bites

IPA/baɪt/
KK[bˈaɪts]IPA/baɪt/

bites — 動詞

  • bitespresent simple I / you / we / they
  • biteses3rd person singular
  • bitesing-ing form
  • bitesedpast simple

1. to press the teeth into something in order to cut, tear, or pull off a piece

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

咬

用牙齒切入或抓住

to press the teeth into something in order to cut, tear, or pull off a piece

例句

The little boy bit into the cookie and crumbs fell all over his shirt.

小男孩咬了一口餅乾，碎屑撒了滿身。

bite into + noun — common phrasal usage

Kwame bit off a piece of the rope to free the boat from the dock.

Kwame 咬斷了一截繩子，把船從碼頭解開。

同義詞
  • nibble

    to take small, gentle bites; much lighter than 'bite'

  • chew

    to crush food with the back teeth before swallowing; continuous action

  • chomp

    to bite noisily and forcefully; informal

文法句型

bite + noun

bite into + noun

bite through + noun

bite off + noun

用法筆記

Can be transitive (bite something) or intransitive (bite into something, bite off something). 'Bite your lip' is a fixed expression meaning to show worry without speaking.

常見錯誤

❌I bited the apple.
✅I bit the apple.
💡'Bite' is irregular: bite/bɪt/ → bit/bɪt/ → bitten/ˈbɪtən/.

2. (of a fish) to take food attached to a hook into the mouth

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

上鉤

魚咬住鉤上的餌

(of a fish) to take food attached to a hook into the mouth

例句

The fish were not biting at all, so we packed up and went home.

魚兒完全不咬餌，我們只好收拾東西回家。

fish are not biting — fixed expression for unsuccessful fishing

Pedro waited patiently for the trout to bite on his fly lure.

Pedro 耐心等待鱒魚來咬他的假蠅餌。

文法句型

fish + bite

not bite

用法筆記

Almost always intransitive. The subject is a fish. 'The fish are not biting' is also used figuratively to mean that people are not responding to an offer or invitation.

3. (of an insect, spider, snake, or other small creature) to pierce the skin with a

3.動詞及物A2
釋義

叮；咬

蟲蛇等刺穿皮膚造成傷口

(of an insect, spider, snake, or other small creature) to pierce the skin with a stinger, fangs, or mouthparts, causing a wound or pain

例句

A mosquito bit Amara on the arm while she was picking flowers in the garden.

Amara 在花園裡採花時，一隻蚊子咬了她的手臂。

Kenji was bitten by a snake while hiking through the forest.

Kenji 在森林裡健行時被蛇咬傷。

be bitten by — common passive construction

同義詞
  • sting

    used for creatures that inject poison through a stinger (bees, wasps, scorpions)

  • nip

    a quick, light bite that does not break the skin; used for small animals

  • pierce

    to make a hole through; broader in meaning, not specific to creatures

文法句型

bite + person/animal

用法筆記

For insects, the verb 'sting' (stung — stung) is used for bees, wasps, and scorpions. 'Bite' is used for mosquitoes, ants, ticks, spiders, and snakes. The distinction is based on how the creature attacks.

常見錯誤

❌A bee bit me.
✅A bee stung me.
💡Bees use a stinger, so 'sting' is correct; 'bite' is for creatures that use mouthparts.

4. to produce a harmful, unpleasant, or painful result, especially over time

4.動詞不及物B2
釋義

產生衝擊

產生的不良後果

to produce a harmful, unpleasant, or painful result, especially over time

例句

The cold winter wind bit into their faces as they walked home.

冬天寒冷的風如刀割般吹在他們臉上。

wind bites — metaphorical use for cold/pain

The new tax rules will really bite when people file their returns next April.

明年四月報稅時，新的稅務規定就會真正讓人感到壓力了。

同義詞
  • hurt

    to cause pain; broader in meaning, both physical and emotional

  • sting

    to cause a sharp, sudden pain; used for both physical and emotional pain

  • affect

    neutral — to have an influence or impact; does not carry the negative connotation of 'bite'

文法句型

(something) bites

bite + into + noun

用法筆記

Often used in journalism and casual conversation to describe abstract negative forces. 'Start to bite' is a common phrase for when the effects of a decision or situation become noticeable.

5. to show that you are interested in buying something, especially by asking about

5.動詞不及物B1
釋義

有興趣購買

對價格或交易表示願意買

to show that you are interested in buying something, especially by asking about or accepting a price

例句

The dealer offered the car at a discount, but no one bit.

車商打折出售那輛車，但沒有人有購買意願。

no one bit — idiomatic: nobody showed buying interest

We lowered the price of the apartment to see if any buyers would bite.

我們降低了公寓的售價，看看是否有買家願意出手。

同義詞
  • respond

    to react to an offer; neutral and general, not specific to buying

  • accept

    to agree to an offer; more definite than 'bite'

  • take the bait

    to respond as hoped; metaphorical from fishing, like 'bite'

反義詞

文法句型

(buyer) bite

bite at + noun

用法筆記

Metaphorical extension from fishing ('the fish bite the bait'). Used in sales, auctions, and negotiations. 'Bite at' is used with a specific offer; 'bite' alone is more general.

6. to hold or carry something between the teeth without cutting or chewing it

6.動詞及物B1
釋義

咬住；叼住

用牙齒銜住而不切斷

to hold or carry something between the teeth without cutting or chewing it

例句

The dog gently bit the stick and carried it back to its owner.

狗輕輕地咬住樹枝，叼回主人身邊。

Yuki bit the pencil while thinking hard about the maths problem.

Yuki 一邊思考數學題，一邊咬著鉛筆。

同義詞
  • clamp

    to hold firmly using pressure, not necessarily with teeth

  • grip

    to hold something tightly, usually with the hand or teeth

文法句型

bite + noun

bite + into + noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises holding or carrying, not cutting. 'Bite by the scruff' is a fixed expression for how parent animals carry their young.

bites — 名詞