damn
/dæm/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈæm] /dæm/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈæm] /ˈdam/ (ame, mw)
damn — 感嘆詞
1. a strong expression of anger, annoyance, or disappointment, often said when some
該死；可惡
表達憤怒或失望的感嘆詞
a strong expression of anger, annoyance, or disappointment, often said when something goes wrong or is frustrating.
Damn! Ilan just locked his keys inside the car again.
該死！Ilan 又把車鑰匙鎖在車裡了。
standalone exclamation expressing frustration
Elena spilled coffee all over her notes and muttered 'Damn!' under her breath.
Elena 把咖啡灑滿了筆記，低聲罵了一句「該死！」。
When the bus drove past without stopping, Indra shouted 'Damn!' and started running.
公車沒停就開走了，Indra 大罵一聲「該死！」然後開始追。
The website crashed mid-payment and Ayana just sat there whispering 'damn, damn, damn'.
網站結帳到一半當掉了，Ayana 只能坐著小聲唸著「該死、該死、該死」。
文法句型
damn! — used alone as a reaction
用法筆記
Considered a mild swear word. Less offensive than stronger profanity, but still inappropriate in formal settings or around children. Avoid in professional writing.
常見錯誤
2. used before an adjective or adverb to add strong feeling, often surprise or admi
超；真他媽的
放在形容詞或副詞前加強語氣
used before an adjective or adverb to add strong feeling, often surprise or admiration, to what you are saying.
That was a damn good meal — Sumin's cooking keeps getting better.
那頓飯超好吃——Sumin 的廚藝越來越好了。
damn + adjective (good) for strong emphasis
Élise ran the race damn fast and finished almost a minute ahead of everyone else.
Élise 跑得超快，領先其他人將近一分鐘抵達終點。
damn + adverb (fast) to mean 'extremely'
Theo's team played damn well in the second half and turned the game around.
Theo 的隊伍下半場打超好，逆轉了比賽。
Andrew knew damn well that the deadline was Friday, but he waited anyway.
Andrew 明明很清楚截止日是星期五，但他還是等著。
文法句型
damn + adjective/adverb
用法筆記
Not followed by a noun — when used with nouns, use the adjective form (e.g. 'a damn good movie' is fine because 'good' is the adjective; 'a damn movie' is not). The phrase 'damn well' is a fixed collocation indicating strong certainty or obviousness.
常見錯誤
damn — 副詞
1. used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when you want to express a strong feeling, es
超；非常
用於加強形容詞或副詞的語氣
used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when you want to express a strong feeling, especially annoyance or admiration.
Liam is damn good at fixing old motorcycles — he can make any engine run again.
Liam 修理老機車超厲害——什麼引擎他都能修好。
damn + adjective (good) meaning 'extremely'
It gets damn cold in Sapporo during January, so bring a thick coat.
札幌的一月超冷，記得帶件厚外套。
Ryo ran the marathon damn quickly for someone who had never trained on hills.
Ryo 從沒練過山路，卻跑得超快。
Talia tried damn hard to finish the puzzle before dinner, but two pieces were missing.
Talia 超努力想趕在晚餐前拼完拼圖，但少了兩片。
The exam was damn difficult, and most students needed the full three hours.
考試超難，大多數學生都需要整整三小時。
文法句型
damn + adjective/adverb
用法筆記
Stronger than 'very' but weaker than the most offensive swear-word intensifiers. Commonly used in informal spoken English across all age groups. In writing, 'damn' as an adverb is considered casual; use 'very' or 'extremely' in formal prose.
常見錯誤
2. used in the phrase 'damn all' to mean 'nothing at all', or in phrases like 'not
半點；屁
表示完全沒有或不關心
used in the phrase 'damn all' to mean 'nothing at all', or in phrases like 'not give a damn' to mean 'not care at all.'
What did the landlord do about the leak? Damn all — he just said he would call someone.
房東對漏水問題做了什麼？什麼也沒做——他只說會找人來看看。
damn all meaning 'nothing at all'
Obi told me he knows damn all about car engines, so I took it to a proper mechanic.
Obi 跟我說他對汽車引擎一竅不通，所以我把它送去正規修車廠。
The local council has done damn all to fix the potholes on this road.
地方政府根本沒修這條路上的坑洞。
Christopher said he did not give a damn what the neighbours thought of his new fence.
Christopher 說他根本不在乎鄰居怎麼看他家的新圍籬。
文法句型
damn all (noun)
not care/give a damn
用法筆記
In British English, 'damn all' is a fixed phrase meaning 'nothing.' In American English, the same idea is often expressed as 'not give a damn' (verb sense 2). The phrase is informal and can sound rude if used in polite conversation.
常見錯誤
damn — 形容詞
- damnpositive
- damnercomparative
- damnestsuperlative
1. used before a noun to show that you are annoyed or frustrated with the person or
該死的
放在名詞前表示惱怒
used before a noun to show that you are annoyed or frustrated with the person or thing you are talking about.
I cannot get this damn printer to work — it keeps jamming every five minutes.
我這台該死的印表機就是不能用——每五分鐘就卡紙一次。
damn + noun (printer) expressing annoyance
Sari accidentally deleted the file and had to redo the whole damn report from scratch.
Sari 不小心刪掉了檔案，只好從頭重做整份該死的報告。
The damn traffic on the highway made Mert over an hour late for his appointment.
該死的塞車讓 Mert 赴約遲了一個多小時。
Kian tripped over the damn dog bed that his wife kept telling him to move.
Kian 被那張該死的狗床絆了一跤——他老婆一直叫他移開那張床。
- blasted
milder than 'damn'; old-fashioned but still in use
- confounded
dated, humorous; much milder
- blessed
ironic usage; sounds old-fashioned and is very mild
文法句型
damn + noun (thing you are annoyed at)
用法筆記
Always used before a noun (attributive position), not after a linking verb. Unlike many adjectives, 'damn' cannot follow 'be' — you would not say 'the printer is damn.' This sense is strongly tied to the speaker's emotional state, not the object's intrinsic qualities.
常見錯誤
2. used before a noun to add strong emphasis, often expressing admiration, surprise
真；很
放在名詞前表示讚賞或強調
used before a noun to add strong emphasis, often expressing admiration, surprise, or determination rather than annoyance.
That was a damn fine performance — the whole audience gave a standing ovation.
那真是場精彩的演出——全場觀眾起立鼓掌。
damn + fine + noun for admiring emphasis
Devika built a damn good business from nothing in just three years.
Devika 白手起家，只花了三年就做出一個他媽的超成功事業。
It takes a damn brave person to quit a safe job and start a new career at forty.
四十歲放棄穩定的工作、開啟新事業，真他媽需要很大的勇氣。
Erik made a damn smart move by investing in renewable energy stocks early.
Erik 很早投資再生能源股票，真是明智之舉。
文法句型
damn + noun (emphasised)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (annoyance), this sense conveys positive or neutral emphasis. The tone depends entirely on the adjective that follows 'damn' — 'damn fine' is admiring, while 'damn stupid' is critical. Common in both British and American informal speech.
常見錯誤
3. used directly before a noun that names a person to express anger or hostility to
他媽的
直接罵人時使用
used directly before a noun that names a person to express anger or hostility toward that person.
Get out of my way, you damn fool — you nearly caused a crash!
滾開，你這個該死的笨蛋——你差點造成車禍！
you + damn + noun in direct address
Yasmin called the driver a damn idiot after he blocked the junction for ten minutes.
Yasmin 罵那個司機是該死的白痴，因為他堵住路口十分鐘。
Hari shouted something about a damn liar and slammed the phone down.
Hari 大喊了一聲什麼「該死的騙子」，然後用力掛斷電話。
The old man waved his stick and yelled, 'You damn kids, keep off my lawn!'
老人揮著手杖大喊：「你們這些該死的小鬼，別踩我的草坪！」
文法句型
you damn + noun (direct address)
用法筆記
This use is confrontational and can easily provoke an argument. The pattern 'you damn + noun' is a direct insult. Less confrontational versions use 'a damn + noun' in third-person description ('he is a damn fool').
常見錯誤
damn — 動詞
- damnpresent simple I / you / we / they
- damns3rd person singular
- damning-ing form
- damnedpast simple
1. to judge something or someone as very bad or worthless, often through public cri
譴責；批判
公開指責某人或某事物很差
to judge something or someone as very bad or worthless, often through public criticism.
The critics damned the film as boring and poorly acted, and it was pulled from cinemas after two weeks.
影評人嚴厲批評這部電影沉悶且演技差，上映兩週就下片了。
damn + noun + as + adjective (public criticism structure)
The report damned the company's safety record, pointing to dozens of violations.
那份報告嚴厲譴責該公司的安全紀錄，指出數十項違規。
The new housing project was damned by local residents for destroying the park.
新住宅計畫因破壞公園而遭到當地居民嚴厲批評。
Lotte's proposal was damned with faint praise — everyone said it was 'interesting' but nobody voted for it.
Lotte 的提案得到敷衍的讚美——大家都說「很有意思」，但沒有人投票支持。
- praise
to express warm approval or admiration
文法句型
damn + noun (person/thing criticized)
be damned by + noun
用法筆記
This sense carries a formal or journalistic tone and is often found in written reviews, official reports, and legal contexts. It is distinct from the everyday use of 'damn' as a swear word. The phrase 'damn with faint praise' is a fixed literary expression meaning to criticise indirectly by giving weak praise.
常見錯誤
2. used in the fixed phrase 'not give a damn' to express a complete lack of interes
不在乎；不鳥
完全不在意某事
used in the fixed phrase 'not give a damn' to express a complete lack of interest, concern, or care about something.
Liam does not give a damn what people think of his old beaten-up truck.
Liam 根本不在乎別人怎麼看他那台破舊的卡車。
not give a damn + what/who clause
The committee can argue all night, but the residents do not give a damn — they just want the park fixed.
委員會可以整晚爭論，但居民根本不在乎——他們只想修好公園。
Sophia told her boss she did not give a damn about the office gossip and walked out.
Sophia 告訴老闆她不在乎辦公室的八卦，然後走了出去。
Ilan could see that the hotel staff did not give a damn whether guests were comfortable or not.
Ilan 看得出飯店員工根本不在乎客人住得舒不舒服。
- not care
standard, non-offensive form; weaker in emphasis but same meaning
- could not care less
emphatic but non-swearing; slightly more formal
- not give a hoot
mild, slightly old-fashioned; much less offensive
- care about
the opposite; to be interested or concerned about something
文法句型
not give a damn (about + noun)
not care a damn
用法筆記
Almost always used in the negative form (not give a damn). The affirmative 'give a damn' is possible but much rarer, usually in questions ('who gives a damn?') or conditional statements. The phrase is a fixed idiom — you cannot replace 'damn' with a synonym and keep the same meaning.
常見錯誤
3. to say angry or offensive words against someone or something, using the word 'da
咒罵；罵
生氣地用髒話罵人
to say angry or offensive words against someone or something, using the word 'damn' or other swear words.
Yasmin damned the taxi driver under her breath when he took the long way to the airport.
Yasmin 低聲咒罵計程車司機繞遠路去機場。
damn + person (muttered curse)
The old sailor damned the storm and every wave that hit his boat.
老水手咒罵著暴風雨，以及每一個打上船頭的浪頭。
When the computer crashed again, Ryo damned the whole system and kicked his chair.
電腦又當機了，Ryo 咒罵整個系統，然後踢了一腳椅子。
Elena stubbed her toe on the doorstep and damned the doorframe loudly enough for the neighbours to hear.
Elena 在門口踢到腳趾，大聲咒罵門框，連鄰居都聽到了。
文法句型
damn + person/thing (curse at)
damn it/you
用法筆記
This sense covers using 'damn' as a mild curse directed at someone or something. The fixed phrase 'Damn it!' and 'Damn you!' are the most common forms. Stronger than merely saying one is annoyed, but milder than using major profanity. Ranges from a quiet mutter to an angry shout depending on context.
常見錯誤
4. in some religious beliefs, to send someone to hell to suffer forever as punishme
定罪；永罰
（宗教）將罪人送入地獄永受懲罰
in some religious beliefs, to send someone to hell to suffer forever as punishment for their sins.
In the old sermon, the preacher warned that God would damn sinners who did not repent.
古老的講道中，牧師警告說上帝會將不悔改的罪人打入地獄。
God + damn + person to hell (religious context)
The catechism taught that those who died without baptism would be damned to eternal fire.
教理問答教導說，未受洗而死的人將被打入永火之中。
passive: be damned (by God)
Felipe grew up hearing that liars and thieves would be damned for their sins.
Felipe 從小就聽說說謊者和小偷會因自己的罪而被打入地獄。
The novel begins with a soul wandering between heaven and hell, not yet sure if it is damned.
這部小說開頭描述一個靈魂在天地之間遊蕩，不確定自己是否已被定罪受罰。
文法句型
damn + person to hell
be damned (by God)
用法筆記
This is the original religious meaning of 'damn' and is the source of all other senses. In modern everyday English it is far less common than the swear-word uses. It appears mainly in religious texts, historical discussions, and literary works. The past participle 'damned' is also used as an adjective (the damned souls).
常見錯誤
damn — 名詞
1. the word 'damn' when spoken or written as a swear word expressing annoyance or a
咒罵；髒字
說出口的「 damn 」這個髒字
the word 'damn' when spoken or written as a swear word expressing annoyance or anger.
The movie was so bad that my grandmother actually said a damn — something she never does.
那部電影糟到連我奶奶都罵了一聲「該死」——她從不罵人的。
a damn (the word itself spoken as a curse)
Hari could hear angry damns coming from the garage where his dad was fixing the lawnmower.
Hari 聽到車庫裡傳來好幾聲咒罵——他爸爸正在修理割草機。
The teacher told the class she did not want to hear a single damn from anyone.
老師告訴全班，她不想聽到任何人罵髒話。
Every other word out of the old sergeant's mouth was a damn or something worse.
那位老士官長幾乎每句話裡都夾帶一兩個髒字。
- curse
more general term for any swear word or oath
- swear word
neutral, non-offensive description of profanity
- expletive
formal term for a swear word; used in linguistic or journalistic contexts
文法句型
a damn
not care/give a damn
用法筆記
Used as a countable noun referring to the utterance itself, not the concept. You can count how many 'damns' someone said. The phrase 'not care a damn' (verb sense 2) uses 'damn' as a noun in a fixed expression, but the meaning there is about quantity (i.e., not caring even as much as one swear word's worth).
常見錯誤
2. the smallest possible amount or degree; something of no value or importance at a
一絲；屁用
完全沒有價值或重要性
the smallest possible amount or degree; something of no value or importance at all, used in negative expressions.
His opinion is not worth a damn — he never even read the contract.
他的意見一文不值——他連合約都沒讀過。
not worth a damn — valued at nothing
You can argue all you want, but it does not matter a damn — the game is over.
你要吵多久都行，但比賽已經結束了——說什麼都沒用。
Sumin claims the painting is priceless, but that does not mean a damn at the auction.
Sumin 聲稱那幅畫價值連城，但在拍賣會上根本沒人當一回事。
Eve tried every key on the ring, but not a damn one of them opened the lock.
Eve 試了鑰匙圈上的每一把鑰匙，沒有一把打得開那道鎖。
- world
as in 'means the world to me' — the opposite of zero value
文法句型
not worth a damn
not matter a damn
用法筆記
This sense appears in a small set of fixed negative expressions: 'not worth a damn,' 'not matter a damn,' 'not mean a damn,' 'not give a damn' (which also appears in verb sense 2). It always conveys complete lack of value or significance. Cannot be used in positive statements ('it is worth a damn' sounds unnatural).