20個常見英文慣用語及其含義與例句
慣用語是指意思與各個單字字面意思不同的片語。你不需要學幾百個才能開始使用。這20個常見慣用語是用於對話、電影、播客和日常訊息的實用入門組合。
- 程度: A2–B1
- 清單大小: 20個高頻慣用語
- 適合: 理解自然的日常英語
- 學習目標: 了解含義、感受語境、自然地使用一個慣用語
從你最可能聽到的表達開始。如需更廣泛的參考,請閱讀 100個慣用語及其含義 或完整的 英文慣用語指南。
日常情境
| 慣用語 | 含義 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| a piece of cake | 非常容易 | The homework was a piece of cake. |
| break the ice | 讓人們在開始時感覺更自在 | She told a joke to break the ice. |
| call it a day | 停止工作或做某件事 | We have finished enough. Let’s call it a day. |
| give it a shot | 嘗試某事 | I have never cooked Thai food, but I’ll give it a shot. |
| under the weather | 感覺稍微不舒服 | I’m a little under the weather today. |
只有在符合情境時才使用慣用語。A piece of cake 親切且非正式;適合與朋友、同學和熟識的同事使用,但不適合所有正式報告。
如何在語境中識別慣用語
如果你逐字翻譯,慣用語往往聽起來很奇怪。問一個簡單的問題:在這個情境中,字面意思有意義嗎?如果有人說「I have butterflies in my stomach before an interview」,他們說的不是昆蟲。周圍的情境——面試、考試或第一次見面——告訴你那個人感到緊張。
遇到不熟悉的片語時,先留意說話者的反應。他們是高興、惱怒、在鼓勵某人,還是在描述問題?語氣和語境通常比逐字翻譯透露更多資訊。然後在可靠的字典中查找完整的片語,或帶著完整的例句儲存到 Linglify 中。
慣用語及其直接替代表達
了解直接的替代說法有助於你選擇正確的語域。即使在慣用語顯得太隨意的場合,意思也能清晰表達。
| 慣用語 | 直接替代 | 何時使用直接說法 |
|---|---|---|
| give it a shot | try it(試試看) | 正式電子郵件或報告 |
| get the ball rolling | begin the project(開始計畫) | 正式會議紀錄 |
| on the same page | have the same understanding(有相同理解) | 說明或合約 |
| go the extra mile | make extra effort(付出額外努力) | 正式回饋 |
| the last straw | the final problem(最後的問題) | 平靜地解釋投訴 |
這並不是說慣用語是錯的。在友好的對話中,它們可以聽起來自然而溫暖。真正有用的技能是在情況需要時能夠切換到直接的說法。
工作、學習與決策
| 慣用語 | 含義 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| get the ball rolling | 開始一個活動或流程 | Let’s get the ball rolling on the presentation. |
| on the same page | 有相同的理解 | Let’s check that we are on the same page. |
| hit the nail on the head | 完全準確地描述某事 | You hit the nail on the head — that is the real issue. |
| back to square one | 失敗後回到起點 | The file was lost, so we are back to square one. |
| learn the ropes | 學習工作或活動的運作方式 | It takes time to learn the ropes in a new role. |
這些慣用語在非正式的職場對話中很常見,但要注意你的聽眾。在正式電子郵件中,直接的句子可能更安全:「Let’s begin the project」而不是「Let’s get the ball rolling」。
情感與人際關係
| 慣用語 | 含義 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| on cloud nine | 極度快樂 | She was on cloud nine after the good news. |
| butterflies in your stomach | 緊張的興奮感 | I had butterflies in my stomach before the interview. |
| get cold feet | 變得緊張而不想繼續 | He got cold feet before the speech. |
| spill the beans | 洩露秘密 | Who spilled the beans about the surprise? |
| speak your mind | 說出你真正的想法 | You can speak your mind in the discussion. |
有些慣用語帶有玩笑意味,但仍然可以語氣強烈。Spill the beans 適合說驚喜派對;在談論機密工作資訊時可能顯得太隨便。
時間、支持與溝通
| 慣用語 | 含義 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| keep someone in the loop | 讓某人隨時了解情況 | Please keep me in the loop about the schedule. |
| once in a blue moon | 非常少見 | We eat out once in a blue moon. |
| hang in there | 儘管困難仍繼續堅持 | Hang in there — your English is improving. |
| go the extra mile | 付出比預期更多的努力 | Our tutor always goes the extra mile. |
| the last straw | 引發反應的最後一個問題 | The missed deadline was the last straw. |
學習整個片語,包括它的語氣。Hang in there 是溫暖的鼓勵;the last straw 表達挫折感。好的慣用語選擇既能表達你的感受,也能說明發生了什麼。
在真實對話中聽慣用語
閱讀慣用語是好的開始,但簡短的對話能展示人們如何實際回應。
完成困難任務之後
- A:演講難嗎?
- B:一開始是,但多練習幾次後就 a piece of cake 了。
- A:太好了——你真的 went the extra mile。
當計畫改變時
- A:餐廳關門了,公車也遲到了。
- B:真令人沮喪。要不要 call it a day?
- A:還不要。我們再去另一個地方 give it a shot。
注意答覆中並沒有很多慣用語。一個自然的表達通常就夠了。如果每個句子都含有一個,對話可能聽起來像是在背稿。
如何不靠翻譯記住慣用語
把慣用語記成小場景比直接翻譯更容易記住。
- 想像情境。 想像一個困難的任務變得 a piece of cake。
- 保留原始片語。 不要用字面替代詞替換其中的單字。
- 寫一個真實語境。 「I got cold feet before my first online class.」
- 注意語域。 問問這個片語聽起來友好、非正式、幽默還是過於強烈。
更多例子和主題分組,請使用 慣用語例句:200+英文慣用語。幾個理解透徹的慣用語比一長串只能認出的清單更有用。
常見的慣用語錯誤
- 更改固定用詞。 說 on cloud nine,不是 in cloud nine。學習完整的片語。
- 在錯誤的語氣中使用慣用語。 Spill the beans 帶有玩笑意味;可能不適合認真討論機密資訊。
- 從母語翻譯慣用語。 直接翻譯可能可以理解,但在英語中並不自然。
- 強迫把每個新慣用語用在說話中。 先認識它,然後在一次輕鬆、適當的對話或訊息中嘗試使用。
練習詞彙
將這些有用的單字儲存到 Linglify,並用它們造自己的短句。複習慣用語周圍的單字也有助於你記住它所屬的情境。
boom
名詞
繁榮
範例
- The boom of thunder echoed across the valley.
- The technology boom created many new millionaires.
cooperate
動詞
合作
evaluate
動詞
評估, 估價
範例
- Companies evaluate job candidates based on experience, skills, and personality.
- Teachers evaluate student progress through tests, projects, and classroom participation.
graduate
動詞
畢業
範例
- She will graduate from university next year with a degree in engineering.
- Students must complete all requirements before they can graduate from high school.
horizon
名詞
地平線
範例
- The sun disappeared behind the horizon as evening approached.
- Traveling broadens your horizon and exposes you to new cultures.
indispensable
形容詞
不可或缺的
範例
- Clean water is indispensable for human survival and good health.
- Her experience and skills make her indispensable to the research team.
jury
名詞
陪審團
範例
- The jury deliberated for several hours before reaching a verdict.
- The talent show jury consisted of professional musicians and entertainers.
lifelong
形容詞
終身的
範例
- Learning is a lifelong process that never truly ends.
- Their lifelong friendship began during elementary school years.
motivated
形容詞
有動力的
範例
- Motivated employee seeks additional responsibilities and challenges at work.
- Success requires being motivated even when facing difficult obstacles.
normally
副詞
通常, 平常
範例
- Heart normally beats between sixty and hundred times per minute.
- Students normally arrive at school before morning bell rings.
off
形容詞
去除
範例
- Please turn off the lights before leaving the room.
- The dog ran off into the forest chasing wild rabbits.
prejudice
名詞
偏見
範例
- Education helps overcome prejudice and promotes understanding.
- Racial prejudice damages communities and individuals alike.
resolve
動詞
解決
範例
- Mediator helps parties resolve dispute through negotiation.
- Technical team will resolve software problems quickly.
stress
動詞
使緊張
範例
- Heavy workload may stress employees beyond limits.
- Teacher will stress importance of homework completion.
total
形容詞
全部的
範例
- Total cost includes all fees and expenses.
- Total silence fills room during meditation session.
tragedy
名詞
悲劇
範例
- Natural tragedy affects thousands of innocent people.
- Personal tragedy changes person's life perspective completely.
union
名詞
聯盟
範例
- Labor union protects worker rights and interests.
- Marriage union joins two people in partnership.
voyage
名詞
航程
範例
- Space exploration represents humanity's greatest voyage into the unknown.
- The ocean voyage from Europe to America took several weeks in the past.
candidate
名詞
候選人
範例
- Each presidential candidate presented their policy plans to voters.
- The job candidate impressed the interview panel with her experience.
discourage
動詞
使灰心, 洩氣
範例
- Don't let one failure discourage you from pursuing your dreams.
- High prices discourage many people from buying organic food products.
donate
動詞
捐贈
範例
- Many people donate money to charities that help homeless individuals.
- She decided to donate blood to help patients in emergency situations.
firmly
副詞
堅定地
範例
- Hold the rope firmly while climbing down the steep mountain slope.
- The manager firmly believed in treating all employees with respect.
guide
動詞
指導, 引導
範例
- Parents should guide their children to make responsible decisions.
- The experienced hiker will guide the group through the mountain trail safely.
humorous
形容詞
幽默的, 風趣的
範例
- She writes humorous articles about everyday life and family experiences.
- The humorous speech made everyone laugh and lightened the serious mood.
admission
名詞
入學許可
範例
- Her admission to the prestigious medical school was the result of hard work.
- The museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month.
接下來做什麼
常見問題
最容易學的慣用語是哪些?
從你在日常情境中能用到的慣用語開始,例如 a piece of cake、give it a shot 和 under the weather。它們出現頻繁,語境也容易想像。
正式英語中可以使用慣用語嗎?
有些慣用語出現在友好的職業口語中,但正式寫作通常需要直接的語言。如果不確定,選擇清晰的字面說法而不是慣用語。
我每週應該學多少個慣用語?
三到五個是實際的目標。用一個情境和一個個人句子學習每一個,然後複習後再添加更多。
為什麼不應該逐字翻譯慣用語?
字面意思通常無法解釋真正的含義。把慣用語作為一個與情境、語氣和例子相連的完整單位來學習。