dint
/dɪnt/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪnt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdint/ (ame, mw)
dint — 名詞
- dintsingular
- dintsplural
1. used in the fixed phrase 'by dint of' to say that a result is achieved through a
憑藉
藉由努力或特質達成某事
used in the fixed phrase 'by dint of' to say that a result is achieved through a particular quality or action, especially continuous effort, determination, or hard work.
Mei-Lin got the promotion by dint of working late every evening for two years.
Mei-Lin 憑藉兩年來每晚加班工作，終於獲得升遷。
by dint of + gerund phrase for effort
Javier bought his first house by dint of saving a little money each month for a decade.
Javier 憑藉長達十年每月存下一點錢，終於買下自己的第一間房子。
Amara passed the difficult exam by dint of studying every evening for six months.
Amara 憑藉連續六個月每晚用功讀書，通過了困難的考試。
The small team finished the huge project on time by dint of working weekends and public holidays.
這個小型團隊憑藉在週末和國定假日加班，如期完成了大型專案。
- through
neutral and more common; less formal than 'by dint of'
- by means of
similar register but focuses on method rather than effort
- via
informal; typically describes a route or medium, not personal effort
文法句型
by dint of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Fixed expression: the object of 'of' is always a noun or gerund describing a personal quality or sustained activity, not an external circumstance. Common in written British English; in casual conversation, 'through' or 'by means of' is preferred.
常見錯誤
2. a small hollow or dip in a hard, flat surface such as metal, wood, or plastic, c
凹痕
硬物表面因撞擊形成的凹陷
a small hollow or dip in a hard, flat surface such as metal, wood, or plastic, caused by something pressing against it or hitting it.
Fatima noticed a small dint on the car door where another vehicle had bumped into it.
Fatima 注意到車門上有一處小凹痕，是另一輛車撞到留下的。
collocation: dint on + vehicle surface
When the box fell off the shelf, it left an ugly dint in the wooden floor.
箱子從架子上掉下來時，在木地板上留下了難看的凹痕。
Yuki ran her finger over the dint in the steel table, wondering how it got there.
Yuki 用手指撫摸鋼桌面上那處凹痕，納悶它是怎麼來的。
Dmitri tried to repair the dint in his bicycle frame by hammering it out from inside.
Dmitri 試圖從內部把自行車車架上的凹痕敲平修復。
- dent
far more frequent in modern usage; identical meaning
- indentation
slightly more technical; can refer to any recessed mark
- dimple
used for small, shallow dents on smooth surfaces, or on the face
- hollow
a broader term for any sunken area, not necessarily caused by impact
文法句型
a dint in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Less common than 'dent', which is the preferred spelling in modern English for this meaning. 'Dint' survives mainly in British English and in fixed expressions such as 'by dint of'.
常見錯誤
dint — 動詞
- dintpresent simple I / you / we / they
- dints3rd person singular
- dinting-ing form
- dintedpast simple
1. to press or hit a hard surface such that it develops a small hollow mark or dent
使凹陷
在硬質表面壓出凹痕
to press or hit a hard surface such that it develops a small hollow mark or dent.
A falling branch dinted the roof of Kenji's car during the heavy storm.
在暴風雨中，一棵斷落的樹枝在 Kenji 的車頂上砸出了一個凹痕。
transitive: falling object dints surface
Sofia accidentally dinted her new aluminium saucepan when she dropped it on the stone floor.
Sofia 不小心把新的鋁鍋掉在石頭地板上，砸出了一個凹痕。
The heavy cardboard box dinted the wall of the packing crate when it fell sideways.
那個沉重的紙箱倒下來時，在包裝板條箱的側面撞出了一個凹痕。
Olusola dinted the copper pipe while trying to loosen it with a spanner.
Olusola 在試圖用扳手鬆開銅管時，把它弄出了一個凹痕。
文法句型
dint + object (surface)
用法筆記
Transitive only; the subject is whatever causes the dent (a falling object, a tool, a person), and the object is the hard surface affected. In modern usage, 'dent' is far more common as a verb with the same meaning.
常見錯誤
2. to force something such as a nail, stamp, or tool into a hard surface with a sha
擊入；壓入
用力將某物壓入或敲入表面
to force something such as a nail, stamp, or tool into a hard surface with a sharp blow, leaving a mark or making it penetrate.
The blacksmith dinted a decorative pattern into the copper plate with a small chisel.
鐵匠用一支小鑿子在銅板上擊打出一個裝飾圖案。
pattern: dint + object + into + surface
Hassan dinted the nail deep into the oak beam with a single strong blow of the hammer.
Hassan 用鐵鎚一記重擊，把釘子深深敲進了橡木橫樑。
The factory press dinted the company logo into each leather wallet before packing.
工廠的壓印機在每件皮夾上壓入了公司標誌後才包裝出貨。
A heavy stone fell from the wall and dinted a deep hollow into the soft earth below.
一塊沉重的石頭從牆上掉下來，在鬆軟的泥土上砸出一個深深的凹坑。
文法句型
dint + object + into + surface
用法筆記
The object is what is driven in (nail, stamp, tool), and the preposition 'into' introduces the target surface. This sense emphasises the force of the action more than the resulting mark does.