balk
balk — 動詞
- balkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- balkshe / she / it
- balkedpast simple
- balking-ing form
1. to show clearly through your actions or words that you will not accept a demand,
猶豫；抗拒
因困難或風險而不願做
to show clearly through your actions or words that you will not accept a demand, situation, or activity, especially when it seems unreasonable or risky.
The committee balked at the proposal when it saw the total cost.
委員會在看到總費用後對該提案猶豫不決。
balk at + noun phrase
Hamza balked when the landlord demanded six months of rent in advance.
Hamza 在房東要求預付六個月租金時打了退堂鼓。
Many parents balked at sending their children to summer camp during the outbreak.
許多家長抗拒在疫情期間送孩子去參加夏令營。
The city council balked at approving any new building projects near the flood zone.
市議會抗拒批准任何在洪氾區附近的新建工程。
Taxpayers balked when they learned how much the stadium renovation would cost.
納稅人在得知體育場翻修要花多少錢時表示抗拒。
- hesitate
softer and less defiant; simply pauses rather than refuses outright
- draw the line
idiomatic; implies setting a firm moral or practical boundary
- resist
more active; suggests pushing back rather than just refusing to proceed
文法句型
balk at + noun phrase
balk at + gerund
用法筆記
Never used with a direct object. The pattern 'balk at + gerund' is particularly common in formal or written English.
常見錯誤
2. on the baseball field, to begin the motion of pitching toward the batter but cut
違規投球
棒球投手投球動作中途停止的違規
on the baseball field, to begin the motion of pitching toward the batter but cut it short before releasing the ball, which breaks the rules and allows runners on base to move up one base.
The pitcher balked in the second inning, allowing the runner on third to score.
那位投手在第二局投手犯規，讓三壘跑者回來得分。
balk + time phrase (in the... inning)
Renata's coach told her never to balk when there are runners on base.
Renata 的教練告訴她，壘上有人時絕對不能投手犯規。
The rookie balked twice during the game, which frustrated the entire team.
那位新秀在比賽中兩次投手犯規，讓全隊都很沮喪。
If a pitcher balks, the umpire signals the violation and the runners advance.
如果投手犯了規，裁判會示意違規，跑者可以進壘。
文法句型
balk (intransitive)
balk + when / if clause
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in baseball contexts. The same action as a noun is called 'a balk' (see noun sense 2). Distinguish from verb sense 1: a baseball pitcher performing a balk is not showing reluctance — the motion is accidental or deceptive.
常見錯誤
3. to prevent someone from achieving something, or to stop a plan or process from m
阻礙；妨礙
阻止某人或某事順利進展
to prevent someone from achieving something, or to stop a plan or process from moving forward.
Lack of funding balked the research team's efforts to develop a vaccine.
資金不足阻礙了研究團隊開發疫苗的努力。
passive clue: balked by [obstacle]
The new environmental rules balked any attempt to build a factory near the river.
新的環保法規阻礙了在河邊興建工廠的任何嘗試。
Adisa's injury balked his chances of competing in the national championship.
Adisa 的傷勢妨礙了他參加全國錦標賽的機會。
Heavy snow balked the rescue team's plan to reach the stranded hikers.
大雪阻礙了救援隊到達受困登山者的計劃。
- aid
to help or support someone in achieving something
- facilitate
to make a process easier or smoother
文法句型
balk + noun phrase
be balked by + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is formal and less common in everyday speech. A more frequent alternative is 'block', 'hinder', or 'obstruct'. Frequently used in passive constructions.
常見錯誤
balk — 名詞
- balksingular
- balksplural
1. a thick, roughly-cut length of wood used as a supporting beam in buildings, espe
粗樑
建築中支撐屋頂的厚重木料
a thick, roughly-cut length of wood used as a supporting beam in buildings, especially under a roof or floor.
The old barn had thick wooden balks supporting the roof for more than a century.
那座舊穀倉有厚實的木頭粗樑，支撐屋頂超過一世紀。
Workers carried a heavy balk across the muddy construction site.
工人們扛著一根沉重的粗樑穿過泥濘的工地。
prepositional phrase: a balk across [place]
The carpenter measured each balk carefully before cutting it into floor beams.
木匠仔細測量每根粗樑，然後才切割成地板樑。
Dust and cobwebs hung from the balks high above the main hall.
灰塵和蜘蛛網掛在大廳上方高高的粗樑上。
用法筆記
This is the oldest recorded sense of 'balk' (from Old English). In modern building, 'beam' or 'joist' is far more common. The word survives mainly in historical or rural descriptions.
2. an illegal pitching action in baseball where the pitcher starts but does not com
投手犯規
棒球投手違規的投球動作
an illegal pitching action in baseball where the pitcher starts but does not complete the throwing motion, allowing each runner on base to move forward one base.
The umpire called a balk in the ninth inning with two runners on base.
裁判在第九局、壘上有兩名跑者時判定投手犯規。
called for a balk
Diego argued with the umpire about the balk call, but the decision stood.
Diego 就投手犯規的判決與裁判爭論，但判決維持不變。
With runners on first and second, a balk could let them both advance into scoring spots.
在一、二壘有人的情況下，一次投手犯規可能讓他們雙雙進佔得分位置。
The team lost the game because of a balk that brought the winning run home.
該隊因為一次投手犯規讓致勝分回來而輸了比賽。
用法筆記
Countable — one balk, two balks. In baseball statistics, a balk is recorded against the pitcher. The umpire signals a balk by pointing at the pitcher and calling out.
常見錯誤
3. something that blocks progress or makes it hard for someone to achieve what they
障礙；阻礙
阻礙進展的事物
something that blocks progress or makes it hard for someone to achieve what they want.
The lack of experienced staff proved to be a serious balk to the company's growth.
缺乏經驗豐富的員工被證明是公司成長的一大障礙。
a balk to + noun phrase
Political disagreements became a balk that stalled the peace negotiations for months.
政治分歧成了阻礙和平談判好幾個月的障礙。
For many families, the high tuition cost is a major balk to higher education.
對許多家庭來說，高昂的學費是高等教育的一大障礙。
The court saw the outdated regulation as an unnecessary balk to justice.
法院認為這項過時的法規是阻礙正義的不必要障礙。
- obstacle
the everyday word for something that blocks progress; neutral register
- hindrance
slightly less strong than obstacle; suggests delay rather than full blockage
- impediment
formal, like balk; common in legal or academic contexts
- aid
something that helps progress rather than blocking it
- assistance
help or support that removes obstacles
文法句型
a balk to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. Far more common alternatives include 'obstacle', 'barrier', or 'hindrance'. The word survives mostly in formal or literary writing.