breathe
/briːð/ (bre, ipa) · /briːð/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbrēt͟h/ (ame, mw)
breathe — 動詞
1. to pull air into the body and push it back out through the lungs, or to take in
呼吸；換氣
吸入並呼出空氣或煙氣
to pull air into the body and push it back out through the lungs, or to take in and release smoke, dust, or a smell in the same way.
After the long climb, Greta stopped by the gate and breathed deeply.
走完那段長爬坡後，Greta 在大門旁停下來深呼吸。
breathe + adverb for manner
The baby could not breathe through his nose because of the cold.
那個嬰兒因為感冒，沒辦法用鼻子呼吸。
breathe through + body part
Workers wore masks so they would not breathe in the white dust.
工人戴著口罩，免得吸入白色粉塵。
Please breathe slowly while the nurse checks your blood pressure.
護理師量你血壓時，請慢慢呼吸。
Underwater, Ravi breathed air from the tank and checked his watch.
在水下時，Ravi 靠氧氣瓶呼吸，還低頭看了手錶。
- suffocate
to be unable to get enough air
文法句型
breathe
breathe + noun (air, smoke, dust)
breathe through + body part
用法筆記
This is the everyday physical sense. It is the only core sense here that freely takes objects like 'air', 'smoke', or 'dust', and it also appears with body-part phrases such as 'through your nose'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about speaking quietly.
常見錯誤
2. to say a word or short sentence in an extremely soft voice, so that only someone
低聲說
用很輕的聲音說出話
to say a word or short sentence in an extremely soft voice, so that only someone very near can hear it.
Noa breathed a soft thank-you before the lights went out.
燈熄掉前，Noa 輕聲說了句謝謝。
breathe + short spoken noun phrase
From the hospital bed, Bao breathed his son's name once.
Bao 躺在病床上，低聲喚了一次兒子的名字。
In the last scene, Priya breathed the final words to her stage partner.
在最後一幕裡，Priya 對著同台演員輕聲說出最後幾個字。
With her lips near my ear, Esme breathed, 'Don't open the red box.'
Esme 把嘴靠近我耳邊，低聲說：「別打開那個紅盒子。」
At the back of the church, a child breathed 'sorry' to her mother.
在教堂後方，一個孩子低聲對媽媽說了句「對不起」。
- shout
to speak very loudly
文法句型
breathe + short words
breathe + direct speech
breathe + noun
用法筆記
Usually used for very short speech such as a name, warning, or thanks. The listener is normally close by, and the sentence often includes a quote or another brief spoken object.
3. to open a bottle of wine and leave it standing for a time so air can improve how
醒酒
開瓶後先讓葡萄酒接觸空氣
to open a bottle of wine and leave it standing for a time so air can improve how it smells and tastes.
The waiter said the red wine should breathe for twenty minutes.
服務生說這瓶紅酒應該先醒二十分鐘。
wine + should breathe
Before dinner, Hana uncorked the bottle and let it breathe on the table.
晚餐前，Hana 拔開瓶塞，讓酒在桌上先醒一會兒。
let + wine + breathe
This old Bordeaux needs to breathe before we pour the first glass.
這瓶老年份波爾多得先醒一下，我們才能倒第一杯。
The host let the wine breathe while the roast finished in the oven.
烤肉還在烤箱裡時，主人先讓那瓶酒醒著。
文法句型
wine + breathe
let + wine + breathe
breathe + wine
用法筆記
Used almost only with wine. The most common pattern is 'let the wine breathe' or 'the wine needs to breathe'; direct transitive use is possible but less common.
4. if cloth, leather, or another material breathes, it lets air or water vapor pass
透氣
讓空氣或水氣能穿過材料
if cloth, leather, or another material breathes, it lets air or water vapor pass through instead of trapping it inside.
These running shoes breathe well, so my feet stay dry.
這雙跑鞋很透氣，所以我的腳能保持乾爽。
material + breathe well
Cotton shirts breathe better than plastic raincoats in hot weather.
在熱天裡，棉襯衫比塑膠雨衣更透氣。
comparison with clothing materials
The tent fabric breathes, but rain still cannot get inside.
這種帳篷布料會透氣，但雨還是進不來。
The leather seat did not breathe, so Zane felt sweaty after the drive.
那張皮椅不透氣，所以 Zane 開完車後覺得很悶熱。
- trap
to keep air or moisture from escaping
文法句型
material + breathe
breathe well
not breathe
用法筆記
Subject is usually a material, fabric, shoe, or seat surface rather than a person. In product language, this sense is close to the adjective 'breathable'.
常見錯誤
5. to be living, or to show life by continuing to draw air in and out.
活著
仍然有生命，還沒有死
to be living, or to show life by continuing to draw air in and out.
As long as I breathe, no one will take this farm from us.
只要我還活著，誰都別想把這座農場從我們手上奪走。
as long as + subject + breathe
The doctor leaned close to check whether the bird still breathed.
醫生靠近查看那隻鳥是不是還活著。
still breathed = remained alive
Everyone was relieved to see the child breathing when the lights came back.
燈重新亮起時，大家看到那個孩子還活著，都鬆了一口氣。
After the crash, the paramedic saw that the driver was still breathing.
車禍後，救護員看見司機還活著，才知道他撐了過來。
- die
to stop living
文法句型
still breathe
be breathing
as long as + subject + breathe
用法筆記
Often appears in serious or literary contexts, or when someone checks whether a person or animal is still alive. Distinguish from sense 1: here the point is life itself, not the physical action of taking air.
6. to stop for a short time and rest so you can continue your work or journey with
歇口氣
暫停一下恢復體力再繼續
to stop for a short time and rest so you can continue your work or journey with more strength.
Under a pine tree, the cyclists breathed before climbing the last hill.
自行車騎士在松樹下歇口氣，才去爬最後那段坡。
breathe + place before continuing
On the warehouse steps, the night crew breathed before hauling the next crate.
夜班工人在倉庫台階上歇口氣，才去搬下一箱貨。
breathe before + next task
By the gate, the porters breathed a moment before lifting the piano again.
在大門旁，搬運工歇了一下口氣，又把鋼琴抬了起來。
After the rescue drill, the cadets breathed briefly, then marched across the yard.
救援演練後，學員們先歇口氣，接著又穿過院子行進。
- rest
normal everyday choice
- pause
more neutral and not always about tiredness
- take a breather
informal modern expression for this idea
- press on
to continue without stopping
文法句型
breathe + place
breathe + for + time
用法筆記
This sense is rare in modern English. Today people more often say 'rest', 'pause', or 'take a breather'.