A co-worker is someone who works with you, usually in the same place and at a similar level — not your boss, and not someone you only pass in the lift.

A co-workerco-worker is someone who works with you是指跟你一起工作的人, usually in the same place and at a similar level通常在同一個地方、職等也差不多 — not your boss不是你的老闆, and not someone you only pass in the lift也不是只在電梯裡擦身而過的人。

American English likes this word a lot, and often writes it coworker, as one word. British English still uses it, but colleague and workmate are also common. You can say “a co-worker of mine” about the person at the next desk.

American English likes this word a lot美式英語很愛用這個字, and often writes it coworker, as one word常常把它寫成一個字coworker。British English still uses it英式英語也還是會用, but colleague and workmate are also common但colleague和workmate也很常見。You can say “a co-worker of mine”你可以說「我的一位同事」 about the person at the next desk來指坐在你隔壁桌的人。

Though actually a co-worker is not always a friend, and colleague can cover people a bit above or below you, while co-worker leans toward “same kind of job, same office or shop floor”. It is everyday and polite.

Though actually不過其實 a co-worker is not always a friendco-worker不一定是朋友, and colleague can cover people a bit above or below you而colleague可以涵蓋職位比你高一點或低一點的人, while co-worker leans toward “same kind of job, same office or shop floor”co-worker則比較偏向「同樣性質的工作、同一個辦公室或現場」。It is everyday and polite這個字很日常也很有禮貌。

The first part only means “together”; you still have to read the second half.

The first part only means “together”前半部分只表示「一起」; you still have to read the second half你還是得看後半部分才知道意思。