constrained
constrained — 形容詞
- constrainedpositive
- more constrainedcomparative
- most constrainedsuperlative
1. in a situation where rules, circumstances, or other people leave you with no rea
被迫
被迫做不情願的事
in a situation where rules, circumstances, or other people leave you with no real choice except to do something you would rather not do.
Rin felt constrained to accept the transfer even though she wanted to stay in Taipei.
Rin 覺得被迫接受調職，即使她很想留在臺北。
feel + constrained + to-infinitive
The doctors were constrained by hospital policy to treat only urgent cases that night.
當天晚上，醫生們被迫依醫院政策只能處理緊急病例。
passive: be constrained by [policy] to + verb
Parents often feel constrained to follow school rules they privately disagree with.
家長們常常覺得被迫遵守自己私下並不認同的校規。
Under the new contract, warehouse staff are constrained to work weekends whenever the manager demands it.
根據新合約，倉庫員工只要主管要求，就必須在週末加班。
Chidi was constrained to withdraw his complaint after his supervisor threatened to block his promotion.
Chidi 被迫撤回申訴，因為他的主管威脅要阻擋他的升遷。
文法句型
be/feel constrained + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive (be constrained) or with feel (feel constrained). The to-infinitive that follows describes the unwanted action.
常見錯誤
2. describing behaviour, a way of speaking, or an atmosphere that feels forced, sti
不自然
僵硬不自然的行為或氣氛
describing behaviour, a way of speaking, or an atmosphere that feels forced, stiff, and not natural, often because of nervousness or formality.
Lucía's constrained smile did not hide the sadness in her eyes.
Lucía 不自然的笑容並未掩蓋她眼中的悲傷。
constrained smile / laugh / manner
The conversation at the dinner table felt constrained and awkward after the argument.
爭吵過後，餐桌上的對話顯得僵硬而不自然。
Sven gave a constrained wave as he slipped out of the room during the speech.
Sven 在演講中悄悄溜出房間時，勉強地揮了一下手。
Diego's writing style became more constrained after his editor told him to follow rigid guidelines.
Diego 的寫作風格在編輯要他遵守嚴格規範後，變得更加拘謹。
The atmosphere in the board room was constrained, with no one willing to speak their mind.
會議室的氣氛很不自然，沒有人願意說出真心話。
用法筆記
Describes visible behaviour or atmosphere rather than internal feelings. Unlike sense 1 (FORCED TO ACT), this sense does not take a to-infinitive — it directly modifies nouns like 'smile', 'tone', 'atmosphere', etc.
常見錯誤
constrained — 動詞
- constrainedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- constraineds3rd person singular
- constraineding-ing form
- constrainededpast simple
1. to put limits, rules, or restrictions on someone or something so that they are f
限制；束縛
以規則限制行為選擇
to put limits, rules, or restrictions on someone or something so that they are forced to act or operate within narrow boundaries — for example, a tight budget that constrains a school to cut its art programmes, or government rules that constrain how a factory operates.
Budget cuts constrained the school to reduce its art and music programmes by half.
預算削減迫使學校將藝術與音樂課程縮減了一半。
Emily feels constrained by the strict dress code at her new office in Seoul.
Emily 覺得首爾新公司的嚴格服裝規定讓她受到束縛。
feel + constrained by [rule / restriction]
The new environmental law constrains factories to lower their carbon emissions by twenty percent.
新的環保法規限制工廠必須將碳排放量降低百分之二十。
Small family businesses are often constrained by regulations that favour large corporations.
小型家族企業常常受到偏袒大公司的法規所限制。
The contract constrains the developer to finish the building before the rainy season starts.
合約限制開發商必须在雨季前完工。
The company's growth is constrained by a lack of skilled workers in the region.
該公司的成長因當地缺乏技術熟練的工人而受到限制。
Faisal's creativity was constrained by the rigid curriculum at the university.
Faisal 的創造力被大學僵化的課程所限制。
文法句型
constrain + noun + to-infinitive
be constrained by + noun
用法筆記
Often passive (be constrained by). The subject constrained is typically an organisation, agent, or person whose freedom of action is limited. The to-infinitive states the action they are forced to take.
常見錯誤
2. to keep someone or something within fixed physical boundaries, preventing free m
約束；局限
限制在固定範圍或條件內
to keep someone or something within fixed physical boundaries, preventing free movement or growth — for example, being constrained to a wheelchair after an injury, or a plant whose roots are constrained by a small pot.
Mayumi was constrained to a wheelchair for three months after breaking her hip.
Mayumi 摔傷髖部後，有三個月的時間只能坐輪椅。
be constrained to [a place / device]
The prisoners were constrained in tiny cells for twenty-three hours a day.
囚犯們每天有二十三小時被關在小牢房裡。
After the accident, Tomas's left arm was constrained in a heavy plaster cast for six weeks.
Tomas 發生事故後，左手臂被打上厚重的石膏長達六週。
The gardener realised the tree's roots were constrained by the narrow concrete planter.
園丁發現那棵樹的樹根被狹窄的水泥花盆所限制。
During the pandemic, international travel was heavily constrained by border closures and quarantine rules.
疫情期間，國際旅行因為邊境關閉和檢疫規定而受到嚴格限制。
文法句型
constrain + noun + to + place
be constrained in + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (LIMIT BY RULES): this sense emphasises physical confinement or limitation of movement/space, not rule-based restrictions. Common with 'to' (+ place or device) and 'by' (+ limiting factor).
常見錯誤
3. to press something tightly together so that it becomes smaller, narrower, or hel
壓縮
施加壓力使體積縮小
to press something tightly together so that it becomes smaller, narrower, or held in a fixed shape — typically describing materials, objects, or body parts under physical pressure.
The machine constrains the metal pipe into a flat strip for recycling.
這臺機器將金屬管壓扁成條狀以便回收。
constrain + [material] + into [new shape]
Eshe's lower spine became constrained by years of sitting in a poor posture at her desk.
Eshe 多年以不良姿勢坐在書桌前工作，導致她的下背部脊椎受到壓迫。
The walls of the canyon constrain the river into a narrow, fast-moving channel.
峽谷的岩壁將河流擠壓成一條狹窄湍急的水道。
When you constrain the spring between two metal plates, it stores elastic energy.
當你把彈簧壓在兩塊金屬板之間時，它會儲存彈性勢能。
The hot glass is constrained inside a steel mould until it takes the correct shape.
熱玻璃被壓縮在鋼製模具內，直到成型為止。
文法句型
constrain + noun + in/inside + container
be constrained between + noun
用法筆記
This sense is most common in engineering, materials science, and technical writing. It describes physical compression or restriction of objects, not people or abstract rules. For general audiences, 'compress' or 'squeeze' are more natural alternatives.
常見錯誤
4. to produce a sound, expression, or reaction in a forced, artificial way — holdin
勉強
勉強做出不自然的反應
to produce a sound, expression, or reaction in a forced, artificial way — holding back genuine emotion and showing something that looks or sounds unnatural.
Layla constrained a laugh so as not to offend her aunt during the serious speech.
在嚴肅的致詞中，Layla 強忍住笑，以免得罪姑姑。
Jude constrained his voice to a flat monotone throughout the tense negotiation.
Jude 在緊張的談判過程中強迫自己用平淡的語調說話。
constrain + [voice / sound / expression]
The actor constrained his natural accent to sound like a native of Brooklyn.
那位演員刻意壓抑自己的口音，讓自己聽起來像個土生土長的布魯克林人。
Asher constrained a huge sigh of relief while his boss was still in the meeting room.
Asher 在老闆還在會議室的時候，強忍住沒有大大鬆一口氣。
As the principal began to speak, Kenji constrained his voice to a quiet murmur so only Mei could hear him.
校長開始說話時，Kenji 將自己的聲音壓低成輕聲低語，只有 Mei 聽得到。
文法句型
constrain + noun (sound/expression)
用法筆記
Only sense where 'constrained' functions as a transitive verb with a direct object (constrain a laugh, constrain one's voice) to describe actively producing a forced reaction. The direct object is always a sound or expression. In contrast, adjective sense 2 (STIFF AND UNNATURAL) modifies nouns descriptively and never takes a direct object.