countenance
/ˈkaʊntənəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkaʊntənəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkau̇n-tᵊn-ən(t)s ˈkau̇nt-nən(t)s/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkaʊn.tən.əns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkaʊn.t̬ən.əns/ (ame, ipa)
countenance — 名詞
- countenancesingular
- countenancesplural
1. the way a person's face looks, especially the feeling it shows.
面容；神情
人的臉部樣貌與神色
the way a person's face looks, especially the feeling it shows.
The old judge kept a stern countenance throughout the noisy hearing.
那位老法官在吵鬧的聽證會上始終板著嚴肅的面容。
formal noun for facial expression
Relief softened Andres's countenance when the missing child ran home.
失蹤的孩子跑回家時，Andres 的神情明顯放鬆了下來。
emotion shown clearly on a face
Even after the joke, Folake's countenance remained serious and distant.
即使大家開了玩笑，Folake 的神情仍然嚴肅而疏離。
The nurse's calm countenance reassured patients waiting outside the theater.
那名護理師平靜的面容安撫了在手術室外等候的病人。
A sudden smile changed Piotr's countenance as he read the letter.
Piotr 讀信時突然露出微笑，整個面容都變了。
- face
the basic everyday word, without the formal tone
- expression
focuses more directly on emotion shown in the face
- look
broader and more informal, and can describe a temporary expression
文法句型
a [adjective] countenance
change or soften someone's countenance
用法筆記
Formal and somewhat literary. It is used more for the look or emotion shown on a face than for the face as a physical body part.
2. open approval or moral support for an action, idea, or group.
認可；支持
公開表示贊同或撐腰
open approval or moral support for an action, idea, or group.
The proposal gained official countenance from the city council last week.
這項提案上週得到市議會正式的認可。
official approval in formal contexts
Without public countenance, the campaign quickly lost money and volunteers.
少了大眾的支持，這場運動很快就失去資金與志工。
Her silence gave countenance to the rumor in the office.
她的沉默等於對辦公室裡的謠言表示認可。
The school refused to lend countenance to cruel online jokes.
學校拒絕替惡毒的網路玩笑背書。
- approval
the broad everyday word, less formal than 'countenance'
- backing
often stresses practical or political support
- endorsement
sounds more official and explicit, especially in public statements
- disapproval
shows that someone thinks the action is wrong
- opposition
goes beyond withholding approval and actively resists something
文法句型
give countenance to + noun
lend countenance to + noun
用法筆記
Usually appears in fixed formal phrases such as 'give countenance to' or 'lend countenance to'. It often refers to public, moral, or institutional backing rather than private liking.
countenance — 動詞
- countenancepresent simple I / you / we / they
- countenances3rd person singular
- countenancing-ing form
- countenancedpast simple
1. to show approval of something and allow it to continue.
容許；縱容
表示贊同並讓某事繼續
to show approval of something and allow it to continue.
No manager should countenance bullying between staff members, even as a joke.
任何主管都不該容許員工之間的霸凌，即使只是玩笑也一樣。
countenance + unacceptable behavior
The museum would not countenance selling the stolen painting back.
那間博物館不會縱容把失竊畫作賣回去這種事。
countenance + gerund
Parents sometimes countenance late nights during exam week, but not every weekend.
家長有時會容許考試週晚睡，但不會每個週末都這樣。
The party leadership refused to countenance any deal with the militia.
黨內領導層拒絕縱容任何與民兵達成的交易。
Our coach will not countenance players mocking younger teammates online.
我們教練不會容許球員在網路上嘲弄年紀較小的隊友。
文法句型
countenance + noun
countenance + gerund
用法筆記
Formal and often used in negative statements or with verbs such as 'refuse'. It usually suggests permitting behavior that the speaker sees as wrong or unacceptable.