doldrums
doldrums — 名詞
1. a situation in which a business, industry, or activity is not growing, succeedin
停滯；蕭條
缺乏進展或成功的狀態
a situation in which a business, industry, or activity is not growing, succeeding, or making any progress
The local housing market has been in the doldrums for nearly two years now.
當地房市陷入停滯已經將近兩年了。
be in the doldrums for [time period]
With few tourists visiting, the island economy fell into the doldrums last summer.
由於遊客稀少，去年夏天該島的經濟陷入了蕭條。
Astrid's furniture store survived the doldrums by offering online delivery services.
Astrid 的家俱店靠著提供線上配送服務，才挺過了景氣蕭條期。
The publishing industry emerged from the doldrums when e-book sales began to climb.
電子書銷售開始攀升後，出版業終於走出了停滯。
After the factory closed, the whole town fell into the doldrums for a decade.
工廠關閉後，整個小鎮陷入了長達十年的蕭條。
- stagnation
focuses on lack of growth or movement
- slump
implies a sharp drop in activity, more dramatic than doldrums
- recession
formal economic term for a prolonged downturn
文法句型
be in the doldrums
the doldrums of [something]
用法筆記
Always used with 'the' — this sense typically appears in the fixed phrase 'in the doldrums' or 'the doldrums of [something]'.
常見錯誤
2. a condition of feeling unhappy, uninterested, and without the energy or desire t
消沉；低落
感到難過、無聊且沒有精力
a condition of feeling unhappy, uninterested, and without the energy or desire to take part in everyday activities
After her best friend moved away, Rachel fell into the doldrums for weeks.
Rachel 最好的朋友搬走後，她連續好幾週都情緒低落。
fall into the doldrums
A short walk on the beach lifted Gabriel right out of the doldrums.
到海灘散個步就讓 Gabriel 完全擺脫了消沉的心情。
lift [someone] out of the doldrums
The long winter months always bring on the doldrums for Chidi and his family.
漫長的冬季總是讓 Chidi 和家人感到意志消沉。
Iris found that painting helped her shake off the doldrums.
Iris 發現畫畫有助於她擺脫低迷的情緒。
Pedro could not explain why the doldrums hit him every Sunday evening.
Pedro 也說不上來為什麼每週日晚上他就會意志消沉。
- depression
stronger and more clinical; doldrums is milder and temporary
- blues
informal, similar in tone to doldrums
- lethargy
focuses on physical tiredness and lack of energy
- cheerfulness
a state of being happy and positive
- enthusiasm
strong excitement and interest in things
文法句型
in the doldrums
lift someone out of the doldrums
suffer from the doldrums
用法筆記
This emotional sense is more personal and temporary than the business/inactivity sense. It often appears with verbs like 'lift', 'shake off', or 'fall into'.
常見錯誤
3. a part of the ocean near the equator where the wind often drops completely, leav
無風帶
赤道附近船隻無法航行的無風海域
a part of the ocean near the equator where the wind often drops completely, leaving sailing boats unable to move forward for long periods
The crew spent a week trapped in the doldrums, the sails hanging still.
船員們被困在無風帶長達一週，船帆一動也不動。
trapped in the doldrums
Amani's grandfather told her stories of being becalmed in the doldrums for weeks.
Amani 的祖父跟她說過幾個在無風帶被困好幾週的故事。
Crossing the doldrums near the equator tested every captain's patience.
在赤道附近穿越無風帶，考驗著每一位船長的耐心。
Modern motor ships can cross the doldrums with ease, but sailing vessels feared them.
現代動力船可以輕鬆穿越無風帶，但帆船卻對它十分畏懼。
- horse latitudes
another calm belt at around 30° north and south, distinct from the equatorial doldrums
- trade winds
steady, predictable winds that blow toward the equator, opposite of the calm doldrums zone
文法句型
the doldrums
in the doldrums
the doldrums of [ocean region]
用法筆記
This geographic sense refers to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a belt of low pressure around the equator. Historically a hazard for sailing ships.