authority

Compared meaning: an official body handling specific matters (noun).

比较义项：处理特定事务的官方机构或部门（名词）。

• bureau

  Bureau names a specific administrative office or department handling one kind of official business or service; it carries no sense of power to approve, control, or enforce anything.

  bureau 指负责某一类具体事务或服务的行政部门／办事处，本身并不带有核准、管控或强制执行的权力含义。

  The national weather bureau releases updated forecasts for the region every morning.

  国家气象局每天早上都会发布该地区的最新天气预报。

• authority 本词

  Authority names an official body (or expert) that holds the power to control, approve, or enforce something within its jurisdiction, stressing power rather than routine administration.

  authority 指拥有管辖权力、可以核准、管控或强制执行某事的官方机构（或专家），强调的是权力，而非日常行政事务。

  Only the local authority can approve this building plan.

  只有当地主管部门才能批准这项建筑规划。

Bureau and authority both mean an official organization. Bureau names a specific office handling routine business, with no power to approve or enforce. Authority names an official body with power to control or approve something. It excludes bureau meaning furniture, or authority meaning an expert.

这两个词都可以表示官方机构，但语气侧重不同：bureau 强调处理某一类具体事务的行政部门或办事处，语气偏事务性；authority 强调拥有管辖权力、可以核准或管控某事的官方机构，语气更强调权力。这里不比较 bureau 的“五斗橱、衣柜”义，也不比较 authority 的“权威人士”或“权力、权限”这类抽象义。