calm
/kɑːm/ (bre, ipa) · /kɑːm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkäm ˈkälm ˈkam ˈkȯ(l)m/ (ame, mw)
calm — 形容詞
1. feeling or showing no strong anger, worry, or excitement — describes a person's
平靜的
內心不慌亂、不激動的
feeling or showing no strong anger, worry, or excitement — describes a person's state when things that would usually upset them do not.
Leila stayed calm during the interview even when the questions got difficult.
即使問題變得困難，Leila 在面試中依然保持平靜。
stayed calm + during [stressful situation]
The nurse spoke in a calm voice to the frightened child in the emergency room.
護士用平靜的聲音對急診室裡嚇壞的小孩說話。
calm voice — adjective before noun describing manner
Kofi took a deep breath and told himself to keep calm as he stepped onto the stage for his presentation.
Kofi 深吸一口氣，告訴自己走上舞台做簡報時要保持冷靜。
Ravi took a few deep breaths and felt calm again after the argument.
Ravi 深呼吸了幾次，吵架後他覺得平靜下來了。
用法筆記
Frequently used in the fixed phrases 'keep calm', 'stay calm', and 'remain calm' as imperatives or after advising verbs.
常見錯誤
2. happening without fast movement, loud noise, or signs of busy activity — describ
寧靜的
沒有吵鬧或匆忙的
happening without fast movement, loud noise, or signs of busy activity — describes a place or action that takes place in a slow and steady way.
After the children left for school, the house was calm and quiet all morning.
孩子們上學去之後，整個早上屋子裡一片寧靜。
calm and quiet — paired collocation for stillness
The wedding ceremony was a calm affair, with soft music and no rushing around.
那場婚禮氣氛寧靜，只有輕柔的音樂，沒有人匆匆忙忙。
Yusuf made a calm exit from the meeting, closing the door softly behind him.
Yusuf 靜靜地離開會議室，輕輕把門帶上。
The library had a calm atmosphere that made it easy for everyone to study.
圖書館的寧靜氣氛讓每個人都很容易集中精神讀書。
用法筆記
This sense describes the quality of a situation or environment, not a person's inner feelings. If the subject is a person, this sense refers to the unhurried, noiseless quality of their movement, not their emotional state (see sense 1 for that).
3. describes weather conditions without strong wind, or a body of water whose surfa
無風的
天氣無風或水面平穩的
describes weather conditions without strong wind, or a body of water whose surface is smooth because no wind disturbs it.
The sea was so calm that the boat barely moved for two hours.
海面非常平靜，船幾乎兩個小時都沒有移動。
calm sea — fixed collocation for smooth water
On calm winter days the lake looks like a giant sheet of glass.
在無風的冬日，湖面像一面巨大的玻璃。
calm + days — used with weather periods
The ferry crossed the channel on a calm, sunny morning with almost no wind.
渡輪在一個晴朗無風的早晨橫越了海峽。
The wind dropped and the bay became calm enough for the children to paddle safely.
風勢減弱，海灣變得平靜，孩子們可以安全地在水邊戲水。
用法筆記
Only used to describe weather conditions and bodies of water. Do not use this sense for a person's emotional state. The noun form 'the calm' also refers to a period of smooth weather (see noun/1).
常見錯誤
calm — 動詞
1. to help a person or an animal that is strongly bothered return to a peaceful emo
安撫
讓人或動物平靜下來
to help a person or an animal that is strongly bothered return to a peaceful emotional state — for example, by speaking gently, touching, or giving them space.
The mother picked up her crying baby and calmed him with a soft song.
媽媽抱起哭鬧的嬰兒，用輕柔的歌聲安撫他。
calm + someone + with [method]
The teacher calmed the noisy class by asking everyone to breathe slowly.
老師關了燈，請大家慢慢呼吸，以此安撫全班的情緒。
Priya gave the frightened dog a treat and spoke gently until she had calmed it.
Priya 給了那隻受驚的狗一點零食，溫柔地對牠說話，直到牠平靜下來。
A warm bath often helps to calm an overactive toddler before bedtime.
睡前洗個熱水澡常常有助於安撫過於活躍的小孩。
文法句型
calm + noun phrase (person/animal)
用法筆記
Frequently used with a direct object (someone or something). The phrasal verb 'calm down' (see phrasal verbs) is more common in everyday spoken English for this meaning.
常見錯誤
2. to remove or reduce someone's anxiety about a specific matter, typically by givi
使安心
用資訊消除擔憂
to remove or reduce someone's anxiety about a specific matter, typically by giving them facts or evidence that show there is nothing to fear.
The doctor calmed Wen by explaining that the test results showed nothing serious.
醫生向 Wen 解釋檢驗結果沒有大礙，讓他安心下來。
calm + someone + by [giving information]
Hiro tried to calm his parents by showing them his plan for a new job.
Hiro 向父母展示他的求職計畫，試著讓他們放心。
A short phone call from the airline calmed passengers worried about their delayed flight.
航空公司的一通簡短電話安撫了擔心航班延誤的旅客。
The counsellor calmed the teenager by listening to her problems without judging.
輔導老師藉由傾聽少女的心事而不加批評，讓她安心下來。
- reassure
more specific — emphasises removing doubt rather than reducing emotion
- set someone's mind at rest
idiomatic — stronger emphasis on removing worry
- comfort
warmer — includes emotional support beyond facts
文法句型
calm + someone (by telling/showing them something)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is for strong emotions (anger, panic, excitement), while sense 2 is for specific worries or doubts. This sense is often followed by 'by' + explanation of what relieved the worry.
3. to return to a peaceful emotional state after being upset, angry, or excited — t
平息
情緒或情況回歸平靜
to return to a peaceful emotional state after being upset, angry, or excited — the person or situation changes from agitated to quiet by itself or with help.
After ten minutes of deep breathing, the woman in the waiting room finally calmed.
在候診室深呼吸十分鐘後，那名女子終於平靜下來。
finally calmed — intransitive use with time adverbial
The crowd outside the stadium calmed once the match result was announced.
比賽結果公布後，體育館外的群眾情緒才平息。
crowd + calmed — group of people as subject
Nadia watched the storm from her window and waited for the wind to calm.
Nadia 從窗戶看著暴風雨，等待風勢平息。
The puppy calmed as soon as Aiko picked her up and wrapped her in a towel.
Aiko 一把抱起小狗用毛巾裹住，牠就平靜下來了。
- settle down
phrasal verb — more informal and common in everyday speech
- relax
implies releasing tension rather than reducing high agitation
- subside
more formal — used for emotions or weather conditions
文法句型
calm (no object) — often with 'down'
用法筆記
This intransitive sense is less common in everyday speech than the phrasal verb 'calm down'. 'The wind calmed' (weather returning to stillness) belongs to this sense. For a person, 'calmed' alone sounds slightly formal; 'calmed down' is more natural.
calm — 名詞
1. a stretch of time when there is no trouble, no strong activity, or no bad weathe
平靜期
沒有紛擾或風浪的時段
a stretch of time when there is no trouble, no strong activity, or no bad weather — a quiet period after or between storms, arguments, or busy events.
There was a brief calm after the rain stopped and before the wind returned.
雨停之後、風起之前，有一段短暫的平靜。
a brief calm — period noun phrase with adjective
The neighbours agreed to a week of calm while they waited for the court ruling.
兩位鄰居同意在等待法院判決期間維持一週的平靜。
a calm — countable use for a period of peace
The tourist season created chaos, but autumn brought a welcome calm to the old town.
觀光季帶來混亂，但秋天讓古城恢復了令人舒心的平靜。
After months of fighting, a fragile calm finally settled over the region.
經過數月的戰鬥後，該地區終於出現了一絲脆弱的平靜。
- stillness
focus is on absence of movement, not necessarily peace
- tranquillity
more formal and literary
- lull
temporary pause in activity, often implies it will end soon
用法筆記
Often used with an indefinite article ('a calm') or with 'the' ('the calm'). The phrase 'the calm before the storm' is a common idiom meaning a quiet period before something bad happens (see idioms).
常見錯誤
2. the quality of behaving or speaking in a relaxed, controlled way even in a situa
鎮定
在壓力下保持從容的能力
the quality of behaving or speaking in a relaxed, controlled way even in a situation that is stressful or unexpected — the personal ability to stay unruffled.
The pilot kept her calm throughout the emergency landing, which saved many lives.
那位機長在緊急降落過程中始終保持鎮定，挽救了许多生命。
kept her calm — possessive + calm as uncountable noun
Beatriz showed remarkable calm when her laptop crashed right before the presentation.
在簡報前筆電當機時，Beatriz 展現了非凡的鎮定。
showed remarkable calm — adjective + calm (uncountable)
It took all of Dimitri's calm to answer the rude customer without losing his temper.
Dimitri 用盡所有鎮定，才能回答那名無禮顧客而不發脾氣。
The police officer's calm during the protest helped prevent the situation from turning violent.
那位警察在抗議現場的鎮定有助於防止情況惡化為暴力衝突。
- composure
nearly identical — slightly more formal than 'calm' for this sense
- self-control
emphasises the effort of restraining emotions
- poise
graceful composure, especially in social situations
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense. Typically used after verbs like 'keep', 'show', 'maintain', 'lose' followed by possessive ('her calm', 'his calm'). More formal than the adjective form. 'Calmness' is an alternative noun for this meaning.