ow

/aʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /aʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈau̇ ˈü/ (ame, mw)

ow — exclamation

1. a quick cry someone makes the instant a part of the body is hurt.

1.感嘆詞A1
釋義

a quick cry someone makes the instant a part of the body is hurt.

例句

Ow, I banged my knee on the corner of the table.

Ow, + clause after sudden pain

Nina cried, "Ow!" when the puppy stepped on her bare foot.

quoted interjection after a small injury

同義詞
  • ouch

    a slightly fuller everyday pain cry, often sounding a little stronger

  • oof

    often used for a hit, fall, or pain mixed with surprise

  • ugh

    usually shows annoyance or disgust rather than sharp pain

文法句型

Ow! + short pain reaction

Ow, + body-part comment

用法筆記

Usually said by itself or before a very short follow-up comment such as 'ow, my hand'. It marks the moment of pain, not the longer state after that, so speakers then switch to verbs like 'hurt' or 'ache'.

常見錯誤

❌My ankle is ow after football.
✅My ankle hurts after football.
💡use 'ow' as a spoken reaction, not as an adjective.
❌I owed when the pan touched my arm.
✅I said "ow" when the pan touched my arm.
💡here 'ow' is the cry itself, not the past tense of a verb.

ow — abbreviation