dainty
/ˈdeɪnti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdeɪnti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdān-tē/ (ame, mw)
dainty — 形容詞
- daintypositive
- daintiercomparative
- daintiestsuperlative
1. small, pretty, and so finely made or moving so gently that the thing or person s
嬌小精緻的
小巧、精緻、給人易碎之感
small, pretty, and so finely made or moving so gently that the thing or person seems easy to break or hurt
Mizuki placed her dainty silver earrings into a small velvet box.
Mizuki 把她那對嬌小精緻的銀耳環放進一個小天鵝絨盒裡。
dainty + small precious object
The ballerina took dainty steps across the wooden stage during her solo.
那位芭蕾舞者在獨舞時邁著輕巧優雅的小步走過木製舞台。
dainty + steps / movement
Hugo's grandmother served the tea in a set of dainty porcelain cups.
Hugo 的祖母用一組精緻的小瓷杯端上茶。
Isabela admired the dainty white flowers growing along the garden wall.
Isabela 欣賞著沿著花園牆邊生長的嬌小白花。
The newborn kitten had four dainty paws and a soft pink nose.
那隻剛出生的小貓有四隻嬌小的小爪子和一個粉紅色的鼻子。
用法筆記
Often describes objects (cups, jewellery, flowers) or body parts (hands, feet, paws) whose appeal lies in being small and delicate. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is purely about physical form, not behaviour at the table.
常見錯誤
2. of food, having a fine taste or being arranged on the plate in a careful, attrac
精緻可口的
口味細緻、擺盤精美的
of food, having a fine taste or being arranged on the plate in a careful, attractive way
Hassan prepared a dainty plate of cucumber sandwiches for the afternoon tea.
Hassan 為下午茶準備了一盤精緻可口的小黃瓜三明治。
dainty + small prepared food
Each guest received a dainty pastry shaped like a tiny pink rose.
每位賓客都收到一塊形狀像粉紅小玫瑰的精緻糕點。
The chef arranged dainty slices of smoked salmon along the edge of the platter.
主廚把精緻的煙燻鮭魚薄片沿著盤緣擺好。
Lakshmi made dainty rice balls and packed them carefully into the lunchbox.
Lakshmi 做了幾個精緻可口的小飯糰，小心地裝進便當盒裡。
- delectable
stronger emphasis on delicious taste, less on visual presentation
- exquisite
praises the skill of preparation more than the small size
用法筆記
Sounds slightly old-fashioned or formal; common in food-writing, tea-room menus, and Victorian-era fiction. Object is almost always food itself or food-serving (sandwiches, pastries, slices, portions).
3. behaving in a very polite, careful way when eating or choosing food, sometimes t
挑嘴講究的
對食物或吃相過於講究、挑剔
behaving in a very polite, careful way when eating or choosing food, sometimes too much so
Gabriel took dainty bites of the steak, trying not to drop sauce on his shirt.
Gabriel 一小口一小口地吃著牛排，努力不讓醬汁滴到襯衫上。
dainty + bite / way of eating
Christopher is a dainty eater who refuses any dish with strong garlic.
Christopher 吃飯非常挑嘴講究，只要味道大蒜重的菜他一律拒吃。
dainty + eater (person who is fussy)
Hoa nibbled the cake in dainty mouthfuls so her lipstick stayed neat.
Hoa 細嚼慢嚥地一小口一小口吃著蛋糕，免得口紅花掉。
Stephanie was too dainty to eat the chicken wings with her fingers like the rest of the table.
Stephanie 太過挑嘴講究，沒辦法像桌上其他人一樣用手抓雞翅來吃。
- finicky
more common in everyday speech; clearly negative tone
- fussy
everyday word for the same idea; not limited to food
- fastidious
formal; covers more than just eating (cleanliness, work, dress)
用法筆記
Often carries a faintly critical tone — the eater is being a bit precious. Distinguish from sense 1 (about how something LOOKS) by checking whether the word describes a person's eating BEHAVIOUR or social manners.
常見錯誤
dainty — 名詞
1. a small piece of especially good or carefully prepared food, often sweet, eaten
精緻點心
做工細緻、份量小的美味食物
a small piece of especially good or carefully prepared food, often sweet, eaten as a treat
Yara passed around a tray of sweet dainties at the end of the wedding meal.
Yara 在婚宴尾聲端著一盤甜美的精緻點心請大家品嚐。
plural use: dainties (small treats)
Michael brought home a box of chocolate dainties from the famous Paris shop.
Michael 從巴黎那間有名的店帶回了一盒巧克力精緻點心。
The bakery window displayed rows of colourful dainties beside the freshly baked bread.
麵包店櫥窗裡，五顏六色的精緻點心擺在剛烤好的麵包旁邊。
Aunt Élise always saved a few almond dainties for the children's visit.
Élise 阿姨總會留幾塊杏仁精緻點心給來訪的小孩吃。
用法筆記
Almost always plural (`dainties`). Sounds old-fashioned or literary today — most modern speakers say `treats`, `nibbles`, or name the specific food. Found often in older novels and recipe books.
2. something chosen for being especially fine or pleasing, not always food
珍品
因稀有或精美而格外受珍視的物品
something chosen for being especially fine or pleasing, not always food
Liang collected literary dainties — first editions and rare poems — from second-hand shops.
Liang 從二手店收集文學珍品——初版書和稀有詩集。
dainties of an interest / hobby
The museum displayed several painted dainties from the queen's private jewellery box.
博物館展出了幾件來自女王私人珠寶盒裡的彩繪珍品。
Rohan saved the rare jazz recordings as musical dainties for quiet Sunday evenings.
Rohan 把那些稀有的爵士錄音當成週日傍晚才捨得聽的音樂珍品。
The poet's letters are dainties for any scholar studying nineteenth-century romance.
那位詩人的書信，對任何研究十九世紀浪漫主義的學者來說都是珍品。
用法筆記
Used mainly in literary or scholarly writing for prized non-food objects — books, recordings, art pieces. The food sense (noun/1) is more common; this extended sense is rare.
3. the quality of being very careful, polite, or particular, especially about food
講究；挑剔
對飲食或行為過分講究的態度
the quality of being very careful, polite, or particular, especially about food or behaviour
Bilal ate with such dainty that he barely touched his food at the dinner.
Bilal 吃得太過講究，那頓晚餐他幾乎沒怎麼動過食物。
with + dainty (uncountable abstract noun)
The old novel mocks the dainty of upper-class guests who refuse perfectly good soup.
那本舊小說嘲笑上流階層客人那種連好好一碗湯都嫌棄的挑剔。
literary use of the noun (dainty of + group)
Mizuki's dainty about restaurant cleanliness drove her friends a little mad.
Mizuki 對餐廳清潔度的講究，把她的朋友們搞得有點受不了。
Hassan's dainty around small portions made him a poor guest at his grandmother's table.
Hassan 對小份量食物的挑剔，讓他在祖母餐桌上成了個不討喜的客人。
- fastidiousness
the modern formal equivalent; far more common
- fussiness
everyday word; clearly disapproving
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English — most speakers use `fastidiousness`, `fussiness`, or `particularness` instead. Mainly found in older texts; understanding it helps with Victorian or early-twentieth-century literature.