dully
/ˈdʌlli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʌlli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdəl(l)ē -)i/ (ame, mw)
dully — 副詞
1. in a way that is monotonous, unexciting, and lacking in stimulation — describing
乏味地
單調無趣地
in a way that is monotonous, unexciting, and lacking in stimulation — describing an activity, event, or piece of content that fails to engage any participant
The lecturer spoke dully about the history of tax law, and half the students fell asleep.
講師乏味地講述稅法的歷史，一半的學生都睡著了。
modifies verbs of speaking / presenting
Minh read dully through the fifty-page user manual, pausing only to check that every checkbox was ticked correctly.
Minh 乏味地讀著那本五十頁的使用手冊，停下來只是為了確認每個核取方塊都勾選正確。
The meeting progressed dully, with no new ideas or discussion from anyone in the room.
會議乏味地進行著，房間裡沒有人提出任何新想法或討論。
- tediously
emphasises long, tiresome length rather than lack of excitement
- monotonously
highlights repetitive, unchanging rhythm or tone
- excitingly
opposite in energy and stimulation
- lively
used as adjective; no direct adverb antonym at same frequency
用法筆記
Commonly collocates with verbs of communication or presentation (speak, talk, lecture, read, write).
常見錯誤
2. with a flat, blank emotional quality that suggests the person has no inner react
冷淡地
缺乏興趣或熱情地
with a flat, blank emotional quality that suggests the person has no inner reaction, interest, or investment in what is going on around them
"I don't care," Amara said dully, without looking up from her phone.
「我不在乎，」Amara 冷淡地說，頭也沒抬地繼續看著手機。
modifies speech verbs to show emotional blankness
The receptionist nodded dully as the customer explained the problem for the fifth time.
當顧客第五次解釋問題時，櫃檯人員冷淡地點了點頭。
When the doctor told Fatima the test results were normal, she said "Okay" dully, as if the news meant nothing to her.
當醫生告訴 Fatima 檢查結果正常時，她冷淡地說了聲「好」，好像這個消息對她毫無意義。
- blankly
focuses on lack of facial expression, as if the mind is empty
- flatly
describes a voice or tone without emotion or variation
- impassively
more formal; suggests deliberate emotional control
- eagerly
opposite in enthusiasm and attentiveness
- attentively
opposite in focus and interest
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with verbs of looking, listening, or responding (stare, nod, say, reply, gaze). The sense implies the person is physically present but mentally disengaged.
常見錯誤
3. in a manner that lacks brightness, shine, or vivid colour — seeming dark, cloudy
暗淡地
不明亮、不光澤地
in a manner that lacks brightness, shine, or vivid colour — seeming dark, cloudy, faded, or without lustre
The old lamp glowed dully in the corner of the room, casting long shadows across the floor.
那盞舊燈在房間角落暗淡地發著光，在地板上投下長長的影子。
modifies verbs of light emission (glow, shine, burn)
The silver spoon had tarnished and shone dully under the kitchen light.
那把銀湯匙已經失去光澤，在廚房燈光下暗淡地閃爍著。
Through the fog the car headlights gleamed dully, barely lighting the road ahead.
穿過濃霧，車燈暗淡地亮著，勉強照亮前方的道路。
- brightly
opposite in light intensity
- brilliantly
opposite with added sense of impressive shine
用法筆記
Describes surfaces, lights, or colours that should be bright but are not. Common with verbs like glow, shine, gleam, burn, sparkle (negated brightness).
常見錯誤
4. in a way that reaches the senses with reduced sharpness, clarity, or intensity —
模糊地
聲音或感覺不清脆、不清晰
in a way that reaches the senses with reduced sharpness, clarity, or intensity — as if coming through an obstacle or in a weakened form
The sound of the drums reached them dully through the thick stone walls of the hall.
鼓聲穿過大廳厚重的石牆，模糊地傳到他們耳中。
modifies verbs of sound perception (reach, echo, ring)
A dully throbbing pain spread from Deepak's ankle after he twisted it on the stairs.
Deepak 在樓梯上扭傷腳踝後，一陣隱隱的鈍痛模糊地擴散開來。
From the flat upstairs, the music played dully, as if someone had covered the speakers with a blanket.
樓上的公寓傳來模糊的音樂聲，像是有人在揚聲器上蓋了一條毯子。
用法筆記
Describes sound or physical sensation that is present but lacking the expected sharpness or clarity. For sound, it often suggests an obstacle (wall, distance, covering) between the source and the listener.