A zoo-keeper is the person whose job is looking after the animals in a zoo. Not the person who sells the tickets, and usually not the animal doctor either — the keeper is the one who feeds the animals, cleans out their homes, checks that they look well, and notices early when something is wrong. Keepers often work with the same few animals for years, so they come to know each one as an individual.

A zoo-keeper is the person whose job is looking after the animals in a zoo zoo-keeper 是負責照顧動物園裡動物的人. Not the person who sells the tickets不是賣票的人, and usually not the animal doctor either通常也不是獸醫 — the keeper is the one who feeds the animals飼育員是餵動物, cleans out their homes清理牠們住的地方, checks that they look well確認牠們看起來健康, and notices early when something is wrong並且在有異狀時及早發現的那個人. Keepers often work with the same few animals for years飼育員常常好幾年都照顧同一批動物, so they come to know each one as an individual所以他們會認得每一隻動物的個性

It is a countable noun for a person: one zoo-keeper, two zoo-keepers. The spelling moves around: you will see 'zoo-keeper' with a hyphen, 'zookeeper' as one word, and 'zoo keeper' as two. All three are used, and none is wrong; one word is the most common spelling today, especially in American writing.

It is a countable noun for a person這是指人的可數名詞: one zoo-keeper像 one zoo-keeper, two zoo-keepers two zoo-keepers. The spelling moves around拼法會變動: you will see 'zoo-keeper' with a hyphen你會看到加連字號的「zoo-keeper」, 'zookeeper' as one word連在一起寫的「zookeeper」, and 'zoo keeper' as two還有分開寫的「zoo keeper」. All three are used三種都有人用, and none is wrong沒有哪個是錯的; one word is the most common spelling today現在最常見的是連在一起寫, especially in American writing尤其在美式寫作裡

Inside a zoo, staff usually shorten it and just say 'keeper' — 'ask one of the keepers'.

Inside a zoo在動物園裡, staff usually shorten it工作人員通常會簡稱 and just say 'keeper'直接說「keeper」 — 'ask one of the keepers'像「ask one of the keepers」

A note on the word 'keeper'. English uses it for a person who takes care of something over time: a shopkeeper, a goalkeeper, a beekeeper, a housekeeper. It carries a sense of responsibility and of watching over — not just 'the person who holds' but 'the person who is trusted with'. That is exactly the feeling in zoo-keeper.

A note on the word 'keeper'關於「keeper」這個字要說明一下. English uses it英文用它 for a person who takes care of something over time指長期照顧某樣東西的人: a shopkeeper像 shopkeeper, a goalkeeper goalkeeper, a beekeeper beekeeper, a housekeeper housekeeper. It carries a sense of responsibility and of watching over它帶著一種責任感與看顧的意味 — not just 'the person who holds'不只是「拿著東西的人」 but 'the person who is trusted with'而是「被託付看管的人」. That is exactly the feeling in zoo-keeper zoo-keeper 裡的感覺正是如此