chasten

IPA/ˈtʃeɪsn/
KK[tʃˈesən]IPA/ˈtʃeɪsn/

chasten — verb

  • chastenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • chastenshe / she / it
  • chastenedpast simple
  • chastening-ing form

1. to give someone a severe lesson after a fault or failure, making them reflect on

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to give someone a severe lesson after a fault or failure, making them reflect on it and behave with more care

例句

Losing his scholarship chastened Luca after months of skipping class.

event + chasten + person — setback teaches a hard lesson

The judge said the short jail term should chasten the men who attacked the driver.

chasten + person — punishment is meant to reform

同義詞
  • discipline

    often stresses correcting behaviour through rules or consequences

  • rebuke

    usually means speaking sharply; it does not always imply later reflection

  • correct

    broader and less literary; can refer to fixing behaviour or an error

反義詞
  • encourage

    gives support or confidence instead of a hard lesson

  • indulge

    allows bad behaviour rather than trying to reform it

文法句型

chasten + [someone] + for + [fault]

[failure/criticism/punishment] + chasten + [person]

be chastened by [experience]

用法筆記

Often used when an experience, criticism, or penalty makes someone rethink bad behaviour. Distinguish from sense 2, which is more about reducing pride or boldness than correcting a fault.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher chastened the student to be late again.
✅The teacher chastened the student for being late again.
💡use for before the fault, not an infinitive.
❌My boss scolded me for ten minutes, so he chastened me.
✅My boss scolded me for ten minutes.
💡chasten suggests the result was reflection or reform, not simply angry speech.

2. to make someone less proud, bold, or overconfident by cutting down their confide

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to make someone less proud, bold, or overconfident by cutting down their confidence or excitement

例句

Public anger chastened the mayor and ended his joking at meetings.

public reaction + chasten + person — pride or tone becomes more restrained

The weak quarter chastened investors who had expected easy profits.

同義詞
  • humble

    clearly focuses on lowering pride or self-importance

  • temper

    more general; it means making something less extreme or forceful

  • restrain

    broader and more neutral; it can refer to limiting actions as well as feelings

反義詞
  • embolden

    makes someone more daring or confident

  • inflate

    raises pride or self-importance instead of reducing it

文法句型

[setback/review/loss] + chasten + [person/group]

be chastened by [criticism/defeat]

[event] + chasten + [ambitious person]

用法筆記

Subject is usually a setback, criticism, or public reaction, and the result is a quieter tone or smaller ambition. Distinguish from sense 1, which stresses learning from wrongdoing or a direct fault.

常見錯誤

❌The loud music chastened the crowd before the concert.
✅The loud music excited the crowd before the concert.
💡chasten reduces boldness or pride; it does not raise energy.
❌The editor chastened the article before printing it.
✅The editor toned the article down before printing it.
💡chasten is mainly used for people, groups, or ambitions, not for rewriting a text.