cuts.' You can explain your financial situation using the word: 'My wage is enough to pay the rent, but I can't save much.' You also start to see the word in news stories about the economy. You might hear about 'wage growth' in your country. You can use the word in more complex grammar, like: 'If the company increases the wage, more people will apply for the job.' You are also familiar with 'living wage' and why it is important for families. This level involves using 'wage' to express opinions about work and money, and understanding the social context of how people are paid.

At the B2 level, you can use 'wage' in professional and academic contexts. You understand terms like 'real wages' (money adjusted for inflation) and 'gross vs. net wages.' You can participate in debates about 'the gender wage gap' or 'wage stagnation.' You use the word fluently in discussions about labor rights and economic policy. You might say, 'The stagnation of real wages over the last decade has led to a decrease in purchasing power for the middle class.' You are comfortable with the plural 'wages' used as a collective noun. You also recognize the word in more formal settings, such as 'wage negotiation' or 'wage structures.' At this level, you don't just know what the word means; you know how it fits into the larger picture of society, economics, and law. You can write essays or give presentations that use 'wage' accurately and with nuance.

At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated understanding of 'wage' and its various connotations. You can use it in highly formal reports or creative writing. You understand the historical and sociological weight of the term, such as the 'wage-labor' system. You can discuss 'efficiency wage theory' or 'wage-push inflation' with ease. You recognize subtle differences in register, knowing when to use 'remuneration' or 'compensation' instead of 'wage' for a more formal tone. You can analyze complex texts about labor economics where 'wage' is a central variable. Your use of collocations is natural and varied: 'subsistence wage,' 'prevailing wage,' 'wage differentials.' You can also use the word metaphorically or in idiomatic expressions with precision. At this level, 'wage' is a tool you use to navigate complex intellectual and professional landscapes.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'wage' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. You understand the deepest nuances, including the legal definitions in different jurisdictions. You can critique economic papers that model 'wage elasticity' or 'nominal wage rigidity.' You are familiar with the word's use in classical literature and historical documents. You can use the word 'wage' as a verb ('to wage war') and as a noun interchangeably without confusion. You can navigate the most complex 'wage and hour' laws and discuss them in a legal or high-level business context. You are sensitive to the socio-political power of the word and can use it to construct persuasive arguments about global inequality or labor market reforms. For you, 'wage' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a fundamental concept in your comprehensive understanding of the English-speaking world's economic and social fabric.

开始练习例句笔记与提示

wage 30秒了解

Money paid for work, usually by the hour.
Common for manual labor and service jobs.
Different from a fixed annual salary.
Often paid weekly or every two weeks.

The word wage refers to the specific amount of money paid to an employee for their labor, typically calculated on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis. Unlike a 'salary,' which is usually a fixed annual amount paid to professional or office workers, a wage is directly tied to the amount of time worked or the quantity of work produced. This term is most frequently associated with manual labor, service industry roles, or blue-collar jobs where overtime pay is a significant factor. Understanding the nuance of this word involves recognizing its economic and social implications.

Core Concept: A wage is a variable payment based on time. If you work more hours, your total wage for that period increases. If you work fewer, it decreases.
Economic Context: Wages are a fundamental component of the labor market, representing the 'price' of labor. They are influenced by supply, demand, and government regulations like the minimum wage.
Social Context: The term often evokes discussions about 'living wages'—the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs and participate in society.

The factory workers went on strike to demand a higher hourly wage and better safety conditions.

He earns a decent wage working as a carpenter's apprentice.

The government announced an increase in the national minimum wage starting next month.

After taxes, her weekly wage was barely enough to cover the rent.

The discrepancy between executive pay and the average worker's wage continues to grow.

Historically, the concept of a wage has evolved from simple barter or daily payments to complex systems involving benefits, deductions, and electronic transfers. In many cultures, the 'weekly wage' was traditionally paid in a 'pay packet' or envelope on a Friday, a practice that has largely been replaced by direct bank deposits. Despite these changes, the fundamental definition remains: it is the compensation for time spent working.

Using the word wage correctly requires an understanding of its common collocations and grammatical patterns. It is most often used as a countable noun, though it can appear in the plural form 'wages' to describe the collective earnings of a person or a group. When discussing the rate of pay, we often use adjectives like 'hourly,' 'weekly,' 'minimum,' or 'living.' Verbs that commonly accompany 'wage' include 'earn,' 'pay,' 'receive,' 'increase,' 'cut,' and 'freeze.'

Verbal Collocations: To earn a wage: To receive money for work. To set a wage: To decide how much will be paid. To negotiate a wage: To discuss and agree on a pay rate.
Adjectival Collocations: Minimum wage: The lowest legal pay. Living wage: A wage high enough to live on. Fair wage: A wage considered just for the work done.
Prepositional Phrases: A wage of $15 an hour. A rise in wages. To work for a low wage.

The company decided to freeze every employee's wage for the next fiscal year.

She was happy to receive a substantial wage increase after her performance review.

Many students work for a low wage in the hospitality sector during the summer.

In formal writing, you might encounter 'wage' as a verb (e.g., 'to wage war'), but in the context of money, it is almost exclusively a noun. When discussing economics, you will see 'real wages,' which refers to wages adjusted for inflation. This is a crucial concept for understanding purchasing power. For example, if your wage stays the same but prices go up, your real wage has actually decreased.

The word wage is ubiquitous in several specific environments. You will hear it most frequently in the context of employment, economic news, and political debates. It is a key term for anyone entering the workforce or following global financial trends.

In the Workplace: Human resources managers discuss wage structures, and employees talk about their hourly rates or weekly paychecks.
In the News: Journalists report on 'wage growth' or 'wage stagnation' to describe the health of the economy.
In Politics: Politicians often debate the 'minimum wage' or 'equal pay for equal work,' making it a central theme in social justice discussions.

'The senator's platform includes a plan to raise the federal minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour.'

'Economists are concerned that wage inflation might lead to higher prices for consumers.'

In popular culture, songs often reference the 'working man's wage' to symbolize the struggles of the middle and lower classes. In literature, the 'wage slave' is a common trope used to describe someone whose livelihood is entirely dependent on their wages and who has little autonomy. Whether you are reading a financial report or a social novel, the concept of the wage is a powerful tool for describing human labor and its value.

While wage seems like a simple word, learners often confuse it with similar terms or misuse its grammatical forms. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your English sound more natural and professional.

Wage vs. Salary: The most common mistake is using 'wage' for a professional, annual salary. If you have a fixed yearly contract, use 'salary'. If you are paid by the hour, use 'wage'.
Wage vs. Income: 'Income' is a broader term that includes wages, interest from savings, rent from property, and any other money received. 'Wage' is specifically from labor.
Singular vs. Plural: Learners often say 'My wage are...' instead of 'My wages are...' or 'My wage is...'. Remember that 'wages' (plural) is very common when talking about the total amount.

Incorrect: 'I earn a high wage as a software engineer.' (Better: salary)

Incorrect: 'The wage in this country are very low.' (Better: The wages... are / The wage... is)

Another mistake is forgetting the article. We usually say 'a wage' or 'the wage,' not just 'wage' in isolation. For example, 'He earns a good wage,' not 'He earns good wage.' Also, be careful with the verb form; while you can 'wage war,' you cannot 'wage a job'—you 'work a job' to 'earn a wage.'

To truly master the word wage, it helps to compare it with its synonyms and related terms. Each has a specific context where it is most appropriate.

Salary: Fixed annual amount, usually for professional/office work. Paid monthly.
Pay: A general term for any money received for work. Can be used for both wage and salary.
Earnings: The total amount of money someone makes, often including bonuses or profit-sharing.
Remuneration: A very formal term for payment for work or services.
Stipend: A fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance, often to a student or intern.

'While his base wage was low, his total earnings were high due to overtime.'

'The job offer included a competitive salary and a generous benefits package.'

Understanding these distinctions is vital for clear communication in the workplace. For instance, if you ask for a 'wage increase' when you are a salaried manager, it might sound slightly odd to a native speaker, though they would still understand you. Conversely, referring to a dishwasher's 'salary' might sound overly formal or even sarcastic. Choosing the right word shows you understand the social and professional structures of the English-speaking world.

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 get a weekly wage.

I receive money every week for my work.

Simple present tense with a countable noun.

My wage is ten dollars an hour.

I earn $10 for every hour I work.

Using 'is' to define the rate.

He works for a low wage.

He does not earn much money.

Preposition 'for' used with 'wage'.

She wants a higher wage.

She wants more money for her work.

Comparative adjective 'higher' modifying 'wage'.

Is the wage good?

Is the pay high?

Simple question form.

The shop pays a good wage.

The shop gives a lot of money to workers.

Subject-verb-object structure.

I save part of my wage.

I put some of my work money in the bank.

Possessive 'my' with 'wage'.

Do you get your wage today?

Is today your payday?

Direct question in the present tense.

The minimum wage is increasing next year.

The lowest legal pay is going up.

Present continuous for future plans.

He earns a living wage now.

He earns enough to pay for his basic needs.

Common collocation 'living wage'.

They are fighting for a fair wage.

They want the money they deserve.

Present continuous for ongoing action.

Her wages are paid into her bank account.

Her money goes directly to the bank.

Plural 'wages' with plural verb 'are'.

What is the average wage in this city?

How much do most people earn here?

Wh-question with 'average'.

I need a job with a better wage.

I want a job that pays more.

Noun phrase 'a job with a better wage'.

He lost his job and his weekly wage.

He no longer has work or money.

Past simple tense.

The company offers a competitive wage.

The pay is as good as other companies.

Adjective 'competitive' modifying 'wage'.

The union negotiated a 5% wage increase.

The group of workers got a small raise.

Past simple with 'negotiated'.

Many people struggle to survive on a low wage.

It is hard to live when you don't earn much.

Infinitive 'to survive' after 'struggle'.

The gap between the highest and lowest wage is growing.

The difference in pay is getting bigger.

Present continuous for a trend.

He prefers a steady wage to a commission-based salary.

He likes regular pay more than pay based on sales.

Verb 'prefer' with 'to'.

Wage stagnation is a major problem for the economy.

Wages not going up is bad for the country.

Compound noun 'wage stagnation'.

They decided to freeze wages due to the recession.

They won't give raises because the economy is bad.

Infinitive 'to freeze' after 'decided'.

She calculated her net wage after all the deductions.

She figured out how much money she actually keeps.

Past simple with 'calculated'.

Is there a gender wage gap in your industry?

Do men and women get paid differently for the same work?

Interrogative with 'there is/are'.

The government's policy aims to boost real wages.

The goal is to increase pay after inflation.

Present simple with 'aims to'.

Wage-push inflation occurs when rising labor costs drive up prices.

Prices go up because workers are paid more.

Technical term 'wage-push inflation'.

The company implemented a new wage structure last month.

They started a new system for paying people.

Past simple with 'implemented'.

He argued that a higher minimum wage would stimulate the economy.

He said more pay for the poor helps everyone.

Reported speech with 'would'.

The workers are demanding a wage hike to match inflation.

They want a raise because things are more expensive.

Present continuous with 'demanding'.

The discrepancy in wages between regions is quite significant.

Different areas have very different pay levels.

Noun 'discrepancy' with 'in'.

Collective bargaining is essential for maintaining fair wages.

Workers need to talk together to get good pay.

Gerund 'maintaining' after 'for'.

Her gross wage is much higher than her take-home pay.

She earns a lot before taxes are taken out.

Comparison with 'much higher than'.

The prevailing wage in the construction industry varies by state.

The usual pay for this job is different in different places.

Adjective 'prevailing' modifying 'wage'.

Economists debate the effects of wage rigidity on unemployment.

They talk about how wages not changing affects jobs.

Noun 'rigidity' modifying 'wage'.

The subsistence wage is the bare minimum needed for survival.

It's just enough money to stay alive.

Technical term 'subsistence wage'.

The company's wage bill has ballooned over the last three years.

The total amount they pay workers has grown very fast.

Present perfect with 'ballooned'.

They are seeking to address the entrenched wage disparities.

They want to fix the deep-rooted differences in pay.

Adjective 'entrenched' modifying 'wage disparities'.

The shift toward a service economy has altered traditional wage patterns.

Changing jobs has changed how people are paid.

Present perfect with 'altered'.

Wage differentials are often attributed to differences in education.

Pay differences are usually because of school.

Passive voice 'are attributed to'.

The legislation aims to curb excessive executive wages.

The law wants to stop bosses from being paid too much.

Infinitive 'to curb' after 'aims'.

The intricate interplay between wage growth and productivity is central to the study.

How pay and work speed affect each other is very important.

Complex noun phrase as subject.

The proletariat's struggle for a living wage is a recurring theme in Marxist literature.

Workers fighting for pay is a common topic in these books.

Formal academic register.

Nominal wage cuts are notoriously difficult to implement due to psychological factors.

Lowering the actual dollar amount of pay is very hard.

Adverb 'notoriously' modifying 'difficult'.

The erosion of real wages has led to widespread social unrest.

Pay losing value has made people very angry.

Metaphorical use of 'erosion'.

The firm utilizes an efficiency wage model to minimize employee turnover.

They pay more to keep workers from quitting.

Technical economic terminology.

The disparity in wages is a stark reminder of the prevailing economic inequality.

The pay difference shows how unfair the economy is.

Adjective 'stark' modifying 'reminder'.

The treaty includes provisions for the harmonization of minimum wages across the bloc.

The agreement wants to make pay the same in all countries.

Formal legal terminology.

The concept of the 'family wage' was historically used to justify gendered pay scales.

The idea of one pay for a whole family was used to pay women less.

Historical/sociological context.

近义词

pay earnings remuneration income stipend allowance

反义词

debt loss expenditure

常见搭配

minimum wage

living wage

hourly wage

weekly wage

wage increase

wage cut

wage freeze

earn a wage

pay a wage

set a wage

常用短语

earn a living wage

minimum wage job

wage earner

wage slave

wage packet

gross wage

net wage

fair wage

wage growth

wage gap

容易混淆的词

wage vs salary

wage vs income

wage vs earnings

习语与表达

容易混淆

wage vs salary

wage vs income

wage vs stipend

句型

如何使用

context

Mainly used for manual, service, or part-time work.

singular vs plural

'Wage' is the rate; 'wages' is the total money.

常见错误

Using 'salary' for an hourly job.
Saying 'I earn good wage' without the article 'a'.
Confusing 'wage' (money) with 'gauge' (measure).
Using 'wage' to mean total income from investments.
Using a singular verb with 'wages' (e.g., 'Wages is low').

小贴士

Choose the right word

If you work in a cafe, say 'wage'. If you are a doctor, say 'salary'.

Plural agreement

Remember: 'Wages are...' not 'Wages is...'

Learn collocations

Always learn 'minimum wage' and 'living wage' together.

Interview tip

Ask 'What is the hourly wage?' for part-time jobs.

Listen for 'net'

In the UK and US, people often focus on their 'net' or 'take-home' pay.

Formal reports

In formal economic writing, use 'remuneration' or 'compensation' for variety.

Global context

Be aware that minimum wage laws vary greatly between countries and states.

Negotiation

When asking for more money, you are asking for a 'wage increase'.

The 'g' sound

The 'g' in wage is soft, like the 'j' in 'jump'.

Association

Associate 'wage' with a 'weekly' paycheck to remember its frequency.

记住它

词源

Middle English

文化背景

The 'Living Wage Foundation' encourages employers to pay more than the legal minimum.

The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009, though many states have higher rates.

在生活中练习

真实语境

对话开场白

"What is the minimum wage in your country?"

"Do you think the living wage should be higher?"

"Is it common to get a weekly wage or a monthly salary in your job?"

"Have you ever negotiated a wage increase?"

"What was your first hourly wage?"

日记主题

Describe your ideal job and the wage you would like to earn.

Write about a time you felt your wage was unfair.

How does the cost of living in your city compare to the average wage?

Discuss the pros and cons of an hourly wage versus a fixed salary.

What would you do if your company decided to freeze all wages?

常见问题

10 个问题

A wage is usually paid by the hour or week and is common for manual labor. A salary is a fixed annual amount paid monthly, common for professional office jobs.

It is plural and takes a plural verb, as in 'His wages are high.' However, 'wage' in the singular is also common when referring to the rate.

It is the lowest amount of money that an employer is legally allowed to pay their workers per hour.

A living wage is a wage that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living, covering food, housing, and other basic needs.

Yes, but with a different meaning. To 'wage' something (like war or a campaign) means to carry it on or engage in it.

Gross wage is the total amount of money an employee earns before any taxes or other deductions are taken out.

Net wage, also known as take-home pay, is the amount of money an employee actually receives after taxes and deductions.

Wages are typically paid weekly, every two weeks (bi-weekly), or daily, depending on the job and the country.

A wage freeze is a period during which an employer stops increasing the pay of its employees, often due to financial difficulties.

It is the average difference between the remuneration for representative men and women who are working.