instrument

Compared meaning: a tool or device used to do a job (noun).

比较义项：用于完成某项工作的工具/器具（名词）。

• tool

  Tool is the everyday, general word for a simple device, often hand-held, used for practical physical work like hammering, cutting or repairing.

  tool是日常通用词，指用于体力劳动（如锤打、切割、维修）的简单器具，通常可用手操作。

  You need the right tool to fix a leaky faucet.

  你需要合适的工具来修理漏水的水龙头。

• instrument 本词

  Instrument sounds more formal or technical, suggesting a device that requires skill or precision, often used in professional, scientific or medical settings.

  instrument语气更正式、更专业，暗示需要技巧或精密操作的器具，常用于专业、科学或医疗语境。

  The doctor used a delicate instrument to examine her eyes.

  医生用一个精密的器械检查她的眼睛。

Both mean a device used to do a job, but the tone differs. Tool is the everyday word for a simple, often hand-held device used for practical work like hammering or cutting. Instrument sounds more formal, suggesting a device needing skill, used in professional settings.

这两个词在“工具、器具”这一义项上意思很接近，但语体和使用场合不同：tool更口语化、更具体，instrument更正式、更强调精密或专业。这里不比较instrument的其他义项，如“乐器”或“测量仪器”。